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.
Fort Hare University calls off exams due to noise of Nehawu protest
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Timeslive reports that the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape has had to cancel what it had hoped would be the last leg of its mid-year examinations as they have been disrupted by ongoing wage protests.
'My son died such a horrible death‚' mourns Palabora miner’s mother
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Timeslive reports that Limpopo police have released the names of the six mineworkers who were killed in an underground fire at the Palabora Mining Company in Phalaborwa over the weekend.
Manyi applies for liquidation of Afro Voice, journalists left to fight for packages
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Sowetan reports that Mzwanele Manyi, owner of Afro Voice newspaper (formerly The New Age), which shut its doors last month leaving workers in limbo, has applied for the company's liquidation.
Computer coding course for deaf job seekers
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Sowetan reports that Nqobile Majola is one of 19 deaf students completing a gruelling coding course that will allow them to secure work after battling to find jobs. The 26-year-old from Pietermaritzburg is one of the top students in their first-ever coding class.
Sactwu declares national wage dispute in clothing manufacturing sector
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The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union (Sactwu) has declared a national wage dispute in the clothing sector as, after three rounds of negotiations, the parties failed to reach a wage settlement.
Energy experts reckon Eskom wage rise might force job cuts
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Sowetan reports that according to energy experts, cash-strapped Eskom might have to shed jobs to afford the 7.5% salary increase offer it has tabled to its three unions, which were due on Tuesday to give feedback on the latest offer.
Municipal employers’ association Salga dodges deregistration
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ANA reports that the Department of Labour announced on Monday that the SA Local Government Association (Salga) had submitted the outstanding documents required to avoid deregistration.
Sactwu settles wage talks in General Goods and Handbags and in Tanning leather sectors
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The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union (Sactwu) has settled its wage negotiations for 2018 for the General Goods and Handbags and for the Tanning leather sectors, respectively.
Saftu’s working class summit this weekend to focus on jobs and poverty
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BusinessLive reports that ahead of the jobs summit promised by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has decided to convene a similar forum, bringing together 75 civil society organisations.
Ramaphosa says after weekend tragedy that mine safety rules will be tightened up
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Reuters reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday that SA would tighten its mine safety regulations to hold mine operators accountable for accidental deaths in the industry.
Treat all kings the same, warns Cosatu in North West
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SowetanLive reports that labour federation in North West has called on the government to treat all traditional leaders equally when addressing land issues to avoid tribalism.
Phoenix teacher back in class after four years’ sick leave
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Sunday Tribune reports that a Phoenix teacher who was found guilty of falsifying a doctor’s certificate in 2015 and going on sick leave for 1,522 days was back in class on Monday.
SA mines relying heavily on unskilled workers despite Industry 4.0 gaining traction
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Mining Weekly reports that contrary to the expectation that it would move towards employing a higher number of skilled personnel to catalyse modernisation and mechanisation targets, the local mining industry has backtracked, employing a significant number of unskilled personnel instead.
MPs dismayed that mining deaths have reached crisis proportions
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ANA reports that the Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources, Mr Sahlulele Luzipo, and the Chairperson of the Select Committee on Land and Mineral Resources, Mr Olifile Sefako, said on Monday that mining deaths in SA have reached crisis proportions.
Maths and science graduates may have to teach in schools as part of community service
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The Citizen reports that Science and Technology Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has a plan to enlist taxpayer-funded graduates to do community service in schools.
Municipal Councillors’ Pension Fund looted
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The Star reports that widespread corruption, fraud, theft and mismanagement of hundreds of millions of rand at the Municipal Councillors’ Pension Fund (MCPF) has been referred to the Hawks by its curators.
Eskom and unions to return to wage negotiation table on Tuesday
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Fin24 reports that trade unions will meet with Eskom on Tuesday to give feedback on the power utility’s most recent wage offer.
Case against men accused of killing two police officers postponed
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News24 reports that three men accused of killing two police officers appeared in the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Monday and the case was postponed for further investigation.
HuffPost in SA to close due to ‘challenging’ advertising revenue, staff being ‘consulted’
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BusinessLive reports that Media24 has announced it is ending its publishing arrangement with global internet media brand, HuffPost.
Rio Tinto says workers return at Richards Bay Minerals
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Bloomberg reports that Rio Tinto’s Richards Bay Minerals in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) said workers were reporting for duty after violence and protests that started more than a week ago shut the operations.
Credit Ombud says garnishee order abuse continues despite ConCourt ruling
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Personal Finance reports that the Credit Ombud, Nicky Lala-Mohan, says there is still widespread abuse of the garnishee order system to deduct debt repayments from employees.
Fourth suspect arrested for killing of East Rand cop
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Timeslive reports that a fourth suspect has been arrested in connection with the death of a police officer‚ who was killed on the East Rand last week.
After Sunday’s copper mine blaze, SA’s mine death toll this year hits 54
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Bloomberg reports that SA’s mining industry is heading for the deadliest year since 2012 after six people died in an underground fire at Palabora Mining Company’s copper mine.
NUM, Amcu demand action after six miners killed at Limpopo copper mine
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Mail & Guardian reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) have called for accountability after six mineworkers died in a fire at Palabora Mining Company.
Roundup on Monday, 16 July 2018 of weekend labour reports
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In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 13 July 2018.
Bail hearing postponed for men who allegedly torched mineworkers’ bus, leaving six dead
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News24 reports that the case against five men who allegedly torched a bus in which six miners were killed earlier this year has been postponed until August for a formal bail application.
Unions claim victory with Nelson Mandela Bay agreement to back pay bonuses
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GroundUp reports that Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal workers will finally get their long-service back-pay bonuses.
Free-carried interest will foster loyalty among mineworkers, Mantashe reckons
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Mining Weekly reports that Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has pointed out that the free-carried interest stipulated in the latest draft of the Mining Charter would result in workers deriving immediate value.
Tshwane mayor Msimanga faces mounting pressure demanding body builder’s exit
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The Citizen reports that Tshwane executive mayor Solly Msimanga faces mounting backlash from opposition parties calling for the dismissal of bodybuilder turned executive director Stefan de Villiers.
Communication Workers Union tells MTN it will strike over wages
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Bloomberg reports that MTN workers are set to go on strike after a breakdown in wage talks between the cellphone company and the Communication Workers Union (CWU).