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 roundup of weekend and recent reports,
see the following summaries of our selection of
South African labour-related articles.
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FSCA reports more than thousand employers to police for unpaid pension contributions The Citizen reports that the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has reported more than a thousand employers to the police for not paying over their employees’ pension fund contributions. It has been compulsory to report non-payment to the police since 2023. The FSCA revealed its latest statistics on employers not paying over contributions at a press conference last week and also published FSCA Communication 18 of 2025 that contains the names of employers with arrear contributions. Before the two-pot retirement system was in September last year, pension fund members knew very little about their pension funds. But, when many of them wanted to withdraw some of their retirement savings, they were told that their employers did not pay over their pension fund contributions. It was only then that they realised that their employers have not been paying. The FSCA report was the fourth such publication since August 2023. The first report started with 23 funds, while the latest report lists 67 funds after two additional large funds, the Auto Workers Provident Fund and the Motor Industry Provident Fund, which account for 57.5% of published employers, were added. The total outstanding amount owed by employers climbed 40% to R7.29 billion in the 15 months to March 2025. The number of entities that failed to pay over staff contributions almost doubled to 15,521 over the period, with as many as 592,000 workers in 67 retirement funds affected. FSCA Commissioner Unathi Kamlana said he was very hopeful that in the next 18-24 months the situation would change with the enactment of the Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ina Opperman at The Citizen. Read too, South African pension arrears surge 40% to R7.29bn, at Moneyweb Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Staff at government building have to carry buckets of water to flush toilets GroundUp reports that a government building housing several departments, including the Louis Trichardt Clinic, has been without a consistent water supply for two years. The water outage affects the entire government building, which also houses Home Affairs, Social Development, Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, Employment & Labour (DEL) and the Magistrate’s Court. The clinic serves hundreds of patients daily. The building is owned by Public Works. The Public Servants Association (PSA) has condemned the water shortage as a health hazard. The Vhembe District Municipality initially supplied water tankers to the area, but this no longer takes place. Now people in the building have to collect water in buckets from adjacent buildings. Without running water, staff and patients are often seen carrying buckets to flush toilets. According to a patient at the clinic, those who can afford to, pay R3 to use a public toilet. The PSA’s Lawrence Muvhango said the union has asked the DEL to intervene, as the situation “violates occupational health and safety laws”. If nothing is done within 60 days, the union intends to escalate the matter to the Office of the Premier and the Minister of Water and Sanitation. Municipal spokesperson Moses Shibambu said the issue could only be resolved when three new boreholes were operational. According to the contractor, the boreholes were to have been completed by last Thursday, but by Friday morning the water had still not been restored. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thembi Siaga at GroundUp Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Consumers face cost-of-living squeeze as food prices and interest rates remain high Business Report writes that consumers are feeling the pinch as food prices eased only slightly in September, while the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) kept interest rates steady. Despite small reprieves, families continue to struggle to make ends meet. The September 2025 Household Affordability Index showed that the average cost of a basic food basket for a family of four was R3,689.64, a figure still well above what many households could afford. While prices for some items fell slightly, essentials such as chicken gizzards, beef liver, bananas and butternut increased, leaving families juggling tight budgets. Meanwhile, the SARB’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) opted to hold the repo rate at 7%, keeping the prime lending rate at 10.5%. Money coach Hayley Parry commented: “For those hoping for good news from the MPC announcement, unfortunately, there will not be any reduction in debt related repayments. The silver lining is that interest rates remain unchanged. While there is no cut, there is no hike either. The status quo holds.” Neil Roets, CEO of Debt Rescue, indicated: "Sadly, all signs point to the country’s consumer debt crisis likely to intensify in the coming months. With the household debt-to-income ratio now sitting at 70%, the highest we’ve seen since 2017, many families are relying on credit simply to survive, with payday loans on the rise. Without meaningful relief, the consumer debt crisis will only deepen in the months ahead.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ashley Lechman at Business Report Fuel prices expected to see minor adjustments this week BusinessTech reports that petrol prices are expected to see minor adjustments this week, with petrol 93 swinging into an over-recovery and lining up for a small cut. Month-end data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) shows that fuel price recoveries turned a corner at the eleventh hour, with only Petrol 95 still in the red. The pendulum has slowly been swinging in favour of motorists since the start of the month thanks to a much stronger rand and a narrowing gap in petrol and diesel product prices. The final adjustments for the month will be announced by the Department of Petroleum and Mineral Resources before they come into effect on Wednesday. The following adjustments are expected: petrol 93 a decrease of 3 cents per litre; petrol 95 an increase of 4 cents per litre; diesel 0.05% (wholesale) a decrease of 11 cents per litre; diesel 0.005% (wholesale), a decrease of 8 cents per litre; and Illuminating paraffin a decrease of 12 cents per litre. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessTech
Numerous provinces face critical shortage of court interpreters The Mercury reports that the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Gauteng, the Western Cape, Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal are facing a shortage of court interpreters. This was recently revealed by Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, who indicated that the department had noted an increased demand for interpreters. This has resulted in some courts not currently meeting the standard of one interpreter in each court. In KZN, there was a need for IsiXhosa and Mandarin interpreters, with Siswati and Portuguese interpreters needed in courts near the Swaziland and Mozambique borders. Kubayi, in a parliamentary response to questions from DA MP Damien Klopper, said the increased demand had placed pressure on the existing interpreter pool, particularly in rural and multilingual areas. “The requirement for interpreters to be accredited through the South African Language Practitioners’ Council, in line with the South African Language Practitioners’ Council Act, 2014, has also narrowed the pool of eligible candidates in the short term,” she said. Kubayi said in the 146 identified posts across the country, 77 were filled and 69 remained vacant. The court districts most affected were East London with six vacancies, Thohoyandou four, and Durban three. Of the vacant posts, 30 have been advertised, 37 have yet to be advertised, and two have been re-advertised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mayibongwe Maqhina at The Mercury Teachers leaving in droves as rogue parents make their lives a living hell Weekend Argus reports that parental aggression has pushed already‑stretched teachers past their limits, forcing many to leave the profession, and in some cases, the country. Experts have warned that schools are becoming battlegrounds, where parents lash out at staff, use verbal and physical abuse and send threatening calls or emails. Thirona Moodley of the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of SA (Naptosa) said the situation was unbearable. “Parents are stepping out of their lanes and engaging with the school on issues that are out of their mandate. They come in like bulldozers,” she indicated. According to Moodley, many parents were bypassing formal channels. Rather than lodging complaints with principals or school governing bodies, they evaded security and went straight into classrooms, leaving teachers fearful and occasionally in danger. The aggression spans both public and private schools, though it takes different forms because in private schools parents tend to be more hands‑on and more critical of teachers. The Department of Basic Education’s Terrence Khala offered reassurance regarding concerns about teacher shortages. “South Africa has a large pool of qualified, unemployed educators, and we are actively working to place them where they are needed most. Any shortages that do arise are subject‑ or phase‑specific, and targeted interventions, including recruitment drives, bursary programmes, and improved deployment systems, are being implemented to ensure that every classroom is adequately staffed,” said Khala. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Wendy Jasson Da Costa, Anita Nkonki & Tracy-Lynn Ruiters at Weekend Argus Answers demanded from Joburg mayor over why, eight months later, there is still no city manager News24 reports that tensions are rising within the Johannesburg council’s ruling coalition after queries surrounding the appointment of a city manager were sent to the mayor. The City has been without a permanent manager for the last eight months. Apparently fed up with the situation, a letter was sent to Mayor Dada Morero last Monday by Oversight Committee on Governance chair Councillor Lubabalo Magwentshu. He is also the deputy secretary for the minority parties in the Joburg coalition. The Oversight Committee on Governance gave the mayor seven working days, until this Monday, to respond to the letter. Former city manager Floyd Brink vacated his office in December after the Gauteng High Court found his appointment in February 2023 to have been be irregular. The position has been vacant, with acting appointments for over eight months. In July, the Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, appointed Kiba Kekana as acting city manager. The position is important because the city manager is the accounting officer for a city. Magwentshu’s is the second such letter to be sent to the Mayor. On 19 September, Belinda Kayser Echeozonjoku, the DA caucus leader in Joburg, wrote to the mayor to complain that the City was without the full-time leadership that was urgently needed “considering the current challenges in the City.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alex Patrick at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Senior official at Construction Education and Training Authority caught in bribery scandal City Press reports that a forensic investigation has exposed a sophisticated bribery and fraud scheme at the Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta), where a senior official systematically extorted money from skills providers desperate to get student certificates processed. The report by law firm Bowmans reveals how a certification officer turned her government position into a personal cash cow. The corruption began unravelling in September last year when the officer approached Thandiwe Momubaghan, director of JOT Tirelo 13 Trading, with an illegal proposition. Student certificates that should have been processed since November 2023 were gathering dust in Ceta’s bureaucratic maze. The official demanded R8,000 upfront from Momubaghan and another R8,000 on delivery. Banking records obtained by investigators confirm Momubaghan transferred R8,000 into the officer’s personal Capitec account on 16 September last year. The investigation reveals how the official manufactured fake progress reports. These included doctored screenshots purporting to show certificates “printed and awaiting signatures”. But, the students had never been registered, verified or processed through any legitimate channels. Meanwhile, legitimate students are trapped in bureaucratic purgatory while officials profit from their desperation. The report recommends criminal prosecution, disciplinary proceedings for bribery, fraud and unauthorised absence, the blacklisting of JOT Tirelo 13 Trading pending satisfactory explanations, and a comprehensive system overhaul, including access controls and supervision protocols. A Gauteng police spokesperson confirmed a case of fraud had been opened. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sipho Mabena at City Press (subscription / trial registration required). Read too, Controversial Seta administrators hit back at corruption claims and vow to restore integrity, at Daily Maverick Three Gauteng tactical response team officers nabbed for hijacking of truck with R900,000 of goods SowetanLive reports that three police officers from the tactical response team (TRT), who allegedly used a marked police vehicle to hijack a truck, have been arrested after they were found with goods worth R900,000. Gauteng police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the three sergeants would, as per SA Police Service (SAPS) disciplinary policy, be charged internally. She reported: “On September 22 the provincial investigative unit arrested three police officers for an alleged truck hijacking on September 17 at the Olifantsfontein Road off-ramp. The arrest was as a result of intelligence-driven information. It is reported that the suspects used a marked vehicle during the commission of crime.” The officers are from Alexandra, Diepsloot and Thembisa South and the police vehicle they are alleged to have used belongs to the Thembisa South TRT. The TRT investigates serious crimes such as cash-in-transit heists, violent robberies and gang activity. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Herman Moloi at TimesLIVE Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Bergrivier Municipality faces backlash over lenient punishment for sexual harassment Cape Argus reports that a 10-day unpaid suspension and a final written warning for an employee of the Bergrivier Local Municipality in Piketberg, Western Cape, have sparked outrage from the Western Cape Labour Court, which deemed the punishment "totally unacceptable." The municipality sought to challenge this lenient penalty for ‘Mr S’, arguing that he should have been dismissed for his actions – a view echoed by the court. Following a disciplinary hearing conducted under the SA Local Government Bargaining Council’s Disciplinary Procedure Collective Agreement (DPCA), Mr S was found guilty following allegations of serious sexual harassment of a female colleague. However, the chairperson who oversaw the proceedings under the DPCA, decided a suitable sanction was a 10-day suspension. The decision was binding on the municipality, but open to be challenged in the LC. The court commented that it appeared that the chairperson at the disciplinary hearing seemed to appreciate the seriousness of the misconduct, but declined to impose a sanction of dismissal. This was because the municipality had not pertinently led evidence on its policy on sexual harassment and on the breakdown of the trust relationship between employer and employee. The chairperson went so far as to find that Mr S deserved to be dismissed and that management had let the female employee down, yet only suspended him for a few days. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zelda Venter at Cape Argus Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Passenger rail service gets back on track, but slowly GroundUp and The Outlier report that by 2021, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) had collapsed. With corruption and mismanagement having taken hold over the previous ten years, the rail service became increasingly unreliable and unsafe. Almost all of Prasa’s customers stopped using the train in this period, with many opting for more expensive but reliable taxi and bus services. Infrastructure decayed without being maintained or replaced. Security contracts were allowed to lapse, leading to widespread vandalism. The Covid pandemic saw the final destruction of the rail service. Since then, there has been some improvement. Rail lines have been restored, new trains have been procured, and more people are taking the train. But, some lines and stations, especially in the Eastern Cape, have yet to be brought back into service. Last year, 75-million train trips were made by passengers, still a long way from the 400-million annual trips a decade ago. Read the full original of the report in the above regard and view a graph of train trips at GroundUp Codeta’s interdict application against Western Cape’s taxi route closures postponed to Tuesday Cape Argus reports that the urgent interdict application by the Congress Organisation of the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) against the Western Cape Government's decision to close 10 taxi routes for a period of 30 days, was to have been heard in the Western Cape High Court on Friday. However, it was postponed to this Tuesday after the court requested further submissions from the parties. The province’s action was in response to deadly conflict over the routes, particularly the Khayelitsha–Somerset West line, which resulted in six fatalities. Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku announced in September that after failed attempts to mediate peace between Codeta and the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata), the closures would come into effect. But Codeta has accused the provincial government of acting prematurely. Since the closure, no further violent incidents have been reported, and commuters have turned to Golden Arrow buses. The dispute between the rival associations dates back years, but escalated in June when five people were killed at Codeta’s offices at the Mfuleni taxi rank. Codeta chairperson Nceba Enge expressed his insistence that the MEC's justification for the closures on grounds of violence was incorrect. Sileku reiterated that “the extraordinary measures implemented on September 17, shall remain in place until advised otherwise by the courts of law, or a peaceful and sustainable agreement is reached by the affected parties. Our door is always open to them to return to talks. The sooner they resolve this mess, the better for everyone.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mandilakhe Tshwete at Cape Argus Rescue operation underway on Sunday on R81 in Limpopo after taxi squashed between trucks SABC News reported late on Sunday evening that the R81 Road at Ga-Sekgopo between Mooketsi and Polokwane in Limpopo remained closed for traffic. This, as the emergency services personnel and traffic police attended to a horrific collision involving a minibus taxi and two trucks. The minibus taxi driver and an unknown number of passengers were reported to be trapped in the wreck, which had been squashed between the two trucks. Transport department Tshifhiwa Dali says it would take several hours to clear the scene. Motorists were advised to use the Morebeng road as an alternative. Read the original of the short report in the above regard and view a photo at SABC News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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