In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Lack of security outside Cape Town courts raises alarm following fatal shootings on Wednesday Judicial monitoring organisation Judges Matter has raised concerns about the lack of police and security presence outside court buildings in Cape Town. This after two people were shot and killed in two separate incidents near the Athlone Magistrate’s Court in Cape Town on Wednesday afternoon. Police said a 32-year-old man was fatally wounded while sitting in a car outside the court. Minutes later, another male aged 31 was shot and killed about 300m away from the court in the Kewtown area. The suspects fled the scene in an unknown direction. There have been a number of shootings at courts in recent months. In August, a man was also killed and another injured as they left the Mitchells Plain Magistrate's Court. And four months before that, a taxi operator was shot and killed in a shooting inside the Wynberg Magistrate's Court corridors. Judges Matter senior researcher Mbekezeli Benjamin said police needed to intensify patrols and other security measures around court buildings. "Judges Matter is extremely worried about the latest shooting incident outside the Athlone Magistrate's Court in Cape Town. This for us raises a concern about security in and outside of the court building," he stressed. Based on reports at EWN and SABC News Cape Town traffic officers fired at in high-speed chase after Athlone court shootings Cape Argus reports that the City of Cape Town has called on the public to help track down gunmen who opened fire on two Cape Town traffic officers during a high-speed chase linked to Wednesday’s deadly shootings near the Athlone Magistrate’s Court. The city's Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith, said the officers showed exceptional courage under fire. The suspects are wanted on charges of attempted murder, reckless and negligent driving and malicious damage to property. Smith’s plea came after a dramatic confrontation in Athlone. The shootout unfolded in the same area where two men were murdered minutes apart on Wednesday afternoon. The officers were patrolling when they spotted an armed man sprinting toward a waiting vehicle shortly after the courthouse killings. They moved in, triggering a chase through Athlone towards Langa. Gunmen opened fire on them and the officers returned fire. A bullet blew out the patrol vehicle’s fuse box, forcing it to a stop. The suspects got away. The officers were shaken, but unhurt. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Murray Swart at Cape Argus Hawks arrest alleged Northern Cape cop killer who had been on the run since June 2023 The Citizen reports that the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation’s (Hawks) Serious Organised Crime Investigation has made a breakthrough in the case of a slain Northern Cape police officer. On Tuesday, the Hawks arrested 40-year-old Samkelo Anele Ndabezitha, a suspect who had managed to evade arrest since June 2023. Ndabezitha made his first appearance in the Mothibistad Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, where the matter was postponed until 8 December. He faces charges of murder of a police official, attempted murder, discharging of a firearm in the municipal area, as well as malicious damage to property. Ndabezitha allegedly went on a rampage after an altercation ensued between him and a drinking mate on the evening of 11 June in Batlharos near Kuruman. In a statement on Thursday, the Hawks said community members who were around managed to defuse the situation. The next day, the suspect confronted his drinking mate again at his rented shack, this time with a firearm in his hand. Sergeant Sepadile, a Bathlaros detective, owned the house. The suspect allegedly fatally shot Sepadile twice at close range before fleeing the scene. Ndabezitha was arrested in Johannesburg after an extensive search. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lesego Seokwang at The Citizen
Medical Bureau payments to ill miners in Lesotho resume after fraud scare GroundUp reports that the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases (MBOD) in SA has resumed payments of compensation to former miners and their dependents in Lesotho, after a suspension triggered by fraud. Payments were suspended in 2024 after the MBOD lost R1.4-million to fraudulent death claims in Lesotho. Fourteen fraudulent death claims were filed, supported by forged letters of authority claiming to be from the Master of the High Court in Lesotho. The scam caused over a year’s suspension of all payments to Lesotho claimants. MBOD is a South African statutory body under the 1973 Occupational Diseases in Mines and Works Act set up to compensate current and former miners for occupational lung diseases, including asbestosis, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, silicosis and TB. A stronger verification process is now in place. Confirmation of claims from Lesotho are verified with the Master of the High Court as well as selected banks in Lesotho which have agreed to be part of the verification process. Meanwhile the Tshiamiso Trust, which also compensates miners who developed lung disease in SA’s mines, has also noted a small number of fraudulent claims. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sechaba Mokhethi at GroundUp SA’s first underground gold mine in 15 years opens west of City of Gold Mining Weekly reports that the official opening of Qala Shallows underground gold mine west of Johannesburg marks the start of a new growth chapter for SA gold mining, Australian-listed West Wits CEO Rudi Deysel highlighted on Thursday. As SA’s first underground gold mine in 15 years, Qala was demonstrating that SA could still build safe, modern underground operations that generated long-term value for the economy and local communities, Deysel emphasised. The mine is expected to contribute more than $1.15-billion to the national economy over its 17-year life-of-mine. It will create more than 1,000 direct jobs as part of the first phase of the broader Witwatersrand Basin project (WBP), with positions sourced from local communities. It will also support wider economic activity through local procurement, enterprise development and community partnerships. Progression has been rapid since team mobilisation in July 2025, delivering first ore to surface in October 2025 and establishing the underground infrastructure needed for production. The event was attended by Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, Australian High Commissioner Tegan Brink, Minerals Council SA CEO Mzila Mthenjane, West Wits chairperson Michael Quinert and community leaders, investors, and industry partners. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly
