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 Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Unemployment in South Africa in Q2 jumps past 33% as jobs crisis deepens BusinessTech reports that the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) from Stats SA shows that SA’s unemployment rate has increased again, jumping to 33.2% in the second quarter of the year (Q2). This is up from the 32.9% recorded in the first quarter of 2025, which itself was higher than the 31.9% recorded in the quarter before. The QLFS for Q2 released on Tuesday revealed that the number of employed people rose by 19,000 to 16.8-million, while the number of unemployed people increased by 140,000 to 8.4-million. Discouraged work-seekers decreased by 28,000 (down by 0.8%), while the number of persons who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement remained unchanged. This resulted in the unemployment rate increasing by 0.3 percentage points to 33.2%. The expanded unemployment rate in the second quarter of 2025 decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 42.9% when compared with the first quarter of 2025. According to Stats SA, the number of persons employed in the formal sector increased by 34,000 in Q2, and the informal sector employment decreased by 19,000 over the same period. The largest industry increases in employment were recorded in Trade (88,000), Private households (28,000) and Construction (20,000). Decreases in employment were recorded in Community and social services (42,000), Agriculture (24,000), Finance (24,000), Transport (15,000), Utilities (6,000) and Manufacturing (5,000). The highest increases in employment were in Gauteng (95,000) and Eastern Cape (89,000), while decreases were observed in Western Cape (117,000), KwaZulu-Natal (86,000) and Northern Cape (28,000). Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessTech. Read too, Jobless rate climbs to 33.2%, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) ActionSA demands GNU accountability for rising unemployment The Citizen reports that ActionSA is blaming the government of national unity (GNU) for thousands of jobs lost in the second quarter of 2025. Stats SA on Tuesday revealed that 140,000 jobs were lost between April and June. “This brings the total increase to almost 350,000 unemployed individuals so far in 2025 under the government of national unity (GNU), according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for Q2 2025 released by Statistics South Africa today (Tuesday),” said ActionSA MP Alan Beesley. In his view, the ANC and its partners in the GNU have been too busy focusing on their own internal squabbles, leaving ordinary South Africans to contend with harsh economic conditions. “With the GNU consumed by infighting, the economy is left rudderless. At their press conference yesterday, the DA openly admitted to being at odds with their coalition partner, the ANC, on virtually every element of their supposed plan to ’save’ the South Africa’s economy. Instead of working for the people, the GNU’s coalition partners are working against each other,” said Beesley. He blamed years of economic mismanagement for the inability of the economy to create sustainable jobs. He said government should be held accountable. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Itumeleng Mafisa at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
AfriForum, Solidarity join legacy foundations in withdrawing from National Dialogue IOL News reports that lobby group AfriForum and trade union Solidarity have announced they are pulling out of the upcoming National Dialogue, days after key legacy foundations also withdrew from the controversial event. The Presidency has confirmed the inaugural national convention of the National Dialogue will proceed on 15 & 16 August at Unisa’s main campus in Pretoria, formally launching a constitutionally mandated process aimed at developing a national compact for transformation. Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said the two groups had decided not to participate in the upcoming event. “The reason for that is simple. The current process has been captured by the ANC as well as President Ramaphosa,” he stated. Kriel claimed that president Cyril Ramaphosa had turned the national dialogue into an ANC monologue. He went on to say: “They want to dictate the agenda and they expect us to just listen. The fact is, we must remember the crisis in the country, where it comes from. It’s because of many years of ANC mismanagement, corruption, as well as failed policies.” Meanwhile, Dr Dirk Hermann, chief executive of Solidarity, also announced that his organisation was pulling out of the dialogue. Hermann claimed citizens saw the national dialogue in its current format for what it was, namely a state-sponsored ANC revival project. He said they would participate in community dialogue but not state dialogue. Hermann indicated that they were going to talk to unions, foundations, cultural communities and other civic organisations. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Simon Majadibodu at IOL News. Lees ook, Solidariteit, AfriForum onttrek aan ‘gekaapte’ staatsdialoog konferensie, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Germiston Department of Home Affairs fire linked to protest, roof collapses but no injuries reported News24 reports that a fire broke out at the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) building in Germiston on Tuesday, allegedly after someone hurled a petrol bomb at the structure, causing the roof to collapse. Protesting Pharoe Park residents who had been evicted from a nearby block of flats earlier were seen walking back to the flats from the building. Two people have since been arrested. City of Ekurhuleni disaster and emergency services spokesperson William Mogale Ntladi said preliminary information showed that petrol bombs were thrown at the DHA building. Ntladi said the top section of the two-storey building had been on fire and the roof collapsed while he was on the scene. Firefighters were called in to douse the flames. There was also possible damage on the pivotal first floor, where important documents were stored. While there have been no