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.
Anglo American plans fresh corporate job cuts as part of restructuring
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Bloomberg reports that Anglo American Plc is planning more job cuts at its corporate office, as it restructures its business by selling assets and spinning off its platinum unit.
‘Trade unions must adapt to the new world of work, or die’
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Gideon du Plessis, general secretary of Solidarity, writes that it comes as no surprise that the World Economic Forum’s latest “Future of Jobs Report” indicates an increase in demand for technology skills and technology literacy, with skills focusing on AI, machine learning, software application and development, big data and network and cyber security particularly sought-after.
Southern African leaders agree to phased withdrawal of troops from DRC
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BL Premium reports that leaders of the Southern African regional bloc have decided on a phased withdrawal of troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), following a surge in fighting with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels that left more than a dozen SA soldiers dead.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 14 March 2025
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Sex workers’ organisation laments impact of Pepfar funding halt
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SABC News reports that sex workers organisation, Sisonke, says the halting of the US President’s Pepfar funding has left their members vulnerable.
'VAT increase will just slash the little income people are relying on', Cosatu president laments
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News24 reports that as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered his highly contested national budget on Wednesday, trade union federation Cosatu and its alliance partners vehemently opposed the inclusion of a VAT increase.
Motor Industry Staff Association alarmed by rise in fatal bus crashes on SA roads
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SABC News reports that the Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) has expressed concerns about the increased number of fatal bus crashes on the country’s national roads.
SSA employees over 50 years not being forced to take early retirement, says Ntshavheni
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The Citizen reports that Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, has denied claims that the State Security Agency (SSA) is forcing employees over 50 to retire early or face dismissal.
Agreement with unions on public service wage hikes remains a sealed deal
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TimesLIVE Premium reports that Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is sticking to the public service wage agreement that will see government employees earning an inflation-beating pay hike of 5.5% in 2025/26 and inflation-linked increases in the following two years.
Former Prasa boss Mthuthuzeli Swartz pleads not guilty to stealing 42km of railway line
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GroundUp reports that as their trial got underway in the Gqeberha Regional Court this week, former Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) acting head Mthuthuzeli Swartz and businessman Nadir Mohiudeen pleaded not guilty to fraudulently selling 42km of railway line in the Eastern Cape.
'Personnel-intensive' department – like defence and correctional services – being eyed in R11bn early-retirement drive
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Fin24 reports that as it looks to rein in public sector wage costs, National Treasury has named the Department of Defence and the Department of Correctional Services as government departments that could be targeted with early retirement packages.
Labour department to temporary shut-down Compensation Fund’s ROE online and other systems
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The Citizen reports that the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) announced on Wednesday that the Compensation Fund would be temporarily shutting down the Return of Earnings (ROE) online system.
Msunduzi Municipality commits to addressing traffic officers' grievances after picket on Wednesday
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The Mercury reports that the Msunduzi municipality's acting city manager, Neli Ngcobo, has vowed to deal with the grievances raised by traffic officers, who held a picket outside the City Hall in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday.
Treasury compromises on VAT increase, with grant recipients and taxpayers to bear the brunt of smaller hike
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BL Premium reports that the Treasury has compromised on its proposed two percentage point VAT increase by opting for a half a percentage point hike in each of the next two years.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 13 March 2025
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Joburg Deeds Office to be relocated within six weeks because of unresolved OHS issues
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Moneyweb reports that according to the Public Servants Association (PSA), a decision has been made to relocate the Johannesburg Deeds Office to an alternative building within six weeks.
Nedlac announces consensus between labour, business and government on labour law reforms
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Engineering News reports that negotiations between organised business, organised labour and government, led by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), on a substantive labour law reform process have now concluded.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 12 March 2025
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In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Pick n Pay workers left in limbo as sudden Silverton store closure sparks protest
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The Citizen reports that it was business as usual at the Silverton Shopping Crossing in the East of Pretoria, even though members of the EFF picketed with employees in front of the Pick n Pay (PnP) store.
Motsoaledi claims that ‘outdated’ RWOPS policy is why some state-employed doctors skip work or often arrive late
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The Citizen reports that Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has called for a review of the remunerative work outside the public service (RWOPS) policy amid concerns over abuse, particularly regarding doctors arriving late or being absent from their duties at state-owned hospitals.
Unions reject revised Transnet wage offer as parties start cooling-off period
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BL Premium reports that the United National Transport Union (Untu) and the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) have rejected Transnet’s revised above-inflation wage offer, thus raising the spectre of an industrial action that could disrupt port operations.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 11 March 2025
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In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Jobs on the line as African Rainbow Minerals cuts costs at Bokoni platinum mines
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BL Premium reports that African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) has scaled back on mechanised development at its Bokoni Platinum Mines in Limpopo and will restructure the operation to stop the cash bleed in a low metal price environment.
Questions over Prasa’s R18bn train-signalling contracts awarded to two joint ventures that didn’t meet minimum requirements
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News24 reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) awarded contractors two R18-billion train-signalling tenders in two months, despite the joint ventures concerned failing to meet a series of crucial requirements.
Former senior policeman sentenced to six years for sexual harassment
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Sunday Tribune reports that the Scottburgh Magistrate's Court last week sentenced a former senior police officer to six years for the 13 counts of sexual harassment he faced.
Sandton restaurant shooting which killed businessman and two guards sparks debate over regulation of private bodyguards
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News24 reports that the fatal shooting at the upscale Solo restaurant in Sandton on Thursday evening, in which three people were killed and four others injured, has ignited a debate within the Gauteng legislature concerning the regulation of private bodyguards and their weapons.
Safa scrambles to find another technical director after Walter Steenbok quits in a huff
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City Press reports that the beleaguered SA Football Association (Safa) has been dealt a huge blow by the sudden resignation of its technical director, Walter Steenbok, on Thursday.
Wheels start rolling to withdraw SA soldiers from DRC
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City Press reports that the end is in sight for the SA soldiers deployed on a disastrous peace mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Roundup on Monday, 10 March 2025 of weekend labour reports
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In our roundup of weekend and recent reports,
see the following summaries of our selection of
South African labour-related articles.
Mineworkers’ union Amcu concerned at increase in mine deaths so far this year
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TimesLIVE reports that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) says it is saddened by the deaths of two mineworkers who succumbed to injuries last weekend.