Unpacking SA's unemployment figures with a closer look at the numbers IOL Business reports that from the third quarter of 2025, Statistics SA has changed the way it measures the world of work – and it says the new approach gives “a more complete picture of people’s connection to the labour market”. The agency indicated: “These updates are based on new recommendations from the International Conference of Labour Statisticians. The biggest shift is that the old category called Not Economically Active is gone. It has been replaced by Outside of the Labour Force.” Inside this category, Stats SA has created a new group: the ‘Potential Labour Force’. These are “people who want to work but are either not actively looking for a job or not currently available to start work as well as the discouraged jobseekers”. Stats SA said this change was important because it lifted the lid on millions who fell between the cracks of traditional definitions. The new classifications are in the context of an economy where informal work plays a far larger role than headline unemployment numbers can capture. SA’s township economy is estimated to be worth between R900 billion and R1 trillion a year. Informal retail – especially spaza shops – forms the backbone of this economy and is a major source of income and employment. Against this backdrop, Stats SA has also updated the definitions of the informal sector and informal employment to align with international standards. The agency cautioned that “figures for these categories in the third quarter of 2025 should not be compared with earlier estimates, since they are now measured differently”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicola Mawson at IOL Business Other internet posting(s) in this news category
DA takes eThekwini Municipality to court over 'appointment of incompetent people' IOL News reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) on Thursday said it has taken the eThekwini Municipality to court over the appointment of three senior officials, which the party claims were irregular. The challenge relates to the recent appointments of Lindokuhle Mkhize as Executive Director of Operations Management, Ednick Msweli as Executive Director for Technical Services and Bheki Mkhize as Executive Director for Public Safety. The City called a briefing on Thursday to introduce the newly appointed officials and explain how they were appointed, but the briefing was postponed due to the court application. “Since the matter is now before the courts, our full position will be presented there. However, we must state that we firmly believe all due processes were followed, which is why Council deemed it appropriate to approve the appointments,” the City advised. The matter is expected to be heard in the Durban High Court next week. In its court papers, the DA argues for the reversal of the appointments, saying they did not follow the legislated processes and requirements and were clearly rushed through. If the court reverses the appointments and there are costs, the DA wants the responsible person for the irregular appointments to be held liable for the costs, including the compensation of the employed candidates, if they demand such. It also argues that one of the appointees does not possess the qualifications required for the position while the track record of another appointee has been “a disaster”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Willem Phungula at IOL News
Free State premier’s axed spin-doctor must pay back R4.3m ‘settlement’ Sunday World reports that the ghosts of controversial former spin doctor of Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae have come back to haunt her. This after Matshediso “Tshidi” Setai was paid a questionable R4.3-million by the Department of Transport (DOT) in 2012 as a settlement after she was fired. At the time of her dismissal, Setai was chief director of communications in the department under the leadership of then minister Sbu Ndebele, and the payout was kept so hush-hush that even the department’s legal division was kept in the dark. The new leadership at the department, under minister Barbara Creecy, became aware of the R4.3-million payout when Setai came back for more, demanding an additional R12-million in 2022 for “damages emanating from the settlement agreement”. And with the cat out of the bag on this golden handshake, the department decided to go to court to force her to pay back the millions she was paid for working for the department for only six months. In the court papers the department filed, it has asked the Pretoria High Court to review the settlement, declare it invalid and set it aside. The department insists Setai must be forced to pay back the money. Setai, who joined the DOT in 2008, was axed from her cushy job after she was charged with multiple procurement irregularities, gross dishonesty, gross negligence and more. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bongani Mdakane at Sunday World
