This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Sandton man serving in Israeli army sniper unit faces investigation for illegal foreign military service News24 reports that according to authorities, a 23-year-old Sandton man who was identified as a member of an elite sniping unit serving in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) did not seek authorisation to render military assistance to a foreign nation. The National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) advised that Aaron Bayhack did not seek approval to join the IDF for the war in Gaza. The NCACC’s Peter Mashaba said that the matter was referred to the Hawks, after it was determined that Bayhack had not sought the committee’s approval to fight in the war. “We have checked our register, and the individual didn’t apply for authorisation as required [by] the provisions of the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act, Act 15 of 1998. The Gauteng Hawks are investigating the case,” he indicated. The Act requires any South African seeking to render military assistance in another country to first apply to the NCACC for the application to be considered by the Defence Minister. A Hawks spokesperson said investigations were underway but would not confirm Bayhack’s identity. In October last year, it was reported that Palestinian investigative journalist Younis Tirawi had identified Bayhack as a member of an elite sniper unit known as Refaim (Ghost in Hebrew). Bayhack appears in Tirawi’s documentary. A dossier submitted to the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority allegedly contains evidence that 15 South African citizens had been identified as serving in the IDF between 2016 and 2022. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tankiso Makhetha at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
Nelson Mandela Bay acting electricity boss dragged out of his office by staff The Herald reports that Nelson Mandela Bay’s acting executive director of electricity and energy, Tholi Biyela, was forcibly removed from his office at the Munelek building on Tuesday by disgruntled officials, who accused him of undermining them and ruling with an iron fist. A large group of employees, accompanied by leaders of the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu), stormed Biyela’s office and demanded his resignation from the position. During a preceding union meeting, officials voiced their dissatisfaction with Biyela, and a resolution was passed to remove him from office. Samwu shop steward Ayanda Solani said Biyela allegedly undermined engineers who had worked in the city for years by starting a process to appoint Eskom as an independent contractor. Electricity and energy political head Ziyanda Mnqokoyi said, based on information they had received, the only concern raised with Biyela was that staff did not want him in the post. He added: “The Eskom issue is new to me. However, if this concern was raised by the workers regarding the involvement of Eskom in certain technical operations, it has been noted.” Regarding allegations about Biyela’s management style, Mnqokoyi said they would be investigated through the proper channels. Municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya condemned Biyela’s removal and said such conduct undermined the law, workplace discipline and institutional processes to resolve disputes. He added that the unlawful incident was being investigated and dealt with through the appropriate legal and disciplinary channels. “Security and legal measures are being put in place to ensure Biyela’s safety and to prevent any recurrence of such incidents,” Soyaya noted. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Andisa Bonani at The Herald Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Samwu vows to hold Tshwane political parties accountable for unpaid salary increases IOL News reports that the SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) in Tshwane has threatened to use the 2026 local government elections to hold political parties accountable for refusing to pay outstanding salary increases of 3.5% and 5.4%. These increases, part of a collective wage agreement for the 2021/22 and 2023/2024 financial years, have been a bone of contention between the union and the City of Tshwane. The workers' demands were aired on Wednesday during a march to Tshwane House, where they gave the city a seven-day ultimatum to respond. The demands included implementing the outstanding salary increments and reinstating unfairly dismissed colleagues with immediate effect. Samwu’s Lehlogonolo Maphatsoe accused the current administration, led by ActionSA, ANC, and EFF, of hypocrisy. He claimed they had previously lied to workers by demanding the reinstatement of dismissed workers and the implementation of the salary increases when the DA-led administration was in power. “It is now their time to implement and they are doing something else,” he said. Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise, who received the workers’ memorandum of demands, said the city proposed a phased payment approach for the 3.5% salary increase to Samwu leadership, starting with junior staff, followed by middle staff, and finally senior staff, which the union reportedly agreed to. However, Maphatsoe denied this, saying the city executive offered once-off payments in two instalments scheduled for 2026 and 2027, which the union rejected. “We want the 3.5% to be implemented into our normal salaries, not as a once-off payment,” he said. Modise said the city would review the cases of 43 workers who were dismissed and consider rehiring those who were unfairly dismissed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Rapula Moatshe at IOL News. Read too, Tshwane municipal workers demand salary increases, at GroundUp. And also, Tshwane metro says it’s awaiting investigation into 44 dismissed Samwu workers, at EWN
