In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Parks Tau says Amsa deal to save long steel plants may be reached this week BL Premium reports that according to Department of Trade, Industry & Competition (DTIC) Minister Parks Tau, negotiations with troubled steelmaker ArcelorMittal SA (Amsa) have continued and it was hoped that a deal to save the company’s long steel plants could be hammered out this week. “We are hoping, if possible, that this week we can reach an agreement. We are working very hard, but I can’t guarantee that agreement. We are still negotiating,” Tau said in his address to the national bargaining conference of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) in Joburg on Monday. In January, Amsa announced its decision to close its long steel operations in Newcastle and Vereeniging, affecting at least 3,500 jobs. This prompted the government to set up an intergovernmental task team including the DTIC and the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) to try and avert the closure. The urgency of the situation was underlined last week when the government stepped in to prevent the imminent closure of the plants. The bailout, supported by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), involved the government taking over salary payments for a year and the IDC injecting cash into the business. At Numsa’s conference in Sandton, Tau said his department had been engaged in “intense discussions” with Amsa. “Amsa indicated they are not stopping their processes [to close down the long steel operations] until an agreement has been reached. We are pursuing this agreement with the urgency that it deserves, but we can’t instruct them to stop their process,” Tau indicated. Numsa president Andrew Chirwa criticised Amsa’s decision to close its steel operations, characterising the decision as “reckless and selfish”. He added: “We hope a final lasting solution will be found, and that jobs won’t be lost.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Another trench collapse in Tshwane leaves one worker dead and three others injured EWN reports that another trench collapse in Tshwane has left one worker dead and three others injured. In a statement issued on Monday, the City’s Emergency Services Department noted that this was the third such incident since 2021, raising concerns about safety at excavation sites. The incident occurred last week when a five-metre-deep trench collapsed on four workers in Ekangala killing one person and injuring three others. Emergency services were called to the scene near the R568 road just before 5pm. Firefighters from Bronkhorstspruit arrived to find three workers being treated on-site for minor injuries before being taken to hospital. But the fourth worker was trapped underground and died from his injuries. In August 2023, a trench collapse in Capital Park claimed three lives, and in 2021, another worker was critically injured in Hammanskraal. The City said contractors must adhere to national safety regulations, including ensuring trenches were properly braced and supervised. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Mongezi Koko at EWN
Public sector workers demand speedy resolution to the Budget standoff SABC News reports that public sector workers are demanding a speedy resolution to the current national budget standoff as many government departments are already in crisis. Parliament will kick off public hearings into the budget on Tuesday with labour federation Cosatu hoping to add its voice on behalf of workers. According to unions, their members are facing a slew of challenges, including a shortage of staff, dilapidated infrastructure and inadequate wages. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced R23 billion additional funding to cover the 5.5% public servants’ salary increase over the next three years with the workers expecting this increase to come into effect next week Tuesday. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks said they were skeptical of the budget being passed on 1 April, but wanted the agreement honoured. “We do need the budget passed … We can’t afford for the state not to be able to collect their money; it needs to fund public services. But the critical one, the most critical one now, there is tomorrow (Tuesday), where we’ll make our submissions as Cosatu on what we think needs to be retained in the budget. For example, the key progressive items, which you think are going to help workers, like the public sector wage agreement, like filling critical frontline vacancies in the state, reinforcing frontline departments, which had been really decimated by austerity budget cuts over the years,” Parks stated. Read the original of the report in the above regard at SABC News
Anger over jobs and crime spark march against undocumented foreign nationals in Durban News24 reports that crime, spaza shop operations, and competition for jobs were at the forefront of concerns by hundreds of protesters who marched on Monday in Durban against undocumented immigrants. The march, which began at the King Dinuzulu Gardens, saw more than 400 people from different communities, politicians, and organisations peacefully march to Durban City Hall. According to organiser and well-known radio personality Jecinta Ngobese, the march was to demonstrate the country's outrage, especially that of the youth, about undocumented foreign nationals in the country. According to Ngobese, government officials were "soft" in dealing with undocumented foreign nationals, especially in the city centre. An 11-page memorandum directed to the national and provincial department of Home Affairs, the KwaZulu-Natal premier’s office, police, eThekwini Municipality, and National Prosecuting Authority was handed over. The memorandum linked undocumented foreign nationals with rising levels of unemployment as well as safety and security concerns. "Hundreds of jobs, particularly in certain sectors and/or industries, such as the security industry, are given to the undocumented immigrants, who do not have qualifications as security officers and are being paid stipends, wages or salaries that are below the prescribed minimum wage. This results in thousands of qualified South African citizens losing jobs and/or not being employed and, therefore, stuck in poverty," the memorandum claimed. It made similar claims for employment in spaza shops, and the hairdressing, farming, and logistics industries. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sakhiseni Nxumalo, at News24 (subscription or trial registration required). Read too, Hundreds march in KZN against illegal immigrants, at TimesLIVE
