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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SA citrus farmers say US tariffs threaten 35,000 jobs Reuters reports that tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump will hurt citrus farms and could potentially affect 35,000 jobs, the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) warned on Tuesday. Trump announced a 31% tariff on US imports from SA on 2 April. SA, the world’s second-largest citrus exporter after Spain, ships between 5% and 6% of its produce to the US, so earning more than $100m annually. The new tariff would place an additional $4.50 cost on each carton, making SA’s fruit less competitive in the US market. Towns such as Citrusdal in the Western Cape, which are heavily dependent on citrus exports to the US, could be hit especially hard. CGA chair Gerrit van der Merwe said. “The severity and immediate nature of the impending tariffs could mean that towns like it now face either increased unemployment or maybe even total economic collapse. There is immense anxiety in our communities.” A total of 35,000 jobs are directly connected to SA’s citrus exports. With farmers starting to pack citrus destined for the US market this week, growers have called on the government “to prioritise immediate negotiations with the US on tariff reductions or exemptions on citrus”. SA has said it will not retaliate against the US and will instead seek to negotiate exemptions and quota agreements. Trump’s tariffs effectively nullify benefits African countries have enjoyed under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), which grants qualifying states duty-free access to the US market. The 25-year-old trade initiative is set to expire in September. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nelson Banya at BusinessLive. Read too, South African citrus exporters worried about US tariff impact on jobs, industry growth, at Engineering News Nehawu tells African states to reduce overreliance on US markets BL Premium reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has criticised US President Donald Trump’s “imperialist political attacks” on SA. Briefing the media on the outcomes of its national executive committee (NEC) meeting, the union’s leaders said the NEC condemned this move and called on African states to consolidate their commitment to “protect and nurture their minerals and to do trade here in Africa [instead of] overrelying [on the] US”. Last week, Trump imposed a 30% tariff on SA exports to the US. Key SA exports to the US that will be affected by the 30% tariff Trump placed on SA goods include locally assembled cars, aluminum, ferroalloys and agricultural products such as wine and citrus. Meanwhile, the NEC said it assessed the national budget statement and “condemned the increase of 0.5% in VAT this year followed by another 0.5% the following year, bringing the VAT rate to 16% in 2026/2027”. The Treasury opted for a half-percentage point hike in each of the next two years, with the proposed increases set to generate R13.5bn in revenue in 2025/26, R30bn in 2026/27 and R32bn in 2027/28. “This is an indication of how far removed the government is from the struggles facing our people,” Nehawu said in a statement. “Despite the commitment to ensure the zero-rated items are not included alongside in the VAT rate increase, the general impact on working-class families will translate to another sharp increase in the cost of living,” the union pointed out. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Protest march by Samwu in Buffalo City on Tuesday over maladministration and corruption News24 reports that members of the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) marched to the East London City Hall on Tuesday to express their dissatisfaction with maladministration and corruption, which they alleged was widespread in the metro. Reading out a memorandum handed to Mayor Princess Faku, Samwu’s Mncedisi Mzotsho said financial mismanagement and lack of accountability had brought service delivery to a grinding halt in the metro. "The metro is currently under a financial recovery plan. Despite this, there has been no tangible improvement in the municipality's financial situation. Additionally, service delivery in the municipality has not improved despite the ongoing efforts under the recovery plan," claimed Mzotsho. He went on to say: "The ongoing issues in [the metro] are a direct result of a lack of effective leadership within both the political and administrative structures of the municipality. Samwu believes that unless there is a significant change in leadership, particularly before the 2026 local government elections, [the metro] risks losing its standing and confidence among residents." The march was supported by other Cosatu-aligned unions and ANC alliance partners. The metro embarked on a financial recovery plan towards the end of 2023 after its cash reserves dwindled. However, it has yet to recover. Faku promised to respond to Samwu within 14 working days. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sithandiwe Velaph at News24 (subscription or trial registration required). Read too, Samwu members embark on service delivery strike in Buffalo City Metro, at SABC News
ANC in KZN calls for dismissal of municipal managers who fail to utilise service delivery funds IOL News reports that the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has called for the immediate dismissal of municipal managers whose municipalities return service delivery funds to the National Treasury. Addressing members of the Progressive Professionals Forum in Durban on Tuesday, ANC provincial convener, Jeff Radebe reiterated the party’s position that it would deal with poor performance of municipalities under the ANC in the province, especially those that failed to spend allocated funds. Radebe was responding to the Institute for Local Government Management of SA, which called on the ANC to act against municipal managers who failed to spend their budgets while people were crying out for service delivery. Speaking on behalf of the body, Dr Nkosiyezwe Vezi lashed out at municipalities that were returning money to the National Treasury and said: "This is the main reason why people are angry and if the ANC wants to win back the people it must see to it all funds allocated to municipalities for service delivery are spent accordingly.” In response, Radebe said not spending budgets that had been allocated must be a dismissal offence. Radebe, a former Minister in the Presidency, advised that municipalities in the province had collectively returned more than R7 billion to the National Treasury because 'they did not know how to spend it while people are suffering on the ground'. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Willem Phungula at IOL News