Solidarity plans another trip to the US as it reveals five-point tariff plan Polity reports that Solidarity revealed on Wednesday that it will soon make another trip to the US in the wake of the tariff on SA goods imposed by the US. In the meantime, the trade union has devised a five-point plan in an effort to salvage the situation. Last week, US President Donald Trump confirmed that reciprocal tariffs of 30% would be implemented on SA goods from 7 August. Solidarity Movement and its affiliated organisations have blamed the SA government, and particularly the ANC, for alienating the US and straining tensions. The organisation’s plan encompasses the following: liaisons with both the SA and US governments; support for those who may lose employment once the tariff comes into effect, as well as alternatives employment opportunities for them; collaboration with other organisations to create a broad network to assist in resolving the relationship between SA and the US, while supporting affected SA industries; and the creation of a barometer to reflect the impact of increased tariffs on industries. “Solidarity has also been in discussions over the past few days with political parties, other trade unions and various civil society organisations about how they can work together to help resolve the dispute between the USA and South Africa, and to implement interim measures to assist industries and communities. Solidarity will soon travel to the USA once again to engage in discussions with interest groups and hopes that the South African government will realise the seriousness of the situation before then,” said the organisation. It has already requested talks with both countries’ governments, and has also made proposals to them. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Polity. Lees ook, Solidaritieit gaan geraakte SA’ners help werk soek, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Shein and Temu threaten local fashion jobs as e-commerce surges BL Premium reports that growing consumer appetite for online shopping is fuelling a fresh crisis in the clothing industry, with a new report warning that more than 34,000 local jobs could be lost by the end of the decade as offshore e-commerce giants tighten their grip on the market. According to a study commissioned by the Localisation Support Fund and conducted by research firm BMA, fast growing platforms including Shein and Temu are rapidly eating into the market share of local retailers and manufacturers, pulling billions in consumer spending away from domestic value chains. In 2024 alone, the two offshore platforms raked in an estimated R7.3bn in SA sales, more than a third of all online clothing purchases. According to the report, e-commerce sales climbed from just 2.4% of the market in 2015 to nearly 10% last year. The report said that more than 8,000 local jobs, the majority in retail and the rest in manufacturing, had effectively been lost because of the platforms’ rise. That number could quadruple by 2030 if growth continues unchecked. The threat comes as SA is beginning to rebuild its clothing and textile sector. But, the arrival and dominance of ultra-fast fashion platforms have complicated that mission as Shein and Temu is powered by global supply chains that exclude SA manufacturers almost entirely. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nompilo Goba at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Jobs and millions of rands lost – Here’s how Temu and Shein are hurting SA, at The Citizen. And also, Shein, Temu ‘smash and grab’: 8 000 SA jobs lost in four years, at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
Number of illegal miners still underground in Sheba gold mine unknown The Citizen reports that according to the police, it is still not clear how many illegal miners are hiding or trapped underground in the Sheba gold mine near Barberton. Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdluli said they were not actively involved in forcing the zama zamas out. He previously reported that 1,000 miners had been arrested, but said the correct number was more than 500. “Yes, initially, the private security company working at the mine informed us that the people were 1,000, but some of them ran back to the mine. Remember, this is not an abandoned mine or old shaft. What is happening here is that when the legitimate miners were done mining, they temporarily closed the sections and moved to the new one. The illegal miners then move into the old site and continue mining,” Mdluli explained. He went on to say: “So, we are not sure how many of them are still inside. As the police, we did not go inside; we were waiting for the private security officers to assist them out and hand them over to us.” Mdluli denied speculation that the miners were forced out of the mine but said the groups that emerged this week did so voluntarily. After more than 400 miners were arrested on Friday, 24 were arrested on Monday and 28 more were arrested on Wednesday. Mdluli said most of the suspects were continuing to appear in the Barberton Magistrate’s Court. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Masoka Dube at The Citizen. Read too, Sheba gold mine: Two out of 24 illegal miners released on bail, at EWN Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Head of Transnet ports authority, on suspension since June last year, strikes deal to walk away News24 reports that the head of the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), Pepi Silinga, who has been on suspension since June last year, has parted ways with the company “by mutual agreement”. Prior to being suspended in June, Silinga had been on leave of absence since January 2024 while Transnet conducted an inquiry into a tender for a fencing contract at the Port of Ngqura. Transnet spokesperson Ayanda Shezi said that, while a disciplinary hearing was begun, the parties then agreed to a private arbitration. The arbitration award dealt with both Silinga’s disciplinary charges and a protected disclosure claim made by him. Transnet said it would begin a new search for a successor “to allow a seamless transition”. The TNPA has been faced with numerous challenges over the past five years, resulting in four of SA’s ports ranking among the worst-performing in the world in the 2023 World Bank performance index. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carol Paton at News24 (subscription / trial registration required). Read too, Satawu welcomes departure of ports authority CEO Pepi Silinga, at The Herald Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Suspended IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka allegedly attempted to bribe Daily Maverick journalist News24 reports that days after the board of the Independent Development Trust (IDT) suspended its CEO, she was caught on camera allegedly trying to bribe the journalist who first exposed the tender fraud allegations that landed her in hot water. On Friday, the IDT board announced that it had suspended Tebogo Malaka, following damning findings of an independent investigation into tender fraud pertaining to an R800 million oxygen plant programme for around 55 hospitals. On Wednesday, Daily Maverick reported that Malaka and the IDT’s spokesperson, Phasha Makgolane, offered journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh a R60,000 bribe, and that the exchange was caught on video. Myburgh was allegedly also previously offered the chance to bring his own contractors to the IDT for tenders. Taking to social media platform X, Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson expressed “disbelief” and indicated that he would be addressing this matter as soon as possible after consulting with the IDT board. Macpherson briefed the media last week on the investigation into the IDT and the oxygen plan tenders, describing the findings as showing “a monumental failure in governance and adherence to IDT policies and National Treasury regulations – undermining the integrity of public procurement and threatening donor funds”. Turning to Malaka’s role, he said she “failed to exercise oversight”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Gerber at News24 (subscription / trial registration required). Watch the video of Malaka allegedly offering journalist cash to quash investigation, at Daily Maverick Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Eastern Cape municipal manager suspended over refusal to cooperate with probe into R80million sports fields workmanship News24 reports that the municipal manager of the embattled Kumkani Mhlontlo Local Municipality, Lungile Ndabeni, has been suspended. He was placed on precautionary suspension by the Qumbu-based council on Tuesday. The council was acting on a recommendation by the Eastern Cape Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), which accused Ndabeni of failing to cooperate with its investigation team over poor workmanship at three sports fields for which the municipality had paid a combined amount of about R80 million. According to the department, the municipality failed to properly monitor, verify, and manage its service providers during the construction of the sports fields and left its responsibilities to be conducted by the consultants. Municipal spokesperson Mamela Mangcotywa confirmed that Ndabeni was placed on suspension for a period of three months, effective from Tuesday. Cogta MEC Zolile Williams’ spokesperson, Pheello Oliphant, explained that Ndabeni was suspended because he allegedly refused to cooperate with the investigation team that had been sent by the department to the municipality. Oliphant said: “He refused to provide documents that were critical for the investigations.