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.
Trains between Joburg and Germiston suspended after pedestrian bridge collapse injuring two persons
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The Citizen reports that Gauteng Metrorail temporarily suspended trains operating between Johannesburg and Germiston on Wednesday due to the collapse of a pedestrian overhead bridge between Jeppe and George Goch stations.
JSC interviews for labour court leadership role that’s been vacant for seven years
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BL Premium reports that on Wednesday the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) held its interview for the long-vacated position of deputy judge president of the Labour Court (LC) and Labour Appeal Court (LAC).
Samwu angry as Tshwane moves to replace 123 dismissed strikers
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TimesLIVE reports that the City of Tshwane is set to appoint new staff after dismissing more than 120 workers for participating in an unprotected strike, but the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) on Tuesday said it would be challenging those appointments.
Business organisation and Cosatu call for UIF to be placed under administration
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BL Premium reports that Business Unity SA (Busa) has called for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to be placed under immediate administration, citing systemic dysfunction and deep corruption within the statutory organisation.
Sibanye-Stillwater CEO warns of platinum mining job losses
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Reuters reports that Sibanye Stillwater, SA’s biggest mining sector employer, may be forced to close some loss-making shafts.
Anglo American begins global head office job cuts with Kumba in SA
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Bloomberg News reports that Anglo American has begun cutting corporate office employees globally, with South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) saying that notices were sent to staff at the company’s Kumba Iron Ore unit warning they could lose their jobs.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 4 October 2023
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In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
SAPS asked to beef up security after violent attacks related to Tshwane strike
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Pretoria News reports that the City of Tshwane MMC for Roads and Transport Katlego Mathebe has called on the SA Police Service (SAPS) to beef up efforts to protect the municipality following violent attacks on two Tshwane Bus Services buses.
Almost twice as many SA teachers struck off the roll for serious offences than in previous year
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TimesLIVE Premium reports that thirty-six teachers were removed from the roll by the SA Council for Educators (Sace) between April last year and March this year after they were found guilty of serious offences.
Security officer gunned down at a substation in the Free State by unknown armed men
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IOL News reports that a security officer and an unknown man were gunned down at a substation in Sebokeng village in the Free State last Friday night.
Delivery biker dies in crash on his first day on the job in Durban
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IOL News reports that a 28-year-old Burundian who worked as a motorcycle delivery guy died in an accident on Tuesday afternoon in Durban. It had been his first day on the job.
Massive petrol and diesel increases from Wednesday
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The Citizen reports that according to a Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) announcement, the price of both 93 and 95 octane petrol would increase from Wednesday, 4 October 2023.
Another off-duty Cape Town cop killed; police suspect she was also raped
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News24 reports that a female police officer became the second Western Cape off-duty cop to be killed over the past weekend, and suspicions are that she was also raped.
Largest trade union at Eskom calls for suspension of climate finance pact
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Bloomberg News reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), the largest trade union at Eskom, has called for the suspension of an $8.5 billion climate finance pact with some of the world's richest nations, as well as plans to break up the power utility into separate units.
Tshwane’s coalition government slammed by Transformation Alliance for municipal strike
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Pretoria News reports that the Transformation Alliance (TTA) has slammed ActionSA and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) for being “complicit” in the ongoing City of Tshwane municipal strike.
Women on Farms collective fights against EU-banned pesticides
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BusinessLive reports that after six years of working on a vineyard just outside Cape Town, farmworker Diana Ndleleni collapsed between the grapevines. Her doctor said she had permanent lung damage that he believed was from years of inhaling pesticides sprayed on the grapes. He said she would not be able to work again.
Chaos in Kleinzee as hundreds of arrested zamas return after home affairs failed to process them
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Sunday Times reports that up until the weekend before last, Kleinzee in the Namaqualand was just a quiet dorp northwest of nowhere. Then, in just a few hours, the town’s population almost doubled.
Discovery slashes medical savings accounts on top plans
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Moneyweb reports that members and beneficiaries of the most popular plans offered by Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) will see sharp cuts to their medical savings accounts (MSAs) from 2024.
Transnet Freight Rail boss Siza Mzimela in the firing line, but she’s hanging on against the odds
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BL Premium reports that a fight for the heart and soul of Transnet is brewing, with Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) boss Siza Mzimela reliably understood to be reluctant to fall on her sword amid pressure from the board to resign.
EFF’s protest on Monday against taxi impoundments in Cape Town drew little support
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Daily Maverick reports that a much-anticipated protest organised by the EFF in Cape Town took place on Monday, but it did not live up to expectations.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 3 October 2023
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In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Sean Summers returns as Pick n Pay CEO, 16 years after leaving the retailer
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Fin24 reports that Sean Summers, the former CEO of Pick n Pay, is raring to go and ready for "battle" as he returns after a hiatus of 16 years in order to restore the retailer's fortunes.
Nehawu strike at Icasa entered fourth day on Monday as memorandum was handed over
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TimesLIVE reports that the strike by National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) members at the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) entered its fourth day on Monday when members presented a memorandum of demands to management.
Cele reiterates police officers must defend themselves against criminals
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EWN reports that Police Minister Bheki Cele has once again encouraged police officers to defend themselves when encountering violent criminals.
Exodus of engineers bleeds construction sector
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Weekend Argus reports that the shortage of engineers in SA has had a huge impact on the construction sector and infrastructure development. This is according to the chief executive of the SA Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (Safcec), Webster Mfebe.
Plans reportedly underway to rehire hundreds of skilled Transnet staff who left with VSP packages
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The Citizen reports that the abrupt resignation of Transnet CEO Portia Derby may pave the way for a comprehensive strategy to revitalise the floundering state-owned utility.
Municipal strike divides Tshwane coalition partners as ActionSA wants further negotiations with workers
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Pretoria News reports that cracks have started to show between the DA-led coalition government and ActionSA in Tshwane as a municipal strike continues to cause havoc across the capital city.
More Transnet top executive heads could roll following Derby's exit
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Sunday Times reports that the Transnet board announced on Friday that Group CEO Portia would be stepping down from her role at the end of this month and also that group CFO Nonkululeko Dlamini had resigned, effective from last Friday.
Ahead of World Teachers’ Day, Angie praises SA’s beleaguered teachers, promises more resources
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TimesLIVE reports that Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has acknowledged that the education system is experiencing severe challenges including infrastructure backlogs, overcrowding and a shortage of educational resources.
Annual pay of Woolworths CEO in 2023 financial year more than tripled to R122m
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BL Premium reports that Woolworths CEO Roy Bagattini, an outspoken proponent of a “living wage” for store employees, earned R122.4m in the 2023 financial year, more than three times what he earned in the previous year.