Ismail Muneer Ismail to join FirstRand from HSBC SA from 1 July BL Premium reports that Ismail Muneer Ismail will be joining FirstRand from HSBC, where he was the CEO of HSBC’s SA operations. Subject to regulatory approval, Ismail would take up the newly created position as group executive: corporate and enterprise banking on 1 July, FirstRand said in a statement. He will be a member of the FirstRand strategic executive committee and report to the CEO Mary Vilakazi. Muneer will be responsible for the group’s strategy to serve commercial and corporate clients in a more integrated way, which FirstRand believes will be key to further scaling up the group’s corporate banking offerings. Currently the enterprise segment, which represents in the main medium corporates, sits within FNB, while the corporate bank resides in RMB. The group said it had created the dedicated senior executive capacity to unlock the synergies that existed between the client segments. Ismail originally studied engineering and has subsequently built a long and successful career in banking both locally and internationally. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jacqueline Mackenzie at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Three law firms, Solidarity lodge objections to new legal sector BBBEE code Engineering News reports that law firms Bowmans, Webber Wentzel and Werksmans are concerned that the current version of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Legal Sector Code of Good Practice (LSC) is not workable and sustainable, is not based on sound empirical evidence, and inadvertently harms the broader legal profession. The firms have intervened in the legal proceedings initiated by law firm Norton Rose Fulbright to review the LSC, which was gazetted by Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau on 20 September 2024 and came into effect immediately. The LSC introduced new BBBEE requirements for the legal sector, thereby altering how large corporate law firms were measured, rated and expected to implement transformation. The three firms currently hold Level 1 BBBEE ratings, but, under the LSC, rating scores are expected to decline from Level 1 to Level 6 or lower. Trade union Solidarity's Law Network has also brought a court application against the BBBEE legal profession sector code. In its court application, the union seeks to have the sector code declared illegal, irrational and unconstitutional. “Solidarity's Law Network believes that overregulation of the legal profession is uncalled for and unnecessary, and will limit people's freedom of choice with regard to legal representation because clients’ options for attorneys or advocates must comply with regulations and prescriptions,” said Solidarity Law Network head Riaan Visser. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
Confusion over retirement-age dismissals after new three-way split ruling by ConCourt Fin24 reports that in terms of "settled" law, employers who have allowed employees to work beyond the normal or agreed retirement age, could at any time thereafter serve them with a notice of dismissal on the basis of them having reached their retirement age. While four of the nine judges of the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) upheld that position in a recent judgment in two joined cases, four other judges came to the opposite conclusion. The remaining judge came to his conclusions based on a different reasoning altogether. This has unfortunately created widespread confusion with no clear direction for employers. From a practical point of view, the authors of this article recommend that employers should adopt the following approach: Ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, that all contracts of employment provide for an agreed retirement age. Engage with employees well in advance to remind them of the approaching retirement date and associated consequences, such as handing over, administrative arrangements surrounding retirement benefits, etc. Do not permit an employee to work beyond the normal or agreed retirement age, unless you have entered into a written agreement that specifies a 'new' retirement date. Ensure that the normal guidelines for substantive and procedural fairness are followed if the employee is dismissed for any reason other than age (e.g. misconduct, incapacity or operational requirements). Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Truter & Barney Jordaan at Fin24 (subscription or trial registration required)
Home Affairs dismisses six more officials in ongoing fraud and corruption crackdown The Citizen reports that the number of Department of Home Affairs (DHA) officials dismissed for various acts of fraud and corruption since July 2024 has risen to 33. On Tuesday, the department dismissed six more officials immediately for various offences, including fraud and corruption. Six further officials were also issued final written warnings. An additional eight officials have already been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to 18 years, while prosecution of another 19 officials is underway. DHA spokesperson Siya Qoza said Tuesday’s dismissals came after the recent launch of the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum. The forum has strengthened coordination between the DHA, the Border Management Authority (BMA), the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). “The speed at which Home Affairs, in collaboration with the SIU, is clearing out corruption from our midst demonstrates that swift progress can be made in the fight against this scourge,” DHA Minister Leon Schreiber said. He added that he had made it clear to the department that delays would not be tolerated and that the DHA would not rest until every corrupt official was fired. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chulumanco Mahamba at The Citizen. Read too, Six Home Affairs officials sacked as Schreiber warns he will flush out corruption, at News24 (subscription or trial registration required) Employees fired and managers suspended in City Power's decisive action against corruption IOL News reports that the City of Johannesburg’s power utility, City Power, has taken sweeping disciplinary action, by firing employees and suspending multiple managers following a year-long investigation into criminal activities ranging from cable theft and fraud to bribery and collusion with contractors. City Power confirmed that a total of 47 disciplinary cases were processed between March 2024 and March 2025. Among those affected were electricians, security officers, team leaders, and senior managers. The sweeping internal and forensic investigation was endorsed by CEO Tshifularo Mashava and uncovered widespread misconduct involving theft, fraud, dishonesty, and negligence. “These measures have been taken in response to the quality of services, which has not been to the standard we have set for ourselves. From our reading, it was clear that the people responsible for destroying our infrastructure for personal gain were part of a well-coordinated group which may have involved our own employees,” said City Power’s Isaac Mangena. Among the findings, security guards assigned to protect critical infrastructure were caught participating in cable theft valued at R350,000 per drum. Three of the eight implicated security officers face criminal charges, while others have been dismissed. Bribery was another major theme in the investigation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Wendy Dondolo at IOL News Bread delivery crew nabbed after 'orchestrating' their own robbery The Star reports that what was initially believed to be a brazen hijacking of a bread delivery truck has taken a dramatic turn. Police have uncovered that the alleged victims were, in fact, the masterminds behind the staged crime. Limpopo police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Thakeng revealed that on 3 April the bakery truck crew was delivering bread to tuckshops in Sekgopo village when armed assailants ambushed them. The attackers fired a shot, forcing the driver to stop the vehicle, before robbing the occupants of their cellphones and money at gunpoint. The suspects then took them into the bushes, where they were held hostage. They tampered with the safe, and an undisclosed amount of money was taken. Police in Modjadjiskloof responded, identifying the vehicle as it sped towards Titibe village in Ga-Dikgale. The suspects lost control and veered off the tarred road, where gunshots were fired. One of the suspects was injured on his leg. After an investigation, police revealed that the entire incident had been staged by the driver and his crew, with the assistance of three other accomplices. The so-called stolen items were later recovered from one of the suspects' homes. The suspects, aged 32 and 37, were arrested and appeared in court on Monday. Police are continuing with efforts to trace and apprehend the remaining three suspects involved in the staged robbery. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Masabata Mkwananzi at The Star
More charges coming for abuse-accused ex-St John's Preparatory school teacher News24 reports that the legal woes are piling up for a former St John's Preparatory teacher who was arrested earlier this year on allegations of child abuse, with the State now planning on adding more charges to his case. The 52-year-old man, who cannot be identified until he has pleaded, was arrested in late February. The case currently before the court dates back to between 2005 and 2006 and although the then 12-year-old boy involved was not a St John's pupil at the time, the offences allegedly took place on the school premises. The accused made his second appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, when State advocate Vuyo Mbaduli revealed that he would soon be facing additional charges. Mbaduli told the court that they were in the process of obtaining a centralisation certificate to join together various cases from across the country. The details of these cases were not disclosed, but Mbaduli said they had already received a response from the North West, where the man in question was previously charged with four counts of sexual assault linked to incidents which took place at a school camp in the province. Those charges were provisionally withdrawn last year, pending centralisation. Mbaduli said they were now awaiting feedback from Limpopo and Mpumalanga. It was planned to ultimately transfer the case to the South Gauteng High Court. The accused is due back in the dock on 8 July. In the meantime, he is out on R10,000 bail. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bernadette Wicks at News24 (subscription or trial registration required) Court orders teacher who fathered a child with pupil to pay R38,000 from pension in maintenance News24 reports that the Nkomazi Magistrate's Court in Mpumalanga has ordered a teacher who impregnated a schoolgirl and infected her with HIV/Aids to pay her R38,000 in maintenance over the next two years. Public interest law centre, Section27, which represented the pupil, successfully got the court to attach the teacher's pension after the SA Council for Educators (Sace) found him guilty of sexual misconduct and struck him from the roll in January. Sace also ordered that the teacher's name be included in the National Child Protection Register. The teacher initially denied paternity and refused to provide maintenance, but Section27 successfully obtained a maintenance order in April 2023, making him legally responsible for the child's financial support. Section27 reported further: "Since the teacher had lost his job, he informed the pupil that he would discontinue supporting their child and that she would not be entitled to future income that he might receive. It was a clear attempt to abdicate his parental responsibility." Section 27 then urgently approached the court to interdict the teacher's pension fund. The the court ordered that the teacher be liable for R38,000 in future maintenance over the next two years and that he also be responsible for paying arrears maintenance, which has been outstanding since February 2025. Basil Manuel of the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of SA commented: "She has a health condition [HIV/Aids], and he must be charged. We have to ask the prosecuting authority whether he is going to be charged for sexual offences against a minor and for endangering her life.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at News24 (subscription or trial registration required)
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