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sithandiwe Velaphi at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Municipal engineer who ordered hit on her boss over tenders gets life sentence Sunday World reports that a former senior engineer at the Alfred Duma local municipality (Ladysmith) in northern KwaZulu-Natal, who ordered a hit on her boss, has been sentenced to life behind bars. Nomaswazi Shabalala was sentenced by the Madadeni Regional Court on Wednesday. She was sentenced together with the other four role players in the murder. Shabalala ordered the gruesome hit on Oscar Hlatshwayo, who served as an executive director in the engineering and infrastructure services department in the municipality. Hlatshwayo was gunned down in February 2019 while he was driving to work. His killers followed him until he reached a traffic light and sprayed his car with bullets. After Hlatshwayo’s killing, the political killings task team followed all leads. It uncovered information that Shabalala worked with a local tenderpreneur called Mondli Mabaso, who was winning dubious tenders from the municipality until Hlatshwayo started questioning it. To eliminate Hlatshwayo, Shabalala and Mabaso hatched a plan to recruit Mduduzi Njuza, who was responsible for coordinating and supplying the firearms used to kill their target. Njuza then recruited Brown Ngcobo, a sharpshooter who was previously suspected of killing taxi owners in KZN. He was recruited to come and kill Hlatswayo. After the killing, the task team nabbed them, and their cases dragged on until their life sentences. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sihle Mavuso at Sunday World. Read too, Ex-municipal worker sentenced after orchestrating hit on colleague, at The Witness
Ten Gauteng cops arrested for theft during retail compliance inspection released on bail of R1,500 each TimesLIVE reports that ten police officers who appeared before the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Tuesday and Wednesday on charges of theft were each granted bail of R1,500 after an unopposed bail application. Six of the suspects are from the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) and four from the SA Police Service. “The case stems from a complaint laid by a shop owner in Edenvale, who alleges that during a raid on his business premises on June 4, the officers seized R35,000 in cash, cigarettes worth R150,000 and boxes of Panado tablets,” National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane indicated. She said the officers were part of a joint law enforcement operation aimed at monitoring compliance at shops in the area. The complainant was not present during the raid, but was later informed by his cashier that the police had confiscated the items. The seized goods were allegedly placed in several refuse bags to be submitted as exhibits. However, the complainant claims that upon his arrival at the police station, only one refuse bag had been registered. The cash was neither returned nor recorded in the SAP13 register, the official register used for documenting exhibits seized during criminal investigations. The matter was postponed until 8 September for further investigation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at TimesLIVE. See too, Ten Gauteng cops arrested for theft have been granted bail, at The Citizen
Thirteen years and R9 billion later, Go!Durban still lacks buses IOL News reports that approximately R9 billion has been spent on the Go!Durban project to streamline public transportation, but there are no buses on the route 13 years later. The money was spent on infrastructure, fleet procurement, and related professional services, according to municipal reports. In a report, the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) presented a revised strategy aimed at overcoming key challenges in the implementation of the Go!Durban programme. In its efforts to address setbacks, including the prolonged negotiations within the minibus taxi and bus industries that stalled progress in 2021, the ETA's new strategy reflects a proactive realignment with national priorities and frameworks. Nelisiwe Zama, acting director of ETA, said they would initiate an in-depth engagement process with all relevant stakeholders and discussions with affected minibus taxi and bus operators specific to phase one routes of the network. On Thursday, eThekwini councillors gave the go-ahead for the establishment of a PTOG Transition Framework and Task Team within ETA to lead planning for the absorption of legacy services and operators into the municipal framework. But, councillor Warren Burne described the report as vague and incomplete, with no mention of cash flow projections. Zwakele Mncwango, ActionSA councillor, described the process of noting this item in council as approving a blank cheque, while Sandile Gwala, an IFP councillor, was concerned that the infrastructure along the route would soon need rehabilitation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zainul Dawood at IOL News
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