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 Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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SANDF successfully repatriates injured soldiers from DRC EWN reports that the SA Defence Force (SANDF) has successfully repatriated the remaining wounded soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who are now on their way to receive medical care. Upon arrival, the soldiers were categorised into three priority areas of care including, critical, non-critical and those needing psychological and social intervention. In January, 14 SANDF soldiers were killed in the war-torn country last month, while fighting alongside Malawian and Tanzanian soldiers in the eastern DRC as part of a United Nations delegate. On Tuesday, the first group of critically injured soldiers returned to home soil. "The South African National Defence Force in connection with other relevant role players has worked tirelessly to ensure the safe return of our wounded members. We urge the public to respect and afford privacy to the injured members and their families during the healing process. The SANDF remains committed to the welfare of our soldiers," said SANDF spokesperson, Siphiwe Dlamini. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Thandoluhle Ngcobo at EWN. Read too, Soldiers back in SA from DRC include two pregnant officers, at BusinessLive Most wanted suspect in murder of senior Mpumalanga cop and CIT robberies could be in hiding near Pietermaritzburg The Witness reports that one of SA’s most wanted suspected killers, sought in connection with the murder of a senior police officer in Mpumalanga and multiple cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies, could be hiding near Pietermaritzburg. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) has called on the public to help locate Prince Gift Mdluli, believed to be in his 30s. He was last seen in Bergville, Howick, and Umzimkhulu. Mdluli is implicated in the murder of Lieutenant-Colonel Piet Pretorius, who was gunned down on 16 January. Pretorius (59) was the commander of the vehicle identification unit in Ermelo. So far, five suspects, including a former police officer, have been arrested in connection with Pretorius’ murder. They abandoned their bail applications in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court this week. The applications are set to continue on 27 February. Lieutenant-Colonel Philani warned residents not to approach Mdluli if spotted, describing him as dangerous and armed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zama Myeza at The Witness PSA calls for security to be beefed up after Soweto clinic robbery Sunday World reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) has raised concerns about the safety of government employees. This after a group of armed men robbed healthcare workers at Chiawelo Community Health Centre in Soweto last Tuesday. The men, impersonating Gauteng crime prevention wardens (also known as Amapanyaza), entered the clinic pretending to be patients who needed medical care. The thugs forcefully entered the guard room and held security officers at gunpoint. They then went through the centre robbing staff and guards of whatever property they could find. They further assaulted a medical officer and then fled the scene before police arrived. PSA Gauteng manager Olivia Mashigo said: “The PSA urges the Gauteng Health Department to implement stricter security measures to protect employees working the night shifts. The PSA also urges police to intervene and provide regular monitoring services at this public health facility to prevent future incidents. Ensuring the safety of healthcare workers is paramount, and immediate action is required to safeguard those dedicated to serving the community.” Residents near the centre also raised concerns about the number of security guards at the facility, especially at night. “We are very concerned about the level of security at the facility, as the number of guards on duty is minimal. You can’t expect two security guards to protect such a huge facility, where there are also medical staff and patients who come through for emergency medical attention,” one resident pointed out. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bongani Mdakane at Sunday World
Harmony reports another fatality from Mponeng fall-of-ground incident Mining Weekly reports that an employee who sustained injuries in a fall-of-ground (FoG) incident following a seismic event at Harmony Gold’s Mponeng mine, in Gauteng, on 20 February has passed away. “Despite receiving the best possible post-incident care at a top medical centre, our colleague tragically succumbed to his injuries. During this difficult time, our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday. This was the second loss of life from the incident. The Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs, with the support of Harmony’s management and organised labour, is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. This was the third FoG incident reported from the company’s mines this month alone. There were two separate loss-of-life incidents at the gold producer’s Doornkop and Joel mines on 4 February, which resulted in five mineworkers losing their lives. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at Mining Weekly Portfolio committee investigates retrenchment rumours at Mpumalanga mines Mining Weekly writes that Mikateko Mahlaule, chairperson of the portfolio committee on mineral and petroleum resources, has expressed concern about reports of mass retrenchments at mining companies in Mpumalanga. The committee has been conducting oversight visits to mining companies in the Nkangala region, including the Arnot coal mine in Middelburg, and engaging with labour unions and community members to discuss various issues relating to the sector, including operations, compliance, challenges and adherence to social and labour plans. Trade unions NUM, Numsa, Solidarity and Amcu told the portfolio committee that mining companies in the province were retrenching permanent employees and pushing them to be employed through contractors. The unions expressed concern that this new business model was creating job insecurity and worsening SA’s unemployment problem, as not all retrenched workers were being employed by contractors. State-owned company African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation told the committee that it needed a leaner structure to grow the business and that the retrenchment of 149 workers was unavoidable. Seriti Resources denied any mass retrenchments. Mahlaule said the committee was concerned about the reported retrenchments and that laying off of workers must be avoided at all costs, where possible. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly
Vodacom SA to retrench some 113 employees across various levels BusinessTech reports that mobile telecoms operator Vodacom will be retrenching about 113 Vodacom SA employees across various levels, including management and senior management. The group said this was due to a decision to restructure parts of its business. “This step is part of our concerted effort to ensure that the company remains fit for purpose to support our strategic shift toward becoming a leading technology company. While we deeply regret the impact that this has on colleagues, we are fully committed to supporting them through this transition. We are confident that these changes, while difficult, help position the company for long-term sustainability,” Vodacom indicated. The staff cuts align with the group’s five-year Vision 2030 strategy. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessTech Closure of Durban’s Pencil Club leaves workers in financial turmoil Daily News reports that barely five years after its inception, the top-notch Pencil Club, a prominent networking hub based in uMhlanga, north of Durban, has shut its doors, leaving its employees shocked and in financial disarray. On Tuesday, the workers, who included waitresses, bartenders, cleaners and chefs, were up in arms after their February salaries were not paid. They expressed their anger at how the company had handled the matter. “We were not informed before today (Tuesday) that our salaries for this month won't be paid. The company failed to manage this matter well. I don't know how I am going to cater for my child this month,” said one worker. Another upset employee alleged that they have been abused as workers for a long time. “There are some months where they paid only half our salaries without any prior explanation. This is exactly what they did to us this month. We are dressed in uniforms, expecting to be at work today. Instead, we were told this morning that the company has been liquidated,” said the employee. The closure of the Pencil Club has cast a dark shadow over its lifetime members, some of whom had invested large sums of money, amounting to as much as R1 million in membership fees. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lungani Zungu at Daily News
January’s consumer inflation rate edged higher to 3.2% BL Premium reports that SA’s annual consumer price index (CPI) rose to 3.2% in January, slightly up from 3.0% in December, with food and fuel “well-behaved”. Month-on-month, CPI accelerated 0.3%. Core inflation was down from 5% in February last year to 3.5%. Standard Bank’s Elna Moolman noted that inflation “is lower than most people’s wage growth or total income growth and so after accounting for inflation, there is now more real support for consumers.” The January figure released by Stats SA on Wednesday was broadly in line with expectations. Johann Els, chief economist at Old Mutual, commented: “The inflation pressures remain low; very low, indeed. Despite the fact that inflation has drifted up from the lows that we had in October last year (2.8%), the bulk of the updrift is due to base effects. Headline inflation at 3.2% in January [this year] compares to the 5.6% we had in February 2024, so it’s been quite a sharp decline since the highs of last year.” According to Stats SA, the main contributors to annual inflation were housing and utilities (4.5%, and contributing 1.1 percentage points), food and nonalcoholic beverages (2.3%, adding 0.4 percentage points), and restaurants and accommodation services (4.9%, contributing 0.3 percentage points). Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jana Marx at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, South Africa's inflation rises less than expected in January, at Engineering News
