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.
SANDF troops still awaiting payment of DRC deployment allowances as union battles ‘stonewalling’
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News24 reports that the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) is demanding payment of outstanding allowances for soldiers who were deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Surge in over-50s tapping into two-pot retirement system
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Business Times reports that the Momentum Group has flagged a high rate of two-pot system withdrawals among members older than 50. The two-pot system allows people to dip into their savings before they reach retirement age or qualify for early retirement benefits.
Following MK protest at Inkosi Albert Luthuli hospital, KZN Health MEC urges proper channels for grievances
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IOL News reports that KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane has reiterated the role of trade unions in advocating for workers’ rights and the need for structured processes in handling grievances. This after the MK Labour Desk went to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital (IALCH) in Durban last week, demanding answers on a range of issues.
Siwelele FC drama as boss axes CEO and assistant coach after daily threats on their lives
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SowetanLive reports that amid Siwelele FC’s poor start to the season, chairman Calvin Le John has axed CEO Stan Matthews and assistant coach Andre Arendse because the pair’s lives were being “threatened”.
Companies are rushing to hire South Africans with AI skills
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BusinessTech writes that companies across SA are rushing to hire professionals with skills in artificial intelligence (AI), with demand almost quadrupling since 2019.
High Court halts appointment of eNdumeni municipal manager due to CV misrepresentations
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Sunday Tribune reports that the Pietermaritzburg High Court has interdicted the appointment of eNdumeni Local Municipality’s municipal manager, Nhlakanipho Mvelase, who is accused of misrepresenting his qualifications on his CV.
KZN tow-truck driver dies after crashing his vehicle on Sunday
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TimesLIVE reports that a tow-truck driver died after crashing his vehicle on the P147 road in Nottingham Road in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) on Sunday.
Gulf airline Emirates gives wings to job hunters in SA
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Business Times reports that global aviation giant Emirates is on a hiring binge — and many of the 17,300 people it wants to recruit around the world in 350 roles will be South Africans.
Bronkhorstspruit deputy principal accused of raping pupil granted bail amid community outrage
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News24 reports that a 53-year-old deputy principal from a primary school in Bronkhorstspruit, accused of raping a nine-year-old pupil on three occasions during school hours, has been released on bail of R5,000.
Parliamentary committee urges government action over Coca-Cola job cuts in two provinces
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The Citizen reports that the Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade has called on the government to step in as company closures trigger a domino effect of retrenchments.
Sol Plaatje suspends controversial municipal manager Thapelo Matlala
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Sunday World reports that the controversy around Sol Plaatje local municipality manager Bartholomew “Thapelo” Matlala has deepened with the council electing on Tuesday to place him on “precautionary suspension”.
Cosatu’s central committee calls for locals to be given priority status in the SA job market
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BL Premium reports that ANC-aligned labour federation Cosatu has resolved to work with government departments and law enforcement agencies to ensure employers comply with SA’s labour laws and that South Africans are given “priority status” for employment.
Roundup on Monday, 22 September 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.
Samwu threatens to make Gauteng ‘ungovernable’ during G20 Summit if members don’t get salary increases
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The Citizen reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) has threatened to make Gauteng “ungovernable” during the G20 Summit in November if its members don’t get salary increases.
Justice Minister reveals five prosecutors have been murdered in five years
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News24 reports that five prosecutors have been killed over the past five years, and the most recent – the murder of Gqeberha prosecutor Tracy Brown – was allegedly planned from behind bars.
Polokwane mayor and senior officials must undergo lifestyle audits following Hawks raid, DA insists
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Sunday World reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for the embattled Polokwane mayor, John Mpe, to undergo a lifestyle audit. This after a raid was conducted on Wednesday by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) at the offices of the Polokwane Municipality.
Light sentence for corrupt Eastern Cape driver’s licence examiner
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News24 reports that a corrupt Eastern Cape traffic official and driver’s licence examiner burst into tears of relief after he was sentenced to only five years’ correctional supervision for his fraud-related crimes in the Eastern Cape High Court in Gqeberha on Thursday.
Arts and culture sector vows to challenge minister over arts festival funding cuts
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IOL News reports that the SA arts and culture industry is in uproar and is preparing for a major showdown with the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and its Minister, Gayton McKenzie. The department is under fire for its decision to significantly reduce funding for major cultural festivals.
Seven teachers from Mthatha school suspended over 'sexual misconduct'
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TimesLIVE reports that seven teachers from St John’s College in Mthatha have been placed on precautionary suspension pending an investigation into allegations that they had sexual relationships with and impregnated pupils at the school.
Stellenbosch HR manager resigns from acting corporate services director post, dodges council suspension
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News24 reports that embattled Stellenbosch Municipality human resources manager Alexander Kannemeyer avoided suspension this week by resigning from his acting role as corporate services director, leaving the council powerless to act against him.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 19 September 2025
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Coca Cola Beverages SA plans to cut more than 600 jobs
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BL Premium reports that soft drinks giant Coca-Cola Beverages SA (CCBSA) has become the latest corporate player to add to the wave of job cuts in SA.
Thousands of jobs at risk as Gayton McKenzie pulls funding from arts festivals
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IOL News reports that from Cape Town to Makhanda, and Potchefstroom to Bloemfontein, the curtain is falling on SA’s biggest arts festivals as government funding is withdrawn. Funding for the provincial flagship programme has been cut by Minister Gayton McKenzie’s national sports, arts and culture department.
SAHRC confirms hiring foreigner as a manager, but slams 'false narrative about its staff composition'
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TimesLIVE reports that in a statement the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has confirmed the employment of a foreign national in a senior management position.
Limpopo education department ordered to pay R50,000 for snubbing top-ranked teacher for principal post
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IOL News reports that the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) has held the Limpopo Department of Education (DOE) accountable for unjustly overlooking a highly qualified teacher for a principal position and has awarded her R50,000 in compensation.
Pupils protest to demand safety from zama zamas vandalising their school
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News24 reports that illegal miners (zama zamas) have allegedly stripped the Wedela Technical High School of piping and other infrastructure, leaving toilets non-functioning and teachers and pupils living in fear.
Cabanac to sue for R5m after being axed as chief of staff by agriculture minister Steenhuisen
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TimesLIVE Premium reports that Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and his former chief of staff Roman Cabanac are headed to court as Cabanac fights to be reinstated to his R1.2m a year position, arguing that his termination in June was unlawful.
Codeta launches court challenge against Cape Town’s 30-day taxi route closures
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News24 reports that the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) has approached the Western Cape High Court to have the provincial government’s 30-day temporary closure of taxi routes between Khayelitsha, Mfuleni and Somerset West set aside.
Ghost worker crackdown reveals R3.9bn in possible state payroll fraud
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BusinessLive reports that SA’s public service may be losing more than R3.9bn annually to ghost employees, based on a 1% compromise rate across the state’s 1.3-million payroll.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 18 September 2025
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.