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 Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Winde hands over to police report on George building collapse compiled by engineering firm EWN reports that following an eight-month probe into the cause of the tragic George building collapse on 6 May last year, an engineering firm appointed by the Western Cape government has wrapped up its work. A five-storey building in the town caved in, trapping 62 workers who were on-site at the time. This resulted in a rescue effort that lasted close to two weeks. There were 34 fatalities. The provincial government appointed an independent structural engineering firm to investigate. This was in addition to multiple other investigations, including one by the police. Premier Alan Winde on Thursday handed over the final report compiled by the engineering firm to the police. He said he hoped it would help with their investigation. "There has to be consequences to the collapse of this building and the police are busy with this process so that we can move to the next stage, which will be the National Prosecution Authority," Winde observed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntuthuzelo Nene at EWN
SANDF defends golf day amid call for suspension of military celebrations after soldiers' deaths in DRC News24 reports that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) says a golf day that military chiefs attended this week, amid ongoing threats to SA soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was critical for networking and fundraising. This was in response to criticism by the Democratic Alliance (DA), which called for an immediate suspension of military celebrations after 13 soldiers died in the DRC. DA spokesperson on defence and military veterans, Chris Hattingh, condemned the event as the "height of disrespect" towards the SANDF troops who died and those still in danger. SA Air Force (SAAF) spokesperson Brigadier General Donovan Chetty said the annual Networking Golf Day had been planned for months and was traditionally executed during the SAAF Prestige Week. He confirmed that Air Force Chief Lieutenant-General Wiseman Mbambo had hosted the event at Copperleaf Golf Estate in Centurion on Tuesday. Attendees included the navy and army chiefs, along with a "reduced" number of SAAF command council members, as others were committed elsewhere. Chetty emphasised that the event's goal was to engage industry partners and stakeholders to bolster support for SAAF endeavours at home and abroad. He further highlighted the broader social responsibilities of the Air Force. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Bidvest fails in legal bid to halt Numsa strike at Durban depot over retrechments BL Premium writes that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) reported on Thursday that its members remained on strike at the Bidvest SA Container Depot (SACD) in Durban over the retrenchment of 106 workers after the company failed to have the stoppage interdicted by the courts. Bidvest SACD, part of the Bidvest Group, provides cargo and container management as well as supply chain management and other services. Numsa members downed tools on 15 January after the union and company management failed to reach an agreement over a section 189 (retrenchment) notice issued on 27 September. Workers were then served with dismissal notices stating that their last working day would be 31 January. Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola noted that the facility employed 187 people and said: “Of the 187, 106 are the Numsa members facing retrenchment, and they are not working, so I’d say the strike is affecting the company's operations. The company tried to interdict it [the strike] on Tuesday but the matter was dismissed by the courts.” According to Bidvest, the reasons for the retrenchments were the “the significant downturn and loss of business activity as a direct result of intense market competition, resulting in the under utilisation of warehouse services”. They also had to do with the challenges affecting the national port system. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Families called on to assist in identification of dead Stilfontein zama zamas SowetanLive reports that North West police have requested relatives of the 78 illegal miners (zama zamas) whose bodies were retrieved from the disused Buffelsfontein gold mine in Stilfontein during a mine rescue operation to meet at the local police station from next week for an identification process. More than 200 illegal miners were also rescued during the operation earlier this month, and were subsequently arrested. "Family members are requested to meet with the investigation team at Stilfontein police station on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 8am and 3pm," provincial police spokesperson Brig Sabata Mokgwabone indicated in a statement. Since August last year, nearly 90 bodies were brought up to surface from the mine. Police had cut off food and water supplies for weeks during Operation Vala Umgodi in an attempt to force the miners to the surface. However, that was met with litigation, forcing the government to help the zama-zamas who were said to be trapped underground. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Jeanette Chabalala at SowetanLive. See too, Police call on families of Stilfontein illegal miners to help identify bodies, at SABC News
