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.
In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Top CEOs target economic growth of over 3% by end of 2025 and a million jobs by 2030 Daily Maverick reports that if Eskom blackouts end permanently, crime and corruption are successfully prosecuted, and Transnet’s logistics get back on track, business leaders hope to see economic growth of 3.3% by the end of next year. Of the one million jobs that could be created by 2030, organised business wants 400,000 to be specifically created for young people. In June 2023, organised business (comprising about 150 CEOs) pledged its support to the government, offering expertise and money (mobilising R250-million) to fix the country’s problems in three key areas, namely electricity, transport and logistics, and crime and corruption. This support was known as Phase One. On Tuesday, the CEOs pledged to launch Phase Two of the partnership with the government, saying they would focus on permanently ending Eskom’s rolling blackouts, lending assistance to Transnet to run trains and ports, and helping law enforcement agencies investigate and prosecute complex corruption-related crimes. The economy grew by 1.9% in 2022 and 0.7% in 2023. GDP is expected to average about 1% in 2024. However, the CEOs, who rely on modelling from the Bureau for Economic Research, said their target of over 3% economic growth by 2025 was a “stretch target”. Discovery CEO Adrian Gore said the mood and narrative around SA had changed since Phase One of the partnership with the government. “There is a feeling that things have changed. We need to accelerate the partnership and do more. The second phase will be about economic growth and jobs. It can be done if we push very hard,” said Gore, who is part of the partnership with the government. Business for SA’s Martin Kingston said the CEOs had faced pressure to increase the number of priority areas, but had decided against it. “We might expand the areas in the future,” said Kingston. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ray Mahlaka at Daily Maverick (registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Eastern Cape policeman shot dead on Monday in ambush News24 reports that a police officer was shot and killed by three armed men in Ngqeleni, Eastern Cape, on Monday afternoon. According to a reliable police source, the officer, attached to the Ngqeleni police station, was ambushed by three men who allegedly fled on foot after the attack. His service pistol was apparently taken. The police officer, a warrant officer in his late 50s, worked at the Social Crime Prevention Unit. Ngqeleni is in the OR Tambo district area, about 103km from Lusikisiki, where 18 people died following a mass shooting on Saturday morning. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Sithandiwe Velaphi at News24. Lees ook, Polisiebeampte in Oos-Kaap doodgeskiet, by Maroela Media Security guard critically injured during cash-in-transit ambush at liquor store in Durban on Monday News24 reports that a 43-year-old security officer was critically injured during a violent cash-in-transit robbery at a liquor wholesaler in Phoenix, Durban, on Monday. Prem Balram, spokesperson for Reaction Unit SA, said that, just after midday, teams of officers responded to calls about a robbery and shooting at the liquor wholesaler and found that a security officer had been shot in the abdomen. Paramedics stabilised the injured guard, after which he was rushed to hospital. Balram reported: "It was alleged that the security officer was exiting the store, with cash boxes, when the robbers opened fire on him. They deprived [sic] the injured male of his firearm and the cash boxes before they fled in a white Ford Ranger double cab bakkie." Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the incident and said an investigation was under way. He added that the group had fled with an undisclosed amount of money which the guards had just collected from a client when they were ambushed Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sakhiseni Nxumalo at News24 High Court presumes as dead the 11 missing fishermen who went missing off Cape Town coast in May News24 reports that the Western Cape High Court has presumed as dead, the 11 fishermen who went missing at sea in May 2024. The men went missing after their fishing vessel, the MFV Lepanto, encountered trouble and sank on 17 May 2024, 34 nautical miles off the coast of Hout Bay. At the time of their disappearance, the missing crew were employed by Viking Fishing, a division of Sea Harvest Corporation. Nine crewmen were rescued from a life raft and brought to shore unharmed. The vessel at the time of the search in May, was lying at a depth of 350 metres, making recovery operations almost impossible. The bodies of the missing crew members were never recovered. Viking Fishing and relatives of the fishermen approached the court requesting that it declare the missing men deceased to allow the registration and administration of their estates. In a court judgment delivered on Monday, Judge James Lekhuleni noted that despite the diligent search, to date no other vessel or person had reported any sighting of any of the missing crew, nor had their bodies been retrieved. He said there was overwhelming evidence to infer that they died when their vessel sank. "In the result, the missing crew listed hereinabove are presumed to have died at sea on 17 May 2024." The sister of one of the missing crew members, Johnwill Isaacs, said: "Not seeing his body remains the biggest torture for us. Our days are filled with so much sadness because we do not have closure." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Noxolo Sibiya at News24
