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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SAA to 'minimise disruptions' as pilots announce ‘work-to-rule’ industrial action News24 reports that SA Airways (SAA) says it will minimise disruptions effective Wednesday in light of pilots' "work-to-rule" industrial action. On Tuesday night, the carrier said it deeply regretted the decision taken by employees associated with the SAA Pilots Association (Saapa) and National Transport Movement (NTM) Pilot Forum, especially in light of a "comprehensive and favourable final offer" extended by SAA on 5 March. The SAA Group CEO, Professor John Lamola, said: "We have implemented strong contingency measures to minimise the impact of this industrial action … Our priority is to resolve outstanding issues collaboratively while maintaining service continuity and minimising inconvenience to our valued customers while upholding the highest standards of safety and operational reliability." Pilots went on strike ahead of the holidays in December last year after deadlocked wage talks. Following the new series of negotiations from 23 December 2024, SAA made a final offer to the pilots in March, inclusive of a three-year salary increase agreement and introducing a longevity salary progression model for pilots. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jenna Verster at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)
Drunk customer assaults McDonald's employee at Cape Town branch after allegedly waiting two-hours for order News24 reports that an allegedly drunk customer assaulted a McDonald's employee at the fast-food chain's Kenilworth branch in Cape Town on Monday. A video taken by a customer shows the tall man inside the kitchen area aggressively shoving a female employee while claiming he had been waiting for his order for over two hours. While McDonald's branches typically have security guards, none were present during the incident. An employee who witnessed the attack said the man had been drinking and had ordered through the drive-thru, but his order was delayed. The colleague said: "It did not take two hours as he claimed. No one waits that long. Yes, Kenilworth gets busy, but other customers would have been hooting in frustration if it were true." The employee described the scene as terrifying, with staff fearing for their colleague's safety. The staffer claimed that this was not the first time an employee had been targeted at the branch and also alleged that the visibly shaken victim had to continue her shift and only went home late that night. No police case has been opened because the victim apparently did not want to jeopardise her job. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Velani Ludidi and watch the video at News24 (subscription or trial registration required) Man accused of assault at SA Antarctic base apologises, with entire over-wintering team to receive counselling TimesLIVE reports that the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has confirmed that the overwintering team member accused of assault and sexual harassment at SA’s remote research base in Antarctica has apologised and shown remorse. The accused SANAE IV team member has also agreed to participate in psychological evaluation, while the rest of the team will receive professional counselling. The DFFE denied ignoring warning signals and said there were no indications that anybody needed to be removed from the base. It advised on Monday: “The alleged perpetrator has willingly participated in further psychological evaluation, has shown remorse and is willingly co-operative to follow any interventions recommended. He has written a formal apology to the victim and is willing to verbally apologise to all members at the base. The department has also implemented a longer-term, sustained intervention process through trained professional counselling services to restore the relationships and build a healthy working environment.” Environment minister Dion George will help with mediation efforts. The DFFE confirmed being alerted to the alleged assault on February 27, after the SA Agulhas II vessel had left to return home after delivering the overwintering team, which is due to spend another year together. A separate case of sexual harassment, involving the same team member and a second victim, is being investigated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bobby Jordan at TimesLIVE. Read too, Environment department confirms no evacuations from Antarctic research base despite assault allegations, at News24 (subscription or trial registration required). En ook, Minister gryp in na vuiste by afgeleë Antarktika-basis klap, by Maroela Media Court rules in favour of Truworths over absence of seating facilities for cash desk employees IOL News reports that clothing retailer Truworths turned to court after it was slapped with notices for allegedly contravening the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) as it did not, at two of its stores, provide employees at its cash desks with seating facilities. It was ordered by the chief inspector to provide seats with back rests at the two outlets. But Truworths turned to the Joburg Labour Court (LC) to have this directive overturned, as it reasoned that the employees at its cash desks do not perform their work seated. Moreover, it said there there were adequate seats available when these workers took a break from the cash desk. According to Truworths, the chief inspector failed to determine whether any or all of the employees at either of its stores normally performed their work standing up, nor whether their work could effectively be performed while sitting. The LC, in ruling in favour of Truworths, said although the primary focus of the OHSA was to ensure the health and safety of employees, the interests of the employer could not be completely discounted. It said the OHSA was not about what was the best way that the health and safety of the employees could be achieved, but was “about whether, feasibly considered, the health and safety of the employees can be ensured by what has been implemented by the employer.” The LC found that the safety officers had misconstrued the law: “What they did was to dictate to the appellant where seating had to be provided - behind the cashiers’ desks.” The court added that it was never considered whether this was practical. The officers also did not consider that there was seating elsewhere in the shops for the workers to sit down when they needed a rest. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zelda Venter at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