Solidarity concerned that Amsa and government are sending conflicting signals about future of long-steel plants Trade union Solidarity on Thursday called on ArcelorMittal SA (Amsa) and officials from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition to put an end to their conflicting messages about the future of Amsa’s long-steel plants, and the possible job losses that could result. The steel manufacturer has indicated that it intends to continue with retrenchment consultations with trade unions, which signals negative prospects for the approximate 3,500 employees whose jobs are directly threatened by the closure of the plants in Newcastle, Vereeniging and at Amras (Witbank). But, Amsa has admitted that it is once again in talks with the government about rescue plans for the long-steel plants. Government sources are reportedly claiming that their discussions with Amsa are positive, creating expectations about a speedy resolution. Willie Venter, deputy general secretary for the metal and engineering industry at Solidarity, commented: “These conflicting messages leave us as a trade union, along with other trade unions and employees with major uncertainty about where we stand with the government’s intervention.” According to Venter, long-term solutions are urgently needed for the entire industry: “Talks should then involve all role players, whether primary producers or small-scale producers such as mini mills. All of these producers have a right of existence in the steel industry.” According to Solidarity, the ripple effect of the long-steel closures will cost tens of thousands of other people their jobs across many industries. Solidarity has also taken note of the intention to close Assmang’s Cato Ridge manganese steel plant. This plant has also engaged in talks with trade unions after earlier attempts to keep the doors open through cost savings failed. Read Solidarity’s full press statement on this matter at Politicsweb
Reserve Bank cuts repo interest rate to 7.5%, but makes no promises for remainder of 2025 The Citizen reports that the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) has cut the repo interest rate by 25 basis points, but only four of the six members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted for the cut, with two opting to keep the repo rate unchanged. The cut brings the prime rate to 11%. SARB Governor, Lesetya Kganyago, announced the MPC’s decision on Thursday. The committee also spent some time considering the explosive effect of the trade war threatened by the new US President Donald Trump. Kganyagonoted that the MPC had warned at its last meeting that the global environment would become more challenging and commented: “Some of the risks we saw then have since materialised. In particular, the outlook for monetary policy in the United States has changed. The space for rate cuts by the US Fed now looks limited.” The governor said growth outside of the United States was also generally more subdued. Turning to SA, he noted that the economy had contracted in the third quarter. However, the good news was that SARB expected a rebound for economic growth in the fourth quarter, supported by more normal agricultural production, as well as strong household spending, given tailwinds including lower inflation and the two-pot retirement system withdrawals. The SARB expects potential growth to trend higher over the next few years, with economic growth reaching about 2% by 2027, although this is less than the 3% needed for job creation. Consumer inflation is expected to remain in the bottom half of the bank’s target range through the first half of this year Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ina Opperman at The Citizen. Read too, SA Reserve Bank cuts repo rate, but warns predicted risks have materialised, at SowetanLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
MPs call for dismissal of SA Post Office business rescue practitioners Business Report writes that parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies has proposed the removal of the SA Post Office’s (Sapo’s) business rescue practitioners (BRPs) Anoosh Rooplal and Juanito Damons. The committee’s dissatisfaction stems from the duo’s failure to formulate a viable plan to restore the entity’s liquidity and solvency, leading to a substantial burden on taxpayers. This was highlighted by committee chairperson Khusela Diko during a media briefing on Thursday. Diko said that after three meetings with the BRPs, the committee had remained unconvinced by their ability to future-proof Sapo and propose its sustainability. She said the committee had resolved to approach Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, in a bid to lobby for their dismissal. “While we acknowledge and recognise the work done by the BRPs to date, even though it is at an immense financial cost to the State, the committee holds a firm view that the BRPs should have and ought to have, in terms of their mandate, produced and presented a sustainable plan that will guarantee the Post Office returns to liquidity and solvency and also ensuring that it is future proofed,” Diko indicated. In their update in September last year, BRPs said they had over the past year stabilized the business and made progress on cutting costs. This included rescaling the business with about 4,875 people out of a total staff complement of 11,083 having been retrenched through a section 189 process, in consultation with the CCMA. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Banele Ginindza at Business Report