Tough round of pay talks this week for parties at public service bargaining council BusinessLive reports that unions representing SA’s 1.3-million government workers, who are demanding a 12% pay hike, prepared themselves for a long round of talks scheduled to start from Tuesday this week. This after the state, grappling with a R700bn-plus public sector wage bill, recently only offered unions a 3% rise. Other demands for 2025/26 by public servants, including teachers, nurses and police, are for a R2,500 housing allowance increment across the board, a nearly twofold rise in the danger allowance to R1,000, a performance bonus, bursary schemes for dependants of employees and permanent employment for education/teacher assistants, community health workers and reservists. The pay demands have been described as the toughest test yet for the new minister of public service & administration, Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi. Contacted for comment on Monday, Buthelezi said parties would meet at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) from Tuesday. He would not comment on his department’s 3% offer, saying: “Such discussions are very sensitive. We want to guard the integrity of the process. But when a deal is reached, it will be communicated publicly.” The Public Servants Association’s (PSA’s) Reuben Maleka commented: “The employer is offering us 3%. We foresee a long negotiation process ahead. Marathon talks will begin from Tuesday where there will be exchanges of response along the lines of what has been offered and where we are.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive. Read too, Education Minister faces poser over teachers’ wage demands (editorial), at BusinessLive
Solidarity plans ‘national day of protest’ against BELA Act Maroela Media reports that Solidarity has notified the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) of its intention to stage a national day of protest in terms of section 77 of the Labour Relations Act against the BELA legislation. If Nedlac declares the notice admissible, a mediation process will take place between the trade union and the government to establish if a settlement can be reached in respect of the matter. If not, Nedlac will issue a certificate in terms of which Solidarity members will be protected if they participate in the protest action. According to Anton van der Bijl, Deputy Chief Executive at Solidarity, they have requested Nedlac to deal with the process as a matter of urgency, as President Ramaphosa has allowed grace of only three months before the contentious sections 5 and 6 of the Act will come into effect. He said they would participate in the Nedlac talks with an open mind. Van der Bijl indicated further: “We are going to ask people to set aside one day for the future of our children. We are extremely frustrated by the attitude of the ANC, and specifically of the ANC in Gauteng towards BELA. The ANC understands the language of national protest. We now have no choice but to speak their language.” The national day of protest will be organised in conjunction with AfriForum, other institutions of the Solidarity Movement and a number of other Afrikaans organisations. A date for the protest action has not yet been finalised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Maroela Media
Jeering of Cilliers Brink by employees was ‘humiliating and despicable’, says Tshwane city manager TimesLIVE reports that City of Tshwane manager Johann Mettler has called out employees for what he said was unbecoming behaviour towards the DA’s former mayor, Cilliers Brink. Loud cheers and ululation engulfed the municipal offices on Thursday last week as employees celebrated the ousting of Brink as mayor. He was accosted by a crowd of employees in the Tshwane House lobby celebrating his axing. They sang songs as he walked out of the chamber moments after the ANC motion of no confidence was passed. On Monday, Mettler sent an internal memo, which has since been leaked, to staff reprimanding them for their behaviour, which he described as despicable. “He was jeered by a visibly excitable crowd and expletives were hurled in his face. I found this behaviour to be insensitive, humiliating, degrading, inflammatory, offensive and despicable,” Mettler wrote. Though employees have a right to associate with a party of their choice, Tshwane House is a workplace, not a party political space, Mettler pointed out. He said the behaviour of employees went against the culture of respect, treating each other with dignity, kindness and empathy. He added, however, that it had only been a handful of employees who mistreated and abused Brink. Though Mettler said he was not taking action against the employees who participated, he threatened that a repeat would result in consequences. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgothatso Madisa at BusinessLive. See too, Tshwane city manager reprimands municipal workers who celebrated Brink's ousting, at EWN. En ook, Mettler vermaan personeel oor ‘veragtelike’ gedrag teenoor Brink, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
SA miners will need to make more cost cuts in coming year and even gold sector at risk, PwC warns Fin24 reports that as SA’s mining industry faces low commodity prices, its ability to get a grip on spending and cut costs over the next 12 months will be critical to successfully weather a prolonged downturn. This is according to accounting firm PwC, which on Tuesday published its latest annual SA Mine Report, analysing the performance of 28 mining companies and their operations in SA. The report reflected on a tough year for the local mining industry – with the notable exception of gold – as lower metal and mineral prices began to bite. Revenues across the sector were 10% lower than last year at R582 billion, with the biggest drops seen in platinum group metals (PGMs) and in coal. Production also showed a slight decline for the year ending in June, with chrome being the only real growth area. PwC said outlook for the gold sector remained positive as the factors supporting the gold price would likely persist. However, the sector also faced some challenges, such as the depth and safety of mines, the availability and reliability of power supply, labour relations and wage negotiations, and the environmental and social impacts of mining. Directly employing over 470,000 people and contributing R90 billion in tax revenue, the health of the mining sector is critical for the local economy. But looking across the company balance sheets, "we think they're actually in good shape to weather the storm at the beginning of this downturn," said Rossouw. He added: “I think the next 12 months would be telling to see how much of the discretionary capital expenditure pullback that companies have promised will they be able to deliver on, how much of the operational cost savings that they promise will they deliver on, and to what extent the existing cost savings are sustainable for the longer term.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisa Steyn at Fin24 (registration required)
