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 Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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BELA protest on Tuesday set to be biggest march by the Afrikaans community since 1994 Maroela Media reports that a total of 41 Afrikaans organisations and organisations supporting mother tongue education came together on Monday to express their support for a march to be held on Tuesday, 5 November, against controversial provisions in the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act. They unanimously expressed their opposition to the BELA sections dealing with language and admission policy at schools. Thousands are expected to participate in the protest action. The march will commence at the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria at 09:00 and proceed to Freedom Park where memorandums will be handed over to representatives of the various political parties in the government of national unity (GNU) and to government representatives. According to Solidarity Chief Executive Dr Dirk Hermann, more than 7,000 people have already registered to participate in the march, but they expect that many more people will turn up to march. He went on to say: “It will possibly be the biggest march by the Afrikaans community since 1994.” The DA leader, John Steenhuisen, the leader of the Freedom Front Plus, Dr Pieter Groenewald, the leader of the Patriotic Alliance, Gayton McKenzie, and other government representatives will also attend. Several leaders from traditional communities will also demonstrate their support for mother tongue education. The BELA Act was signed into effect by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 13 September 2024. He put the two contentious clauses dealing with admissions and language policies on ice pending further stakeholder engagements and consultations. According to Hermann and AfriForum’s Kallie Kriel, two of the BELA negotiators, several tough negotiating processes are taking place with various political parties. “The pressure created by the protest action will help a great deal in the negotiations. It must be a show of force,” they pointed out. Read the full original of the Afrikaans report in in the above regard by Janice du Plessis at Maroela Media
KZN cop accidentally shoots colleagues – one fatally – during domestic violence incident take-down EWN reports that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating a case of culpable homicide after a KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) officer accidentally shot two colleagues – killing one and injuring another – during an operation. The incident happened in Boboyi near Port Shepstone on on KZN’s South Coast on Sunday night while Public Order Police and the Port Shepstone K-9 Unit were conducting an operation to locate a person allegedly involved in a domestic violence issue. Eight police officers responded to the complaint. It is alleged that they were performing a tactical manoeuvre to subdue the person concerned. A stun grenade was placed inside one of the rooms. A female officer allegedly thought they were under attack and opened fire using an R-5 rifle. She shot two of her colleagues, killing a Public Order Police member and injuring a K-9 Unit member. The officer responsible for the shooting was apparently also a training officer with the SA Police Service (SAPS). IPID is investigating charges of culpable homicide and negligent discharge of a firearm. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Orrin Singh at EWN Traffic officer shot dead at off ramp on KZN N2 highway on Monday TimesLIVE reports that a KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) traffic officer was shot dead on Monday at the N2 Groutville off-ramp. A police spokesperson indicated that a charge of murder was being investigated and indicated further as follows: “The officer was apparently on duty when he was shot by an unknown suspect at the south-bound N2 off ramp.” IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson Samantha Meyrick confirmed that the victim died at the scene. The south-bound off ramp and the Groutville bridge were closed for a number of hours following the incident. Police didn't immediately respond to queries about the circumstances of the shooting. Based on short reports at Maroela Media and TimesLIVE Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Mister Sweet wage strike ends on employer’s terms, with workers to return to work next week GroundUp reports that more than 300 workers from Premier’s Mister Sweet branch in Germiston will return to work on 11 November, after negotiations on Friday brought their 11-week strike to an end. The Simunye Workers Forum (SWF) said the strikers had agreed to Premier’s initial offer of a 7% increase for operators and 6% for general workers during the current year, and of 6% for operators and 5% for general workers in 2025 and in 2026. They had initially demanded a minimum wage of R19,500 a month for the highest paid workers. During the long strike, several casual workers were badly injured in accidents. There were also reports of casual workers sleeping on company premises to keep up with production pressure. “We were faced with a situation where the festive season is fast approaching, and we had to sign a deal under pressure. People need to make money for their families for December and have school fees to think about for January,” said Jacob Potlaki from the SWF. He said some workers had already returned to work last week. Premier’s Siobhan O’Sullivan said the 1 November wage agreement was backdated to January and workers would return on 11 November. Some workers expressed their unhappiness with the outcome of the strike. One worker said she has no choice but to go back to work because she has lost lots of money during the strike. “It’s as if we have been striking for nothing because none of our demands were met. We feel that the company has taken advantage of us by sticking to its old offer, knowing that we now desperately need money,” she lamented. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kimberly Mutandiro at GroundUp