reported injuries, several surrounding buildings were evacuated and cordoned off for safety and operational reasons. DHA provincial manager Mamokubung Moroke said the offices would be closed. “We are aware that clients have been here since the morning to collect documents and make applications, but we do not have access to the building. We are still going to make an assessment on the extent of the damage, but at this point we don’t have much information,” he indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Rosetta Msimango and view a video clip at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Kalahari AutoForce truck drivers in Gqeberha on strike for higher wages GroundUp reports that scores of truck drivers have been picketing in Markman, Motherwell since Saturday to demand higher wages from the Kalahari AutoForce company in Gqeberha. The drivers, supported by members of the Tirisano Transport and Services Workers Union (TASWU), want salary increases. They are also calling for “fairer” schedules for both long-distance and local routes. The company also operates in parts of the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Kuruman. According to shop steward Vukile Nene, most Eastern Cape drivers get paid about R16,400 but they want R20,060 per month. According to Nene, the company, without clear communication, wanted workers to sign letters transferring their employment to a new company. “We don’t know the name of this new company and we deem it a bogus company, as it was not registered. They wanted us to sign but we refused,” he indicated. Last week, union representatives met with the company. When management could not answer questions about the new company’s registration, the workers approached the bargaining council and embarked on a protected strike. In a letter to protesting workers on Tuesday, the company instructed them to return to full service by 12 noon. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thamsanqa Mbovane at GroundUp
Government, AMSA locked in crisis talks on fate of Newcastle mill Bloomberg reports that according to sources, the Department of Trade Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) are locked in crisis talks with ArcelorMittal SA (AMSA) about the potential closure of the company’s Newcastle mill. The operation, located in eastern KwaZulu-Natal, makes steel grades used in the country’s crucial automotive, mining and construction industries. On 1 April, the company had indicated that the IDC, which is its biggest shareholder after its parent company, would conduct a due-diligence exercise with a view to taking a bigger stake in the firm. A decision could emerge in the coming days, with the mill haemorrhaging cash, and the entire group in an unprofitable position. AMSA has set a date of 30 September for the mill’s closure, along with another mill in Vereeniging that also produces so-called long products. This would affect 3,500 direct jobs and tens of thousands more in industries that depend on the mills. The steel grades aren’t made by local competitors and would have to be imported. In a response to questions, the DTIC said it “has been in ongoing discussions with AMSA on the potential closure of Newcastle. Since the beginning of this process, the department’s objective has been to maintain the country’s long-steel capacity.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
SA aviation sector faces talent drain as pilots retire or leave country News24 reports that Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has raised concerns about the increasing trend of South African aviators leaving the country or retiring from the industry. She was speaking at the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Summit in Durban on Tuesday. The summit aimed to tackle the critical demand for millions of skilled professionals required to sustain and grow the aviation sector. Creecy said there was an urgent need to nurture new talent to ensure the sustainability of the country’s aviation sector. She noted that while the sector offered substantial opportunities, these would not materialise unless it addressed one fundamental challenge, namely the need for a new generation of skilled professionals. “As seasoned aviation workers retire and the demand for a skilled workforce grows, we must ensure that young people, especially across Africa, are equipped and prepared to step into these roles,” said Creecy. She pointed out that many of the country’s aviators were ageing, while others were attracted to offers in Africa, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. Creecy said that to create a sustainable future for the aviation industry, there was a need to invest in the youth, creating real pathways for them to build careers in aviation. These pathways must be inclusive, accessible, and supported by strong educational frameworks, financial resources and mentorship initiatives. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sakhiseni Nxumalo at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
Manamela assures transparency in second round of Seta board chairperson appointments News24 reports that newly appointed Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Minister Buti Manamela has vowed that the second attempt to appoint Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) board chairpersons will be transparent. Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, he said the chairpersons would be qualified and meet the necessary criteria. Seta board chairperson nominations closed recently, and the DHET is sifting through them. This after the department was forced to restart the process because the list of initial appointees was found to be ANC-aligned. The appointments were widely criticised by political parties, and the matter received Parliament’s attention. Former DHET minister, Nobuhle NkabaneIt allegedly lied to the higher education and training portfolio committee about a so-called independent panel and who served on it. She was later axed. Manamela said there was an urgent need to restore trust with the public after the disastrous first round of appointments. He advised: “We are going to make sure that people have the skills and the capacity to be able to preside as chairpersons of Seta boards. That is the most important criterion for us. We are quite considerate of the fact that, and rightly so, the public would be looking at this closely, and we will not hide anything.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siyamtanda Capa at News24 (subscription / trial registration required). Read too, ‘We will not hide anything’, says Manamela on Seta board chairperson appointments, at The Citizen