Delinquent employers fined R10m after labour department conducted 2,681 inspections in September BL Premium reports that businesses flouting SA’s labour laws have been ordered to pay more than R10m to shortchanged employees, as the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) intensified raids on rogue employers. The department conducted 2,681 inspections across the country in September, with many workplaces found to be in breach of laws pertaining to the national minimum wage, basic conditions of employment, occupational health and safety, compensation of occupational injuries and diseases, unemployment insurance and immigration. DEL Minister Nomakhosazana Meth disclosed the information at a media briefing on Tuesday. This after blogger Mihlali Nobavu posted a viral video exposing an alleged toxic working environment at the Babel restaurant in Menlyn, Pretoria. According to the DEL, 809 inspections were conducted in the Western Cape, where there was a 43% noncompliance rate. This was followed by Gauteng with 764 inspections and a 72% noncompliance rate; KwaZulu-Natal at 535 with noncompliance of 33%; North West at 217 with noncompliance of 42%; Limpopo at 106 with noncompliance of 22%; Eastern Cape at 82 with noncompliance of 40%, Free State at 69 with noncompliance of 32%, and Mpumalanga at 59 with noncompliance of 55%. The countrywide inspections also led to the arrests of 81 undocumented foreign nationals. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Labour department issues R10m in non-compliance fines to errant employers, at News24 (registration required). And also, Labour Department uncovers widespread non-compliance at SA's restaurants, at EWN
Emfuleni claims service delivery not affected after failure to pay staff their September salaries EWN reports that the Emfuleni Local Municipality claims that service delivery has not been affected by the non-payment of salaries to its employees. Municipal workers, who were meant to be paid on the 25 September, are still waiting to be remunerated. This after Eskom attached the municipality’s bank accounts for failing to pay the utility for electricity supply. The municipality is unsure of when its municipal workers will receive their September salaries. Some employees have apparently stopped working, citing that they don’t have money to commute or fill up their cars to drive to work. Despite this, Emfuleni spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni claimed that service delivery was unaffected and stated: “We can’t say service delivery has been affected because people who must receive water are receiving water. So that should tell you that we do have service delivery.” But, a municipal worker told a different story: “Services are disrupted. There is no service delivery now as we speak because of the situation.” The municipality is now engaging with the National Treasury in the hope that it will step in to assist. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Alpha Ramushwana at EWN. Read too, Umdoni Municipality placed under administration, at SABC News
Woolies boss gets R100m in shares in two years, but total pay dropped to R65.3m in FY2024 from R122.5m in FY2023 Moneyweb reports that Woolworths CEO Roy Bagattini has been awarded sizeable chunks of shares under the group’s long-term incentive scheme in the 2023 and 2024 financial years that total nearly R100 million. The bulk of these, which were awarded in the last financial year, have a fair value of R67 million. Bagattini was awarded a further R30 million in shares between July 2023 and June 2024. Overall, his total remuneration in the just-ended financial year was practically half the amount he received in FY2023. In FY2024, he received total remuneration of R65.3 million versus the R122.5 million in FY2023. His base salary was R19 million, around R1 million more than he was paid last year (an increase of 5.1%). Along with this, he received R2.5 million in benefits, which included retirement, healthcare, and related benefits. This also included discounts received on purchases in Woolworths stores (which all group employees are entitled to). Bagattini is paid in both rands and Australian dollars. The group says this is “to reflect the time and focus spent in the different geographies”. Because of the relative strength of the Aussie dollar, 60% of his total guaranteed pay was paid in Australian dollars last year. Under its short-term incentive scheme, his performance bonus was R4.8 million last year (and R8.9 million in FY2023). Bagattini’s previous employment agreement has been extended from a fixed-term one to one without a specific end date. Woolworths says it “has a six month notice period, reducing to three months in specified instances”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Moneyweb
Rail Safety Regulator commits to achieving highest level of safety on train lines SABC News reports that the Rail Safety Regulator says it is committed to achieving the highest level of safety for passenger and freight rail in the country. Issues affecting safety came under discussion at the annual Rail Safety Conference in Stellenbosch. It was reported that during the period under review, there had been a slightly negative impact in safety-related occurrences. Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Railway Safety Regulator, Mmuso Selaledi, pointed out that regulator has five focus areas. “So, we as a Railway Safety Regulator, it is one of our focus areas, we have five. One would be collisions on a running line. Another one would be derailments. One would be people struck by trains. Level crossings is one where you would have motorists at a level crossing struck by a train. And the other one is what we call platform train interface, when you are on the station platform and you slip between the platform and the train and there is some sort of incident. But in the main it tells us we are not where we want to be,” Selaledi explained. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at SABC News
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