Gauteng education department suspends filling of 496 posts amid budget constraints News24 reports that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDoE) has suspended the filling of 496 office-based posts until further notice and is expecting to pay 518 school-based staff, appointed in August, before 25 December. The acting head of the (GDoE) Gauteng Department of Education, Albert Chanee, informed stakeholders on 1 December about an instruction note from the provincial treasury for the 2025/26 financial year concerning the affordability of employee compensation and the implications for filling posts. He indicated that at the time the instruction note was issued by the provincial treasury, the department had various vacancy circulars published, and several school-based posts had already been advertised at the school level. “All 496 office-based advertised posts in the 2025 vacancy circulars will not be filled until further notice. The 518 public service, school-based posts for which recruitment processes were finalised and successful candidates have already assumed duty were negatively affected as all vacant posts on Persal (personnel and salary system) were programmatically frozen with effect from 31 August,” Chanee advised. He said his department and the provincial treasury were “working diligently to source funds to remunerate the 518 school-based employees”. Dr Juané van der Merwe-Mocke of the Federation of Governing Bodies of SA Schools (Fedsas) commented: “A moratorium that freezes recruitment indiscriminately, without any regard to pupil needs, staffing shortages or the operational realities of schools, is irrational in its effect.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
Mafoko Security refutes claims of R330 million provident fund contribution theft The Star reports that Mafoko Security has reacted to set the record straight as outrage mounts over a court finding that it deliberately withheld employees’ provident fund contributions. This follows the public outcry from the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) general decretary Zwelinzima Vavi and the DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom, who both demanded action against the security company. They raised concerns that despite holding several lucrative hospital security contracts, including a R58 million annual contract for 206 guards at George Mukhari Hospital, the company had not paid over workers’ provident fund deductions. According to both the Pension Funds Adjudicator (PFA) and the Ga-Rankuwa High Court, the unpaid contributions could range between R111 million and R330 million. In response, Mafoko Security Patrol Director Lebo Nare firmly rejected the accusations, stating that Mafoko has consistently made the required deductions and payments in line with labour and pension regulations. She explained that the company stopped contributing to the Private Security Sector Provident Fund (PSSPF) and shifted to Alexander Forbes after years of documented governance failures at the PSSPF, which was ultimately placed under statutory management. She added that in cases where the PFA issued determinations and these were settled in court, Mafoko complied fully and kept detailed records. According to Nare, the only outstanding amount currently disputed with the PSSPF was approximately R9 million, a figure she said stemmed from timing differences linked to late payments from government departments and municipal clients, not from theft or unwillingness to pay. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Masabata Mkwananzi at The Star Municipality's attempt to freeze ex-CFO's pension benefits without evidence of impropriety dismissed IOL News reports that a Mpumalanga municipality has failed in its attempt to freeze the pension benefits of its former chief financial officer (CFO) after it accused him of being responsible for millions of rands in irregular and wasteful expenditure. Mothiba Mogofe had been the CFO of the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality in Middelburg until last year. After Mogofe left, the municipality launched an application in the Mpumalanga High Court against him and the National Fund for Municipal Workers (NFMW) to have his pension benefits withheld based on the provisions of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). It accused Mogofe of having misled the council to authorise an illegal transaction through his report and motivation for a R20 million deal and that he had misrepresented the cooperation agreement in the annual financial statements and had contravened the MFMA. In addition, the municipality claimed it had incurred administrative costs of R1m. In court, Mogofe denied any wrongdoing on his part. Last Wednesday, Judge Moira Mankge found that in terms of the municipality’s investigation there were no allegations of fraud or theft that were sustainable against Mogofe, as supported by its failure to open criminal charges against him. She also found that the payments of the relevantinvoices was after approval by two other officials with Mogofe, which mean it was not his sole decision. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Loyiso Sidimba at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Corruption flourishes at ‘closed’ Amanzimtoti traffic testing grounds News24 reports that an inter-governmental blame game has erupted in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) – and officials, security guards and middlemen are allegedly taking advantage of the governance vacuum to line their pockets. Two traffic centres have been closed due to delays in paying rates to the eThekwini metro. But, the ANC-led transport department blames the DA-led public works department for the delays in payment, which have resulted in the closures of the Rossburgh and Amanzimtoti traffic testing grounds. These grounds are administered by the transport department. While a security guard blocked motorists from coming into the Rossburgh centre on Tuesday, there was a hive of activity at the Amanzimtoti centre on Tuesday and Thursday, which was meant to be closed. News24 observed how the corruption played out on both days. Motorists were turned away by security guards, and then “middle men” approached the motorists and offered them assistance. After paying for the “assistance”, the guards then allowed the motorists into the grounds, where they were helped. According to two motorists, if you weren’t willing to pay a bribe you wouldn’t gain entry to the Amanzimtoti centre. When the News24 team arrived at the Amanzimtoti centre, a security guard told them they could not enter “because there was no water”. Shortly afterwards, two middle men approached the team. One of the men said: “If you pay R300, the security guards will allow you inside and the officials will help you. We work together.” The News24 team declined. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Soyiso Maliti at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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