Post Office manager loses pension after pleading guilty to 60 Sassa fraud cases Sunday World reports that Lucia Mashego, a former SA Post Office manager, has been stripped of funds from her pension pay-out after orchestrating a scheme to defraud vulnerable SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) beneficiaries. Mashego, who was the branch manager at Shatale Post Office in Bushbuckridge, colluded with teller Thandeka Dibakwane and a private individual, Precious Nyathi, to siphon funds from unsuspecting Sassa recipients. The trio’s scheme involved creating duplicate Sassa cards, which Mashego provided to Dibakwane, who then passed them to Nyathi. Nyathi used the cards to illegally withdraw money from various ATMs and this resulted in a total loss of R250,000 for the affected beneficiaries. The fraudulent activities came to light when another Sapo teller, Virginia Phoku, noticed the illicit operation. She exploited it by creating her own duplicate cards. On 27 May, Mashego pleaded guilty to all 60 fraud charges. She was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years. The court also ordered the Asset Forfeiture Unit to seize R146, 897.05 from her pension fund. Phoku was also found guilty. She received a two-year sentence, suspended for five years. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Coceka Magubeni at Sunday World
Ex-policeman receives 36-year sentence for colleague's murder during arrest IOL News reports that a former Namakgale policeman will serve 36 years behind bars for shooting and murdering his colleague after they made an arrest at a tavern where an armed robber was nabbed. The Limpopo Division of the High Court in Polokwane convicted and sentenced the former warrant officer Olson Mnisi to 20 years for murder and 16 years for two counts of attempted murder. Mnisi pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. During proceedings, the court heard evidence that on 16 September 2018, at Mashishimale Village in Namakgale, Mnisi was part of a SA Police Service (SAPS) team tasked with arresting a suspect in an armed robbery case. The team included the deceased, Colonel Lesiba Gilbert Matsetela. Upon arrival at a tavern where the suspect was located, one of the officers engaged the suspect in conversation, after which the suspect was arrested. Without provocation, Mnisi opened fire on Matsetela and the suspect, injuring them both. Despite Matsetela’s pleas for Mnisi to stop, as they were colleagues, the now-sentenced murderer continued firing. The injured officer was rushed to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Mnisi was subsequently arrested. In aggravation of sentence, the State argued that the offence was particularly serious as it involved the betrayal of a fellow officer. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chevon Booysen at IOL News No warrant has been issued for arrest of national police commissioner, says Idac TimesLIVE reports that the NPA's Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) says there is no warrant of arrest for national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola. Idac spokesperson Henry Mamothame indicated that in the past weeks the directorate had received media queries relating to unfounded allegations of warrants having been issued for the arrest of Masemola and others. Mamothame said the directorate had also taken note of numerous false articles that had been published on these allegations. One of the reports alleged that Idac had secured a warrant for Masemola's arrest due to the misuse of slush funds from the Crime Intelligence secret service account. “Idac maintains what it has repeatedly confirmed to the media: These are untrue allegations; no such warrants have been issued,” Mamothame emphasised. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLIVE. Lees ook, ‘Geen lasbrief vir polisiekommissaris se arrestasie’, by Maroela Media
Durban teacher fired for sending sex messages to 12-year-old girl TimesLIVE Premium reports that a Durban primary schoolteacher who admitted to inappropriate sex talk with a young girl but who pleaded remorse and begged not to be fired as his cancer-stricken mother depended on him, has been dismissed. Adrian Clinton Govinden, a former teacher at Pitlochry Primary School in Westville, has been declared a sex offender and banned from working with children. Govinden was charged with misconduct earlier this year after being accused of grooming a 12-year-old girl by sending her sexually explicit messages through TikTok and WhatsApp in March. Govinden pleaded guilty to the offence of sexual grooming. He apologised for his actions, conceding he had crossed the line and breached the code of conduct and ethics. He claimed he was sorry and described his actions as something that he would have to live with for the rest of his life. Govinden said he hoped that the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) education department would be lenient and issue him with a suspension or a written warning or allow him to resign rather than be dismissed because of the reputational damage he would suffer and the implications for his prospects of future employment. KZN education department’s Nontobeko Mazibuko argued that Govinden was aware of the rules and knew his actions constituted a dismissible offence and was only sorry because his career was at stake. She said Govinden had betrayed the trust placed in him by the department and parents, and he should be declared unfit to work with children. Education Labour Relations Council arbitrator Ntombizonke Mbili agreed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Gill Gifford at TimesLIVE Premium (subscriber access only)
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