Minerals Council launches Ex-Mineworkers Occupational Lung Disease Guide Mining Weekly reports that the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) launched its Ex-Mineworkers Occupational Lung Disease (OLD) Guide in multiple languages on Monday, which coincided with World TB Day. The MCSA’s multi-party Masoyise Health Programme launched the guide in English, isiXhosa, Sesotho and Portuguese to assist former mineworkers across the Southern African Development Community to understand their healthcare rights, compensation benefits and how to contact support structures for lung diseases incurred while working on SA mines. Speaking at the launch in Jourg, Masoyise Health Programme chairperson Richard Stewart explained that the 54-page guide aimed to address the challenges faced by former mineworkers in accessing healthcare and support services after employment. To address these challenges, the MCSA and its partners collectively developed the guide, which provides important information on common occupational diseases and illnesses that may affect miners during and after their careers. The guide includes contacts for Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) for other occupational injuries or diseases, as well as the Mineworkers Provident Fund regarding financial benefits. The online guide will be distributed to countries that provided labour for SA mines, as well as local labour-sending areas. The Phillip Mankge of the National Union of Mineworkers welcomed the guide, but also called for it to be condensed into a pocket-sized version for ease of access. This request was noted and will be explored. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly In operation Vala Umgodi, police arrest undocumented foreigners and seize illegal mining equipment IOL News reports that a large group of undocumented foreign nationals were expected to appear in the Bafokeng Magistrate’s Court in Tlhabane in the North West on Monday. They were arrested during an ongoing Vala Umgodi operation dealing with illicit mining and related crimes in the Bojanala Platinum District. Provincial police spokesperson, Captain Mpho Manyoba said teams were deployed to confiscate two excavators and several other pieces of illegal mining equipment that was found abandoned at the Bapong illegal mining site in the Mogwase precinct on 20 March. The operation led to the arrest of 10 individuals for contravention of the Immigration Act of 2002 in Gèelhoutpark, Rustenburg. The suspects who are Zimbabwe and Malawi foreign nationals, were expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate's Court on Monday. In a separate incident in Freedom Park near Phokeng, a group of undocumented foreign nationals was also arrested. “The team nabbed 12 undocumented foreign nationals from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi between Thursday and Friday, March 21, 2025. All the suspects are due to appear in the Bafokeng Magistrate's Court in Tlhabane on Monday,” Manyoba indicated. In Mogwase, police further arrested nine undocumented foreign nationals on Friday and Saturday in Moruleng. The team also confiscated illegal mining equipment at the Witrandjie illegal mining site. In Schaumburg near Hartbeespoortdam, the team confiscated abandoned penduka machines and steel balls. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Robin-Lee Francke at IOL News Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Ulrik Bengtsson appointed as new CEO of Sun International, succeeding Anthony Leeming Business Report writes that Ulrik Bengtsson has big shoes to fill as he steps into the CEO role at Sun International, succeeding Anthony Leeming from 1 July, or earlier pending his work permit. Leeming, 55, will retire early on 31 December after 26 years with the hospitality and gambling group, including eight as CEO. He will step down on 1 July but will remain until year-end to ensure a smooth transition and to support the board as needed. Amongst Leeming’s achievements during his eight-year tenure of leading the group are his decisive leadership while navigating the business through the Covid-19 pandemic, the entry and growth of Sun International into the online gaming market, the omnichannel focus, and an unwavering focus on enhancing the customer experience at the group’s properties, including the iconic Sun City. After a global search, Swedish gaming executive Bengtsson was appointed CEO of Sun International. With nearly 20 years leading listed companies in gaming, betting, broadcasting, and telecoms, he brings expertise in business transformation and omnichannel growth. The biggest change in the group in the past few years has been the growth of online gambling, which Bengtsson will continue to focus on. Leeming expressed confidence in his successor, Bengtsson, calling him “intuitive, very intelligent and with great experience” to grow the online business. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Philippa Larkin at Business Report
Safety MEC deploys nearly 200 new boots on the ground in Nelson Mandela Bay News24 reports that two weeks after Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Metropolitan Municipality was identified as one of the most problematic crime areas in the Eastern Cape, the MEC for Transport and Community Safety deployed nearly 200 additional police officers to the Bay to help curb crime. On Sunday, MEC Xolile Nqatha announced the deployment of 150 Public Order Policing Unit members, 12 detectives, and several Crime Intelligence officers to the crime-plagued metro. Nqatha said the additional boots on the ground were an attempt to "strengthen crime-fighting efforts", adding that the members would be placed at police stations in the metro's crime hot spot areas such as KwaZakhele, New Brighton, KwaDwesi, Gelvandale, and Bethelsdorp. NMB has been in the grip of gang-related shootings and kidnappings for the past few years. Murder, robberies and gang-related violence are currently the most prevalent crimes in the metro. The deployment came just 24 hours before a teacher was kidnapped in broad daylight in the presence of her colleagues and pupils at Happydale Special School in Algoa Park. Video footage shows how three men in a white vehicle followed the woman into the school's parking lot on Monday as she parked. The men grabbed her and forced her into the back of their vehicle before speeding away. According to a police spokesperson, no ransom has yet been demanded for the release of the 45-year-old. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Candice Bezuidenhout at News24 (subscription or trial registration required). Read too, Teacher 'kidnapped' at Gqeberha school, police confirm shots fired, at News24 (subscription or trial registration required). En ook, Baaise onderwyseres by skool gegryp, ontvoer, by Maroela Media