State may pay R500m in salaries to keep Amsa’s long-steel mills open Bloomberg reports that according to persons with knowledge of the matter, the SA government is nearing a deal to provide funding to ArcelorMittal SA (Amsa) to keep its long-steel mills open. The government apparently plans initial support of about R500 million specifically to pay steelworkers over a period of six to eight months. It is also discussing additional bridging financing through the state-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), which will then raise its stake in the company from its current level of about 8%. The government, working through the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and the IDC, also wants Amsa to consider offers for the two long-steel mills it plans to close, which are situated in the towns of Vereeniging and Newcastle. A decision may be announced as early as this week, according to sources, with one saying that the board of Amsa was meeting to consider the proposals. The company is seeking about R3bn to keep its mills open for another 12 months and build up inventory. Securing a deal to keep the mills open is said to be crucial to the government’s plans to revive the economy through a massive infrastructure push. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Fin24
Petrol, diesel prices currently on track for big cuts in April Fin24 reports that motorists may get a pleasant fuel price surprise ahead of the busy Easter holiday travel period, with diesel and petrol prices currently on track for substantial cuts in the first week of April. However, final prices will only be fixed at the end of March. The latest estimate from the Central Energy Fund shows that the price of 95 unleaded petrol is due for a cut of 95c a litre, while the wholesale price of diesel could be lowered by between 91c and 95c a litre. SA fuel prices are largely determined by international oil costs and the rand exchange rate, as oil is priced in dollars. The weak oil price and strong rand will help to cushion a 3c/litre hike in the carbon fuel levy – to reach 14c/litre for petrol and 17c/litre for diesel – that takes effect from 2 April. The revised national budget, which was tabled last week, has left other fuel levies unchanged. Fuel prices will be adjusted on the first Wednesday of April. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Fin24 (subscription or trial registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Public Service & Administration clarifies Z83 form challenges in public service recruitment The Star reports that the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has provided clarification on the operational challenges the government is facing in recruiting staff using its Z83 application for employment form. Acting DPSA director-general Willie Vukela advised that in the 2024/25 financial year, the department surveyed other government departments to identify the difficulties encountered when completing the Z83 form. The survey revealed that the form was applied inconsistently across the public service. Vukela said it highlighted challenges related to the instructions for filling out the form and addressing specific questions. According to the department, the Z83 form must not be used in isolation during the selection process, and selection committees must refer to applicants’ CVs for additional relevant information. Last month, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education received complaints about the process of filling a number of vacancies advertised late last year. Head of department Nkosinathi Ngcobo halted the process and indicated that they were made aware of growing concerns about the flouting of the sifting processes as outlined in a procedure manual for the implementation of a vacancy circular issued in 2024. During the process, applications were sifted out on the basis that the applicants used the old Z83 form, that applicants initialled the Z83 form electronically, and that applicants who are South Africans did not write a passport number. In addition, Ngcobo said the department was informed that in some instances, unions were not invited to observe these processes. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Loyiso Sidimba at The Star
Woolworths bites dust at CCMA after dismissing employee for not disclosing alleged relationship with colleague TimesLIVE Premium reports that the dismissal of a former Woolworths employee, who allegedly breached company policies by failing to disclose a personal relationship with a colleague and being dishonest when questioned about it, has been found to be substantively unfair. The CCMA made this finding in February after the referral of an unfair dismissal by Molefe Lavet Mokoena in December last year. According to the store manager, Simphiwe Mabuza, if an employee was in a relationship in the same store, that employee was supposed to disclose it. Mokoena, who was employed as operations manager at a Woolworths store in Maponya Mall in Soweto, was accused of being in a relationship with Daisy, who later threatened Lufuno Tshiovhe, a contractor who was stationed at the same store and whom Mokoena was proposing to have a relationship with. “Unfortunately, Daisy was not called as a witness and since the applicant (Mokoena) disputed being in a relationship with her (or with Tshiovhe), I find that the respondent (Woolworths) failed to discharge the onus to prove the existence of any of the relationships,” the CCMA arbitrator noted. She said Mokoena was dismissed for being dishonest when he was asked about his personal relationship with a colleague, but the employer had failed to prove the existence of the alleged relationship as well as existence of the rule regarding disclosing any personal relationship. As Mokoena preferred compensation instead of reinstatement due to intolerable working conditions, the CCMA ordered that he be compensated with four months’ salary. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLIVE Premium (subscriber access only) Playful slap with lunch box strap costs employee of Anglo mine contractor his job Pretoria News reports that a playful slap of the strap of a man’s lunch container on the backside of a female worker landed him in hot water when she complained that he had disrespected her. This ultimately resulted in him losing his contract job at the mine where he was working. John Sephton was subcontracted by a company to provide services as a hydrologist at the Anglo American mining group. On the day of the incident, he and a colleague stood talking at the entrance to their shared workspace. Sephton had his lunch bag in hand. He was in a jocular mood, and as he walked past the woman who later complained about him, he swung the lunch bag towards her. It made contact with her buttocks. The worker laid a complaint under Anglo’s harassment policy. It was found that there was no sexual harassment, and Sephton apologised for his conduct, which was accepted. He was allowed back on site. When the woman heard he was back on site, she experienced a “panic attack”. After Sephton was barred from the site on the instructions of Anglo, he instituted claims for defamation against the mining group and for damages from the subcontracting company. The South Gauteng High Court turned down his claims, as did three judges in a subsequent appeal. Judge Denise Fisher, who wrote the appeal judgment, said while she accepted that the conduct was not intended to offend and that it was a playful gesture, it was offensive and distressing from the perspective of the female worker. She commented: “This case presents a cautionary tale as to the fragility of workplace relationships. People come together in diversity. Their differing backgrounds often lead them to differ in their appreciation of jokes and banter. One person’s playful act may be interpreted by another as deeply insensitive or disrespectful.” She added that this diversity called for the utmost restraint and the observing of all protocols and courtesies at all times when working with others. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zelda Venter at Pretoria News
Bail applications of seven Sassa employees and three others accused of theft moved to April TimesLIVE reports that the bail applications on Tuesday of seven SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) employees and three others was postponed until 1 April after the state and the defence attorneys indicated they were not ready. The 10 entered the Lenasia Magistrate's courtroom wearing masks and hats, hiding their faces from the court and the press. They were instructed to remove the masks by magistrate Maggie van der Merwe. “Facial expressions, eye contact, all of this, is an invaluable tool to evaluate the case,” Van der Merwe said. Five of the accused were arrested at the weekend and made their first court appearances on Monday. Their arrests followed an earlier case involving four other accused, The nine were joined on Tuesday by a tenth accused . Sassa spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi said seven of its employees among those who appeared in court. “There is one accused who is still at large but we think very soon the police will definitely arrest her, the eleventh accused who is still on the run is a Sassa employee. We have not stopped because these individuals or staff members have been arrested, the net is widening, we are not going to stop here,” Letsatsi said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khoḓani Mpilo at TimesLIVE Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Limpopo-based Great North Transport at a halt in the Moletjie area because of attacks SABC News reports that Limpopo-owned bus company, Great North Transport (GNT), has suspended its operations in the Moletjie area outside Polokwane due to attacks, allegedly by taxi operators over routes. GNT management advised that operations had been suspended indefinitely. The company, which is operated by the Limpopo Economic Development Agency, has urged commuters to seek alternative transport. GNT’s Leo Gama indicated: “We have decided to actually suspend operations in that area until such time that we have engaged with the taxi industry, to have a discussion with them, to find an amicable solution to get the busses back to our roads.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard at SABC News Gautrain bleeding passengers, but its expansion is nonetheless still a priority for Gauteng SowetanLive reports that Gautrain is bleeding passengers and has lost 5-million commuters in four years. This was revealed by Lebogang Maile, Gauteng's MEC for economic development, on Tuesday in his budget speech to the provincial legislature. “The expansion of the Gautrain remains a strategic priority for the province, but its financial sustainability has come under increasing scrutiny. Ridership levels have yet to recover to pre-pandemic figures, with passenger numbers dropping from 13.9-million in the 2019/20 financial year to 7.9 million in 2023/24,” said Maile. In February, premier Panyaza Lesufi said plans to expand the Gautrain to areas in Soweto, Fourways, Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, Lanseria and Springs would cost R120bn and create 125,000 jobs. Though not contained in his budget speech, Maile advised that plans for the expansion were still under way. “Details, including the source of the funding and how it will be allocated, will be provided. But the principle of expansion remains,” he indicated. Maile said despite passenger numbers dropping, the provincial government was well on its way to fully owning the train service by March next year. He also said with the concession coming to an end, the government had started the process of appointing a new partnership. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Koena Mashale at TimesLIVE
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