Finance Minister Godongwana’s repudiation of 4.7% wage offer sets scene for civil service strife BL Premium reports that the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) said on Sunday that the government could not go back on its 4.7% wage increase offer, as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana did last week, because “the law states that the last offer stands”. According to the council, Godongwana might have misspoken, but labour analyst and Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Michael Bagraim said it was more likely that the state had realised it could not afford the offer and was backing out. The situation sets the scene for renewed strife in the public sector if the parties cannot come to an agreement. The PSCBC’s comment came after Godongwana said at a media briefing ahead of last week’s medium-term budget policy statement that the National Treasury had rejected the PSCBC facilitation process that had resulted in the proposed 4.7% offer. The outcome of that process had been that “we must move to 4.7% and in six months’ time we move to 1.3% and it becomes 6%", Godongwana noted. “As a proposal we have not accepted [this]. Unions are now going to get their new mandates, but I’m saying that proposal was from a facilitation process, it’s not necessarily a full offer on the table,” Godongwana claimed. PSCBC general secretary Frikkie De Bruin said the problem with the minister’s statement was that “he can’t reject his own offer. I think it was a slip of the tongue and he wanted to say they reject the 7.5%, but I’m not sure. The 4.5% offer is the last offer on the table and the law states that the last offer stands.” De Bruin pointed out that public service unions representing 1.3-million public servants, including teachers, the police and nurses, were still busy seeking mandates from their members on whether or not to accept or reject the 4.7% offer. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Illegal miners arrested in North West last week were due to appear in court on Monday SABC News reports that some of the suspected illegal miners who were arrested last week were due to appear in the Stilfontein Magistrate’s Court near Klerksdorp in the North West on Monday. More suspected illegal miners resurfaced from the Margaret shaft in Stilfontein after police intensified their Operation Vala Umgodi. About 600 suspected illegal miners resurfaced by Sunday evening. This after police blocked routes used to deliver necessities including food to the suspected illegal miners. Most of them are reported to be from Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Provincial police spokesperson, Adéle Myburgh indicated: “We also have officials here from the Department of Home Affairs assisting us, trying to determine what is the specific nationality of these people. From there we process them, we take finger prints, you know the normal police stuff. If we are done from here, we take them to police cells and then they will be going to court.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard at SABC News. Read too, Orkney residents allege being terrorised by illegal miners, at SABC News Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Wesgro secures R7.75bn in investments projected to create nearly 4,000 jobs over next five years TimesLIVE reports that the Western Cape government’s trade and investment promotion agency Wesgro has secured R7.75bn in committed investments for the 2023/2024 financial year. Noko Masipa, a member of the provincial legislature and DA spokesperson on economic development and tourism, said this would lead to 3,913 jobs being created over the next five years. He indicated that the green economy had emerged as a key investment driver, representing 57% of the new projects facilitated. “In addition, 157 trade declarations were secured by Wesgro to the value of about R6.8bn, resulting in 4,948 jobs,” he advised. The department, with its associated entities, recently presented their annual reports in the legislature. They highlighted the following: the registration of 1,244 tourist guides; the provision of tourism safety services to 400 beneficiaries; 72 businesses having received export-readiness support; and the business support helpline having recorded 336 cases, with a 93% resolution rate. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Jim Mohlala at TimesLIVE
Mamelodi residents struggle to claim UIF benefits as labour office has been closed since August after service delivery protests GroundUp reports that people in Mamelodi trying to claim their Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) money or to report work-related problems to the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) have been left frustrated. This after the department closed its office in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, due to safety concerns. According spokesperson for the department, Teboho Thejane, the office closed on 6 August because of “sporadic service delivery protests targeted towards the Tshwane municipality”. The offices are in a building inside gated premises that also house offices of the City of Tshwane. There are two security guards at the entrance to the precinct. “The security risk assessment report suggested that it was not safe for the department to operate from the said building and as such, alternative office accommodation must be sourced. The staff of Mamelodi labour centre were then requested to report at the Pretoria labour centre … Clients from Mamelodi are currently serviced at the Pretoria labour centre,” Thejane indicated. A sign pasted on the DEL office window advises that the offices have been closed indefinitely and that people should use the online service. But, the Tshwane municipal offices – the ‘target’ of the protests – are open and functioning. Mamelodi resident Mozi Mtashe complained that the UIF’s online system has not been operational. Thejane acknowledged that the DEL’s online application system had had challenges, but said they had since been resolved. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Warren Mabona at GroundUp