Samwu threatens protest action over corruption-accused Helen Botes’ appointment as acting Joburg COO The Citizen reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) is threatening widespread protest action over a senior appointment by the City of Johannesburg (CoJ). It claims that the appointment of corruption-accused Helen Botes as the city’s chief operating officer (COO) bypassed due process. The union wants the appointment nullified. Botes faces a string of allegations. The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has linked her and other officials to financial misconduct, resulting in wasteful expenditure estimated at R18 million. There are also concerns over the lack of implementation of the Khampepe report, which called for “appropriate action” against Botes for direct responsibility in respect of the Usindiso building’s condition, which led to a fire that tragically killed 76 people. Samwu’s Ester Mtatyana said: “Nobody wanted to listen to us because she’s protected by the mayor. We don’t accept it. She corrupted and collapsed the JPC, and now she will oversee all entities and departments. The City of Johannesburg will collapse. We may not even get our salaries.” Earlier this week, the DA said it also intended to challenge Helen Botes’ appointment as Joburg’s acting COO. But, CoJ spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane, said there was nothing wrong with appointing an MD or CEO of an entity to act within the core administration. “This has been done before. There were concerns raised about her during her time at JPC, which is why she has been moved from there. An investigation is currently underway, and removing her from that position ensures she does not interfere with the process,” he stated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thando Nondywana at The Citizen
All City of Joburg supply chain management employees should undergo lifestyle audits, says SIU BL Premium reports that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has called on the City of Johannesburg to ensure that all supply chain management officials undergo training and lifestyle audits. SIU CEO Andy Mothibi briefed the standing committee on public accounts in parliament on Wednesday on its investigation into allegations of irregular procurement processes and awarding of tenders in the Joburg metro. Mothibi advised that the investigation found that there was collusion between supply chain management officials, bid committee members and service providers. There was also overpricing of goods and services, with products supplied not meeting specifications. Other observations pertained to inadequate and/or gaps in the systems and processes, weak regulatory and compliance monitoring, inadequate skills and capacity, poor oversight from the executive authority and conflict of interest. There was poor accountability and no consequence management; leadership instability and poor management; no segregation of duties; and poor project and contract management. The SIU concluded that the tender process to appoint Fire Raiders for the purchase of 29 fire engines valued at millions of rand had been irregular. Mothibi said the National Prosecuting Authority had referred 12 fraud cases that are now under investigation. A total of 11 officials had been referred to accounting officers/authorities to institute disciplinary action. Several requests had been made, but there was no feedback from the City on the status of the referrals, Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Trial of suspect who allegedly raped two Limpopo nurses postponed for further investigation TimesLIVE reports that the case against a 28-year-old man accused of robbing and raping two nurses working at Chuene Clinic outside Polokwane has been postponed to April for further investigation. Moloto Johannes Sathekge of Ga-Maja Phiri village appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. He is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, two counts of kidnapping, four counts of rape, three counts of housebreaking with intent to commit an offence, and 10 counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances. Earlier this month, he allegedly entered Ga-Chuene clinic through a guardroom where three security guards were on duty. He tied up two of the three guards and took the female guard with him to enter the clinic. He found two nurses, robbed them of their cellphones and took them to the nearby bushes, leaving the female guard behind. The accused subsequently raped them and took their cellphones. After the ordeal, the victims managed to return to the clinic. “A thorough investigation linked the accused to the offences and at the time of his arrest he was already in police custody for an unrelated matter,” NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangishe advised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shonisani Tshikalange at TimesLIVE. Read too, Man appears for allegedly kidnapping, robbing, raping on-duty Limpopo nurses, at News24 (subscription or trial registration required). En ook, Vermeende reeksoortreder verkrag glo verpleegsters, by Maroela Media
Case against two men in Putco bus torchings postponed TimesLIVE reports that the two suspects arrested in connection with the torching of Putco buses have been identified as 29-year-old Isaack Mabena and 37-year-old Luthando Trevor Skosana. The duo appeared in the Mdutjane Magistrate's Court on Thursday and are expected to make formal bail applications on 6 February. A total of 51 buses were burnt. Sixteen buses were burnt at KwaMhlanga and 35 at Siyabuswa (18 in Maphotla and 17 in Thanane). Two security guards were injured. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said the duo was arrested for the attack on the buses at the Thabane (Siyabuswa) depot, where about 17 buses were destroyed. The men are facing charges of armed robbery, damage to essential infrastructure, malicious damage to property and possession of suspected stolen property. Nyuswa said they have not been linked to the other attacks, which seem however to have all taken place at the same time. “So different people went to each depot. The accused are facing a Schedule 6 charge so bail will be opposed,” Nyuswa indicated. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Shonisani Tshikalange at TimesLIVE See too, Men suspected of torching Putco buses remanded in custody, at SowetanLive. En ook, Twee in hof oor Putco-busse wat brand, by Maroela Media
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