Higher Education department again denies Educor's 'misleading' claim of full registration Fin24 reports that the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has again denied fully reinstating the registration of private education group Educor. Last week, a media report quoted Educor's chief operating officer, Michael Thurley, as saying the group had achieved "full registration status". But a spokesperson from the DHET said on Monday that nothing had changed since its last statement in October, when it confirmed that Educor's registration had not been fully reinstated and was still provisional. The Educor group includes the private colleges of City Varsity, ICESA City Campus, Lyceum College, and Damelin. Educor was initially deregistered by former DHET Minister Blade Nzimande a year ago on the basis that it had become "dysfunctional". Students at Educor institutions have reported a pervasive culture of non-communication, while former staff claimed they were owed months of unpaid salaries. In August, Educor's registration was provisionally reinstated by the new minister, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, on "purely humanitarian grounds". In October, Educor claimed for the first time that its registration had been fully reinstated, a claim the DHET said at the time was misleading. "The decision to provisionally reinstate Educor was made primarily on humanitarian grounds, aiming to minimise disruptions to the education and future prospects of currently enrolled students. This does not diminish the regulatory oversight required by the DHET. The department retains the right to revoke the provisional reinstatement if Educor fails to comply with these conditions,” the DHET indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Cronje at Fin24 (subscription or trial registration required)
Three Mpumalanga nurses face disciplinary action over alleged mishandling of patient IOL News reports that the Mpumalanga Department of Health is set to initiate disciplinary proceedings against three nurses working at Tonga Hospital after a female patient alleged she was assaulted during her stay. According to the department spokesperson, Dumisani Malamule, the incident unfolded on 13 March 2025, when the patient, who was admitted for complications related to diabetes and hypertension, requested a bedpan after experiencing discomfort caused by a medication for constipation. As the nurses went to fetch the bedpan, the patient took it upon herself to crawl towards the toilet and defecated on the floor. A video has been circulating on social media showing a half-naked patient sitting on the floor unable to get up. It was then that the alleged mistreatment occurred. The patient reported that one nurse used "harsh words" and mishandled her by gripping her neck while aiding her back to bed. "She indicated that the nurse did not beat her but mishandled her," Malamule elaborated. The allegations were substantiated to some extent through testimony from a fellow patient who was in the vicinity and confirmed hearing the confrontation. “The three nurses who were on duty were summoned for explanation and writing of statements. Following this incident, the three nurses will be subjected to disciplinary hearing processes,” Malamule said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sinenhlanhla Masilela at IOL News. Read too, Mpumalanga nurses face disciplinary action over patient that was stuck on floor, at The Citizen
Taxi shutdown planned for Tuesday in greater East London area in protest over ‘persecution’ of Santaco boss Daily Despatch reports that the Mdantsane East London Taxi Association (Melta) announced on Monday that there would be a total shutdown of taxi services in the greater East London area on Tuesday as taxi operators protest over what they allege is the “persecution” of prominent taxi boss and businessman Simphiwe “Gabs” Mtshala by police. Mtshala appeared in court on last Wednesday facing charges of taxi-related murders, attempted murders, illegal possession of firearms and extortion. However, after about 10 minutes in the dock, Mtshala was released when the charges against him were withdrawn at the eleventh hour. It was the fourth time in five months that Mtshala, who owns an armed security company and is a Santaco provincial leader, had been either arrested or detained. The charges were withdrawn each time and he was set free. Melta spokesperson Welile Blaai said on Monday they had held a meeting which resolved that all affiliated taxi operators in the area would down tools and completely shut down all routes in protest over the recent arrests of Mtshala, who heads the association. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Asanda Nini & Mandilakhe Kwababana at TimesLIVE Amid declining passenger numbers, AA slams plan for R120bn Gautrain expansion Moneyweb reports that the Automobile Association (AA) has criticised plans for the Gautrain’s R120 billion expansion, calling it a misguided move as passenger numbers continue to decline. This after Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements and Infrastructure Development Lebogang Maile revealed that the Gautrain lost five million passengers in the last four years. The AA said this decline proved what it had been warning about for years, namely that the Gautrain was financially unsustainable and did not meet the needs of most commuters. It noted that despite these concerns, the authorities were moving ahead with the massive expansion project. “While the MEC claims this expansion will create 125,000 jobs, we must ask: at what cost?” the AA asked and added: “Genuine, sustainable job creation should arise from investments that benefit the majority of South Africans – not from sinking billions into a faltering system that is losing its riders.” The AA believes that the R120 billion earmarked for the Gautrain expansion would be better spent on improving transport infrastructure that serves the majority of South Africans. This includes fixing deteriorating roads, upgrading the taxi and bus network, and expanding more accessible public transport systems. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Terri-Ann Brouwers at Moneyweb Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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