Today's Labour News
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.
With staff retention a challenge, Old Mutual hikes minimum monthly pay to R16,000
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BL Premium reports that Old Mutual has increased its minimum pay to R16,000 a month to attract and retain talented staff. The insurer said skills retention in the sector had become a challenge.
These are the sectoral employment equity targets designated employers must achieve in next five years
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BusinessTech reports that the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) has unveiled the new employment equity targets that will apply to 18 business sectors.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 17 April 2025
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
New Employment Equity regulations set 2030 compliance challenge for businesses
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Business Report writes that businesses face a crucial compliance challenge after the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) on Tuesday gazetted two sets of Employment Equity (EE) Regulations effective from 1 January 2025.
WSU staffer, family rescued after deadly shooting when students ran amok
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TimesLIVE Premium reports that a Walter Sisulu University (WSU) residence manager and his family were rescued by police after a confrontation with protesting students at the Nelson Mandela Drive campus in Mthatha.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 16 April 2025
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In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Heavily armed guards blockade Townhill Hospital in PMB on Monday over alleged payment dispute
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The Witness reports that a group of heavily armed private security officers blockaded the main entrance to Townhill Hospital’s admin block in Pietermaritzburg on Monday.
Roman Cabanac fails security clearance, but still clings to job in Steenhuisen’s department
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Sunday Times reports that more than six months after minister of agriculture John Steenhuisen, who is also DA leader, asked Roman Cabanac, chief of staff in his department, to resign, the controversial, right-leaning podcaster is still holding on to his R1.4m job.
Mediclinic freezes new nonessential hires and offers severance packages in AI revolution
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BL Premium reports that Mediclinic has put a freeze on nonessential new hires and offered severance packages in a bet on AI to revolutionise its operations.
Private security sector under threat from proposed ‘unrealistic’ regulations
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BusinessTech reports that private security stakeholders and experts have warned that proposed amendments to the Private Security Industry Regulations threaten the security sector in SA, so risking public safety and thousands of jobs.
Numsa demands 10% wage increase in motor sector
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BL Premium reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) is demanding a 10% wage increase in the motor sector, which covers workers who fall under the Motor Industries Bargaining Council (Mibco).
Untu to embark on strike ballot after Transnet wage talks deadlock
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BL Premium reports that the United National Transport Union (Untu) is set to conduct a strike ballot after wage talks with Transnet deadlocked on Monday.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 15 April 2025
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In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Warnings of structural defects in George building went unheeded, report reveals
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News24 reports that two days before the collapse of the five-storey building in George that claimed the lives of 34 people, a contractor observed unusual building movements and vibrations on the roof slab.
Education Labour Relations Council fired 39 teachers for sexual misconduct in past year
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News24 reports that over the financial year ended March 2025, the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) booted out a total of 39 teachers after finding them guilty of sexual misconduct.
Questions mount over Emfuleni mayor's 3am activities after bodyguard shot in official vehicle
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IOL News reports that police are investigating a case of attempted murder after one of the bodyguards of Emfuleni mayor Sipho Radebe was shot and injured in the early hours of 10 January in his council-owned BMW X3.
The wait for SA troops to return home from the DRC continues
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The Citizen reports that according to the Chairperson of Joint Standing Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, Malusi Gigaba, parliament has not yet seen the final withdrawal plan to bring SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers home from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Motsoaledi announces 1,650 new healthcare jobs, including 1,200 more doctor posts
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The Citizen reports that the Department of Health (DOH) has approved the creation of 1,650 new healthcare positions and allocated more than R1.3 billion for hospital equipment purchases, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced on Thursday.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 11 April 2025
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
George building collapse revealed to be result of ‘systematic failures across multiple levels of oversight’
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Engineering News reports that an independent forensic investigation into the building that collapsed in George last year has found that systematic failures across multiple levels of oversight, noncompliance with regulatory standards and mismanagement by both the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) and the project’s personnel were responsible for the tragedy.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 10 April 2025
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Protest march by Samwu in Buffalo City on Tuesday over maladministration and corruption
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News24 reports that members of the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) marched to the East London City Hall on Tuesday to express their dissatisfaction with maladministration and corruption, which they alleged was widespread in the metro.
Confusion over retirement-age dismissals after new three-way split ruling by ConCourt
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Fin24 reports that in terms of "settled" law, employers who have allowed employees to work beyond the normal or agreed retirement age, could at any time thereafter serve them with a notice of dismissal on the basis of them having reached their retirement age.
SA citrus farmers say US tariffs threaten 35,000 jobs
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Reuters reports that tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump will hurt citrus farms and could potentially affect 35,000 jobs, the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) warned on Tuesday.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 9 April 2025
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In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Piketberg school bus driver to appear in court over sexual assault allegations involving pupil
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Cape Times reports that a bus driver is expected to appear in the Piketberg Magistrate’s Court this week on sexual assault allegations involving a 16-year-old school pupil.
‘Intoxicated’ doctor loses Labour Court case after claiming white substance was from peppermints, not cocaine
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The Citizen reports that a Western Cape doctor accused of treating patients while under the influence of cocaine lost his case after the Labour Court (LC) found his dismissal had been fair.
Prasa CEO to meet with Untu and Satawu on Tuesday over 15% wage demand
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BL Premium reports that Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) group CEO Hishaam Emeran is expected on Tuesday to meet with the two largest unions at the rail operator over their demand for a wage increase of 15%.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 8 April 2025
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In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Parks Tau adamant Amsa plants had to be saved
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Business Times reports that according to Department of Trade, Industry & Competition Minister Parks Tau, SA’s steel industry would lose a major slice of the domestic market for long steel products if the government allowed ArcelorMittal SA (Amsa) to close its Newcastle plant.