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.
Last Update: 08-08-2025
SA Labour News
Roundup of weekend labour news on Monday, 20 November 2017
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In our weekend roundup, see summaries of our
selection of South African labour-related stories
that appeared since Friday, 17 November 2017.
Fed-up delivery staff in Port Elizabeth down tools
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HeraldLive reports that vulgar language, salaries not paid on time and threats of job losses prompted the delivery staff of an online retailer to down tools in Newton Park yesterday.
The strike by 14 employees has prompted Takealot.com – which offers customers the opportunity to shop online and for their goods to be delivered straight to their door – to look into their claims against their manager as a matter of urgency.
The retailer operates its own delivery and logistics network by working with independently owned franchise partners across the country who run and manage local delivery team branches.
Newton Park is one such branch, serving the Port Elizabeth region.
The 14 employees said they had been scheduled to receive their salaries on Thursday, but when the money did not reflect in their bank accounts, they had approached branch manager Lee-Anne Johnson.
In a heated voice clip recorded by the employees, a voice which the workers allege to be that of Johnson could be heard shouting and using foul language in a heated exchange with one of the employees.
The employee informed her he had stopped along the road to urinate when he was robbed of R1 200.
In the clip, a voice is heard: “What’s your problem? You got robbed. You are the reason the salaries are f****** delayed. Have we never paid you? You don’t decide to start a strike with me. Don’t you ever f*** with me.
“There is a proper way of doing things. Go to work. I will see to it that salaries get paid. This company will not run away with your money.”
When contacted, Johnson said: “I don’t have any comment.
“We are busy dealing with the matter. As soon as we have information we will contact you.”
The employees – who spoke on condition of anonymity – claimed Johnson verbally and emotionally abused them.
“Treat us with respect. We appeal for new management with immediate effect,” the group said in a joint statement.
Takealot chief marketing officer Julie-Anne Walsh said they had not been aware of the incident until yesterday.
“The franchisee owner agreed with employees in advance that payment of wages was to be amended as from this week to run on a weekly and monthly basis as opposed to daily.
“Unfortunately there was a misunderstanding regarding the exact payment date. We can, however, confirm that all wages have been processed,” she said.
Walsh said they took the matter very seriously and did not condone the type of behaviour displayed by the franchisee involved.
“Takealot’s values include treating colleagues with respect and, although we are not directly involved in franchisee employee relations, we are working with the owner of the franchise to ensure that the matter is dealt with urgently,” Walsh said.
The original of this report by Hendrick Mphande is at HeraldLive
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 15 November 2017
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In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Wednesday, 15 November 2017.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 14 November 2017
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In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 14 November 2017.
FEDUSA condemns barbaric attack on traffic police officer
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Press Statement dated 13 November 2017