‘Two-pot’ frustrations: After two months, some GEPF withdrawals still not processed Fin24 reports that delays in the payment of withdrawals from the two-pot retirement system have led members of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) to take to social media to express their frustrations. While the GEPF had previously indicated that payments would take up to 60 days to process, there are still many members who have still not been paid. Members who have been divorced are experiencing a delay in payment, but there also appears to be a problem with payments to those members who applied in the first week of September. Other concerns raised on social media include payment issues to members who bank with Bidvest or Old Mutual Money. According to Mack Lewele of the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA), the agency is aware of the delays relating to members who have been divorced. The reason for the delay is that the GEPF needs to validate any divorce proceedings before processing the claim. However, the GPAA has not acknowledged an issue in processing of payments for those members who applied early. According to Farhana Ismail, a GEPF member who is part of a Facebook page for disgruntled members, there are many government employees who applied for their savings pot withdrawal from the GEPF in the first week of September who have not been paid. According to Ismail, members who applied after the first week of September have already received payment. Other members also expressed concerns that their applications from early September seem to be stuck in the system. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Maya Fisher-French at Fin24 (subscription or trial registration required) Dondo Mogajane steps down as GEPF chair and all other positions amid VBS Bank allegations Fin24 reports that Dondo Mogajane has announced that he will step down from all professional roles and boards, including chair of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) and CEO of the Moti Group, in the wake of allegations made against him by the former chair of VBS Mutual Bank. "It is with a deep sense of responsibility that I have made the decision to step down from all my professional roles and the boards that I have served, effective immediately. I believe in the importance of due process and remain confident that, in time, the truth will prevail, and my reputation will be fully restored,” he said in a statement on Monday. The GEPF confirmed on Monday that it had received Mogajane's resignation as a trustee and chairperson of its board. It added that deputy chair Eddie Kekana would take over the vacant chair role until further notice. Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana issued a statement recognising Mogajane's decision to step down from the GEPF, and thanking him for his service. The news comes less than a week after Godongwana said that he would "deal with" the reputational risk to the GEPF represented by Mogajane. Tshifhiwa Matodzi, a convicted fraudster and the former chairperson of VBS, told the North Gauteng High Court earlier this year that Mogajane had taken a R1-million bribe before VBS collapsed. As part of his plea deal, Matodzi claimed that Mogajane had accepted the bribe in exchange for his intervention to withdraw a letter from the National Treasury that instructed municipalities to stop depositing funds with the bank. At the time, Mogajane was the Treasury director-general. He left the role in 2022 Read the full original of the report in the above regard by William Brederode at Fin24 (subscription or trial registration required). Read too, Dondo Mogajane resigns from all boards, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Principal, deputy and HR cited by probe into racism at Pretoria Girls High School TimesLIVE reports that an investigation commissioned by the Gauteng education department into allegations of racism at Pretoria Girls High School has recommended that authorities consider taking action against the principal, deputy principal, two teachers, the estate manager, the HR manager and the acting principal. The investigation found the principal and HR failed to comply with their obligations and committed misconduct. Attorney Mthuthuzile Mdladlamba also recommended that the department consider removing the school governing body (SGB) chairperson for interfering with the legislative powers and functions of the MEC Matome Chiloane. The inquiry was launched in July when 12 female pupils were accused of displaying racism on a “whites only” WhatsApp group. The investigation did not look into the WhatsApp messages as that issue was decided on by the disciplinary hearing. Among the complaints aired during the inquiry was that the financial manager was allegedly given preference and assigned to the role based only on skin colour, despite not having the necessary qualifications. Another complaint was that some white teachers did not greet their fellow black teachers “because they did not know whether they are cleaners or teachers at the school. One needs to qualify this. It is not all white teachers at the school, but some white teachers or staff members”. There were also allegations that the estate facility manager position was reserved for white people, which discouraged a lot of people from applying for the position. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shonisani Tshikalange at TimesLIVE. Lees ook, Pretoria Girls High: Verslag wys vinger na hoof en kie, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Joburg’s Rea Vaya bus services suspended until further notice According to a SABC News report on Monday evening, Rea Vaya bus services in Johannesburg have been suspended until further notice. The exact cause of the halt in services is presently unknown. Passengers have been advised to use alternate public transport until services resume. Rea Vaya spokesperson, Benny Makgoga, said on Monday: “Rea Vaya passengers are informed that buses are temporarily suspended until further notice. Some transport stakeholders have raised issues relating to the 45 (seater) buses that operate in Soweto. We are engaging with the stakeholders to establish the cause of the problem. Regular updates on the situation will be given and we advise passengers to use alternative public transport. We apologise for the inconvenience.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Sashin Naidoo at SABC News
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