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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Mashatile’s VIP protection officers acquitted by police of assault The Citizen reports that the eight SA Police Service (SAPS) members of Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s VIP presidential protection unit have reportedly been acquitted by the police. In a post on X, DA MP and chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, advised that the police had cleared the officers of the charges against them. “The Saps has officially acquitted all eight VIP protection unit officers who were filmed assaulting civilians on the N1 in 2023. This is the final insult to victims – and a warning to the public: police brutality will be protected behind closed doors,” Cameron wrote. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe commented: “The National Commissioner will study the chairperson’s report and consult legal services.” The criminal case against the eight suspects resumed in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court in February. The case was postponed to 10 June for other witnesses to testify. The accused are facing 12 charges, including pointing a firearm; reckless and negligent driving; malicious damage to property; assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm; obstruction of justice; and assault by way of threat. They are currently out on R10,000 bail each. The eight men returned to work in October last year. “In line with the Saps disciplinary regulations, suspension is for 60 days; thereafter, the suspension is automatically lifted if the internal process is still underway,” Mathe said at the time. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Faizel Patel at The Citizen. Lees ook, Geen stappe teen agt van blouligbrigade, by Maroela Media
Investigation into three constables’ deaths continuing, Masemola tells mourners SABC News reports that National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola says the investigation into the deaths of the three police constables who were found deceased in the Hennops River is still ongoing. He indicated that police were still doing investigations on the vehicle they had been travelling in. He was addressing mourners at the memorial service of Keamogetswe Buys, Cebekhulu Linda and Boipelo Senoge in Bloemfontein. Their remains were retrieved from the Hennops River in Centurion, Gauteng after they went missing on 23 April. Masemola thanked the families of constables for giving them their daughters and son to serve in the SA Police Service. Free State MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, Jabu Mbalula, said the three police constables would be remembered for their dedication and hard work. Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae described the day the bodies of the three constables were retrieved from the river, and the night of the announcement by the National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, as agonising. An emotional Mathae said the devastation was felt in the province. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at SABC News. Read too, Our hearts are bleeding: three young constables remembered at memorial, at Sunday Times Daily (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Samwu prepares for legal action over pre-dismissal processes against EMPD officers who staged highway protest BusinessLive reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) is preparing to mount a legal challenge after the City of Ekurhuleni issued pre-dismissal letters to almost 400 of the metro’s police officers who recently embarked on an illegal stoppage over pay. This after the metro advised in a statement that it had started disciplinary measures against 389 Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officers for their participation in an illegal strike and blockade of highways on 19 March. “The affected EMPD officers face pre-dismissal processes due to severe misconduct, including the illegal blockade of the R21, N12, N17, and N3 highways,” the metro indicated. Samwu Ekurhuleni regional secretary Tshephang Langa said: “We have received those pre-dismissal letters. We have subjected the matter to the union's legal division. Equally, we have written to the city to request 72 hours instead of the 48 hours they gave us to respond.” He added that the union would exhaust all internal avenues, including a regional shop steward council meeting, to deal with the matter and “get a mandate from the ground regarding what our posture should be”. The EMPD protest came two weeks after Samwu expressed displeasure over Ekurhuleni’s decision to cut overtime pay for its 16,000-strong workforce by 50%. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, City of Ekurhuleni takes action against EMPD officers for illegal strike, at News24 (subscription or trial registration required) Ekurhuleni's mass suspension of police officers sparks safety concerns The Star reports that the decision of the City of Ekurhuleni to suspend over 300 Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officers has ignited a concerned response from Gauteng government officials, particularly from within the portfolio committee on Community Safety. The abrupt action has raised alarms over its potential impact on public security and law enforcement within the region, leading to urgent calls for immediate contingency measures. The suspensions follow a strike on 19 March during which 389 EMPD officers protested over overtime pay and salary adjustments, causing major traffic jams on arterial routes. Chairperson of the Community Safety Portfolio Committee, Bandile Masuku, acknowledged the city's right to take disciplinary measures against employees accused of serious misconduct. However, he warned that such mass suspensions could leave communities and roads inadequately policed, increasing the risk of disorder and jeopardising public safety. “The sudden reduction in law enforcement capacity may leave residents vulnerable and exacerbate challenges in maintaining order on the roads and in communities across the City,” he warned. Masuku's concerns echoed the fears of many residents, who rely on the EMPD for traffic management and enforcement of municipal by-laws. Masuku urged Ekurhuleni's leadership to act swiftly to mitigate the ramifications of the significant loss in law enforcement personnel. Ehurhuleni spokesperson pointed out that the affected employees have a 48-day window within which to submit their responses to the determination notices before any further action was taken. “Everyone will be scrutinised on their merit, and decisions will be taken based on what is presented before us,” Dlamini explained. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Masabata Mkwananzi at The Star. Lees ook, Massaskorsing van EMPD-beamptes ‘veiligheidsrisiko’, by Maroela Media Planned EMPD sit-in on Tuesday fails to take off The Citizen reports that a planned strike by Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officers on Tuesday never materialised. There were reports that EMPD officers would stage a sit-in at their offices in Kempton Park, however the municipality’s spokesperson Zweli Dlamini confirmed that the protest failed to take place. The officers are unhappy about their wages, and they have also complained about their working conditions. In March, more than 300 disgruntled officers blocked important arterial routes around the metro, including the R24m N3, R21, N12, and N17. The strike was declared illegal, and some of the officers who participated in the strike are currently facing disciplinary action. The City has emphasised that EMPD officers are classed as essential services workers, and their participation in the protest directly contravened the Labour Relations Act. Meanwhile, the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) has criticised the municipality for allegedly threatening to fire the employees who were part of the strike and has threatened legal action. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Hein Kaiser & Itumeleng Mafisa at The Citizen
Trump's 100% tariff on foreign films could threaten R5 billion South African film industry Cape Times reports that SA’s position as a world-class film production destination could face serious repercussions if United States President Donald Trump’s latest tariff proposal becomes reality. On Sunday, Trump declared that he would be directing his Department of Commerce and the US Trade Representative to impose a 100% tariff on all films produced outside of the US. Between November 2023 and June 2024, foreign film production investments in SA totalled R2.52 billion, with projections exceeding R5 billion by October 2025. From November 2023 to August 2024, international production crews booked over 59 000 hotel bed nights, injecting nearly R148 million into SA’s hospitality industry, with an average spend of R2,500 per night. The film industry created 26,573 jobs for local freelance crew members and performers over eight months in 2024. If implemented, the tariff could have far-reaching implications for international film hubs like SA which has enjoyed a surge in international filming thanks to its generous rebate schemes, skilled local crews, and diverse locations. Trump’s proposal did not include television productions and did not mention whether the tariff would apply to post-production services, many of which are also outsourced internationally. He also did not clarify whether US films shot partially overseas would be subject to the tariff or how it would be calculated. Complicating matters further is that films, now largely digital products, fall under a World Trade Organization (WTO) moratorium that prohibits tariffs on digital goods. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sarene Kloren at Cape Times
Grade R teachers in KZN on brink of strike over salary payment delays Daily News reports that by Monday afternoon, Grade R teachers across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) were still awaiting their April salaries, despite a promise from the crisis-plagued provincial education department to have paid them by last Friday. With frustrations boiling over, many teachers threatened to down chalk, a move that could disrupt learning for thousands of young pupils. Despite holding teaching qualifications, Grade R educators claimed they were overworked and overlooked for permanent positions. Grade R teachers in KZN are employed on renewable yearly contracts, which are usually renewed in February. However, these renewals have been plagued by administrative glitches, delays that some teachers believe were "deliberate and man-made". “This happens every year. It’s as if the department is trying to frustrate us despite the hard work we put in daily to ensure that the kids are well catered for,” said one teacher. Nomarashiya Caluza, the KZN provincial secretary of the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu), indicated: “This is incompetent and uncalled for on the side of the department. Every year, we have to deal with this issue. I don’t know why the department is not fixing this issue. This matter is painful and totally uncalled for.” Caluza said they were piling up pressure for the department to pay the teachers by Thursday. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lungani Zungu at Daily News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Court reserves judgment in Employment Equity Amendment Act challenge Sunday World reports the Democratic Alliance (DA) appeared at the North Gauteng High Court on Tuesday to challenge the Employment Equity Amendment Act. The party argued that the new law gave too much power to the state when it came to setting employment targets, and that this could lead to unfair treatment in the workplace. Ismail Jamie, the DA’s lawyer, told the court that the amended law tried to enforce what he called “must be it” quotas within five years. He pointed out the Act did not explain how these quotas should be achieved. Jamie asked the court to rule that the Act was unconstitutional, calling the legislation “offensive”. He told the court that the law no longer fulfilled its original goal of ensuring fair representation in workplaces. The Department of Employment and Labour’s counsel argued that the fact that targets could be set by minister did not make them rigid or inflexible. It depended on how they were set and on how they were applied. Noting that consultations had first been held within sectors, he indicated: “So the framework simply says the minister can set the targets. If the targets have not been set properly in compliance with the basic requirements of 15(a), then we can come and argue on another day in this court. We can say whether or not the target we have set adequately addresses what is sought to be done.” Judgment was reserved in the matter. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Boitumelo Kgobotlo at Sunday World. Read too, Employment equity clash: DA says disadvantaged workers have ‘nowhere to turn’, at News24 (subscription or trial registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Court orders Ramaphosa to give his reasons for signing contentious NHI BL Premium reports that the High Court in Pretoria has confirmed it has jurisdiction to hear the legal challenges brought by medical schemes and doctors against the National Health Insurance Act, and has ordered President Cyril Ramaphosa to furnish the record of his decision to assent to the contentious legislation. The ruling marks a small victory for the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) and the SA Private Practitioners Forum (SAPPF), after the President’s legal team tried to convince the court that they had taken their fight to the wrong place and should have filed their respective applications in the Constitutional Court. The NHI Act, which was signed into law by the president last May, sets in motion the ANC’s plan for universal health coverage. The Act is not yet in force, as none of its sections have been proclaimed by the president. The BHF, representing medical schemes and administrators, and the SAPPF, representing specialists, launched separate applications against the NHI Act last year. Both parties asked the court to review and set aside the president’s decision to sign the act into law, and declare the act to have no legal force. The BHF’s core argument was that the president had failed to fulfil his constitutional duty because he had not referred the NHI Bill back to parliament despite receiving numerous submissions challenging the constitutionality of the legislation. Similar arguments were made by the SAPPF. Judge Mpostoli Twala ruled the President must furnish the record of his decision to sign the legislation to the court within 10 calendar days. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Ramaphosa ordered to hand over record of decision on NHI signing, at News24 (subscription or trial registration required) Solidarity welcomes court ruling on NHI signing Maroela Media reports that trade union Solidarity has welcomed the Pretoria High Court’s ruling on the reviewability of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s signing of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act. The ruling relates to an application by the Board of Health Funders (BHF) and the SA Private Practitioners Forum (SAPPF) challenging the President’s signing of the Act shortly before last year’s national election. “Solidarity is delighted with this ruling. It is an important and significant judgment that is undoubtedly consistent with our court challenge that deems the NHI Act in its entirety is unconstitutional, illegal, and irrational,” said Theuns du Buisson, economic researcher at the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI). According to the court’s decision, the President’s signing or approval of the NHI Act is subject to review. Furthermore, he is required to provide reasons or information explaining how he arrived at the decision to sign the legislation. Solidarity submitted court papers shortly after Ramaphosa signed the NHI Act into law in May 2024. Since then, a ruling has declared certain sections of the National Health Act – specifically those granting the government the authority to prescribe where doctors may work – as unconstitutional. “The NHI is continually being challenged in court, and each time it is confirmed just how unworkable this system is. The government, and now specifically the president, has made no effort to demonstrate its rationality. This latest ruling is therefore a major victory and ensures that the president can be held accountable, both now and in the future, for his decision to approve the NHI,” Du Buisson said. He added that it was becoming increasingly clear that the NHI would not survive legal scrutiny. Read the full Afrikaans original of the report in the above regard by Christel Cornellisen at Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Pension Funds Adjudicator demands transparency from funds in death benefit disputes The Mercury reports that Pension Funds Adjudicator (PFA) Muvhango Lukhaimane has taken a firm stance against funds that withhold investigation reports under the guise of protecting personal information. She has warned that the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) should not be used to conceal a less than thorough investigation. In a recent determination, Lukhaimane made it clear that funds were obligated to share information with the PFA when requested without needing consent from beneficiaries. “A fund cannot hide behind POPIA,” she said, adding that the PFA qualified as a public body and was “allowed to collect personal information when necessary for the conduct of proceedings”. The PFA was dealing with a complaint from the customary spouse of a deceased member of the Eskom Pension and Provident Fund. She was unhappy with the board's decision to award a large portion of the R560,160 death benefit to the deceased’s life partner. The fund initially refused to share its investigation report with PFA citing POPIA, but eventually complied. Lukhaimane ruled that the fund had failed to conduct a thorough investigation into the financial dependency of each beneficiary. “There is a duty on the fund to actively investigate the extent of each of the beneficiaries’ financial dependency on the deceased. The fund failed to follow the beneficiary nomination. There must be a valid reason for not honouring a nomination,” Lukhaimane stressed. Setting aside the board’s decision, Lukhaimane said she was not satisfied that all relevant factors: dependency, age, and the deceased’s wishes were adequately considered. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siphesihle Buthelezi at The Mercury
Judge’s eggplant and banana emojis had “sexual connotations”, tribunal told GroundUp reports that a forensic linguist told the Judicial Conduct Tribunal on Tuesday that Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge’s use of banana, peach, eggplant and dripping syringe emojis had “sexual connotations” and indicated that he wanted to be intimate with the recipient. Dr Zakeera Docrat was giving evidence before the tribunal probing allegations of gross misconduct against Mbenenge following a complaint of sexual harassment lodged by Andiswa Mengo. Their WhatsApp exchanges - many of them subsequently deleted by Mbenenge - were introduced into evidence by Mengo earlier this year. She testified that Mbenenge’s advances were unwanted and her responses - often with “hysterical laughing” and “embarrassed monkey” emojis - were because she did not know how else to react to his advances, as he was her boss. Mbenenge, through his counsel, has admitted sending some of the messages and claims the relationship was consensual. However, he has denied sending her a picture of his penis or asking her for oral sex in his chambers. Allegedly Mbenenge used eggplant and peach emojis in a message that he deleted but which Mengo saved before he did so. Docrat noted that the eggplant was a vegetable and the peach was a fruit “but in this context they were used to reflect a desire for intimacy”. The eggplant was the penis and the peach a vagina. She said this was clear because “they were not drawing up a shopping list”. Mbenenge’s advocate Griffits Madonsela told the panel that while they accepted Docrat’s qualifications, they disputed her expertise in emojis. Mbenenge is expected to call his own “emoji” expert. Cross examination is expected to continue on Wednesday. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tania Broughton at GroundUp
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