Take-home pay surges 16.3% year-on-year in January as salary growth momentum carries into 2025 BL Premium reports that South Africans kicked off 2025 with a significant lift in their earnings as the average nominal take-home pay rose 16.3% year-on-year to R18,098 in January. BankservAfrica’s Take-home Pay Index (BTPI) report shows a considerable increase from R15,564 in January 2024 and a further improvement on December’s R17,246. The BTPI monitors the average nominal take-home pay of about 4-million salary earners in SA. According to BankservAfrica’s Shergeran Naidoo, the salary gains reflect an improving business environment, declining inflation and interest rate cuts that provided relief in 2024. Real take-home pay, which accounts for inflation, climbed 12.8% year-on-year to R15,659 in January – the highest level since February 2022. Elize Kruger, independent economist, noted that this was driven by the significant moderation in consumer inflation last year, namely “from 5.3% in January to 3.0% in December.” Additionally, the headline CPI averaged 4.4% in 2024, the lowest annual rate since 2020. Kruger said the average real take-home pay in 2024 rose by 3.1% to R14,292, marking the first year of real wage growth since 2020. Improved earnings and the recovery of disposable income have already translated into healthier spending. If inflation remains contained, Kruger believes salary gains seen in 2024 could continue to strengthen. On the economic front, real GDP growth is forecast to increase by 1.7% in 2025, somewhat higher than in 2024. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jana Marx at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Increase in take-home pay in January shows positive start to 2025, at The Citizen
Salaries of 66 unverified Gauteng health department workers frozen SowetanLive reports that the salaries of 66 Gauteng health department employees have been frozen as a campaign to rid the department of ghost workers gathers momentum. The programme, called Ziveze (Reveal Yourself), began in October to verify the department’s 85,642 workers in its employ. The department said that as of Wednesday and excluding pending cases, the salaries of 66 employees who remained unverified had been frozen. A total of 31,345 employees were successfully verified during phase one, which ran from 14 October to 6 December. The second phase began on 13 January to verify the remaining 54,297 workers across all health facilities. An additional 30,508 employees have since been verified, leaving 23,789 employees who have yet to be verified. The verification team has until 31 March to verify the remaining cohort of employees, department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba indicated. The department has issued a warning to those dodging the process: “All employees have been urged to physically verify themselves by visiting their facility’s human resources office or any designated verification site. Those who continue to avoid the verification process risk permanent removal from the payroll, including criminal cases being opened against them.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lindile Sifile at BusinessLive
Former Eastern Cape municipal manager found guilty of MFMA violations SABC News reports that former municipal manager of the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape, Nokuthula Zondani, has been found guilty in the East London Commercial Crimes Court of contravening the Municipal Financial Management Act (MFMA). The case involved a high-profile corruption matter dating back to 2019 and relating to a yellow fleet machinery contract that was in place for a period of 36 months. The court found that Zondani doubled the tender from R1.2 million per month to R2.4 million without following proper procedures. Provincial Hawks spokesperson Avele Fumba welcomed the court’s ruling and indicated: “After a lengthy trial, the court delivered its judgment on February 21, finding Zondani guilty of contravening the MFMA. The case has now been remanded to 25 March 2025 for sentencing.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Abongile Jantjies at SABC News
Gauteng premier Lesufi announces extension of Gautrain to townships TimesLIVE reports that Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi in his state of the province address (Sopa) this week unveiled bold plans to expand the Gautrain network into several townships across the province. Lesufi said this would bring improved transportation infrastructure to areas including Soweto, Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Lanseria and Springs. “We are investing R120bn. During the expansion we expect the creation of thousands of jobs,” he indicated. Lesufi highlighted the broader economic benefits, saying: “The expansion will be a gateway to opportunity, creating more than 125,000 construction jobs while igniting growth in property, retail and logistics along its path.” According to Lesufi, the tourism and hospitality sector will play a significant role in the success of the expansion. “We expect the tourism and hospitality sector to support 60,000 jobs, providing opportunities for our people, especially youth and small businesses, to participate meaningfully in this thriving industry.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Modiegi Mashamaite at TimesLIVE Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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