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 roundup of weekend and recent reports,
see the following summaries of our selection of
South African labour-related articles.
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Untu lays down Monday ultimatum for resolution of Transnet wage dispute Business Times reports that Transnet is heading for a crippling strike after last week's efforts by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) failed to resolve an impasse in pay negotiations. The United National Transport Union (Untu), which is the majority union at Transnet with 26,500 members, is threatening to take its members on strike if a revised wage offer is not tabled. Untu spokesperson Atenkosi Plaatjie said on Friday the resolution of the deadlock now rested With the CCMA, which has committed to present a revised wage offer by close of business on Monday. “Should no revised offer be forthcoming, Untu will issue Transnet with a 48-hour notice of industrial action. This could potentially result in action commencing on Thursday, in line with the overwhelming mandate secured from Untu's members,”Plaatjie indicated. Untu said it has made the necessary logistical preparations to ensure its readiness for industrial action. The wage deadlock remained unresolved last week despite two senior CCMA commissioners facilitating a three-day meeting between Transnet and Untu, which ended on Thursday. Last Monday, Untu said it had received a “decisive and overwhelming mandate” from its members to embark on industrial action in response to the deadlock. Transnet responded. “Despite the vote in favour of industrial action, we remain committed to resolving the dispute.” Transnet added that its immediate priority, should Untu embark on a strike, would be to ensure business continuity and the safety of its employees and assets. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at Business Times (subscriber access only). Read too, Union to strike if no revised offer tabled in Transnet cliffhanger, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
SA soldiers stranded in Goma as transport home fails to arrive City Press reports that the promised buses that were supposed to transport a group of South African soldiers out of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have still not arrived. The blame for this has been placed, among other things, on a lack of funds. Approximately half of the military’s equipment in Goma and Sake has already been transported by truck to Tanzania. The latest indication is that the first 200 of the group of nonessential soldiers could begin to move out by Monday. The Southern African Development Community (SADC), under whose banner the SamiDRC forces (from SA, Tanzania and Malawi) were deployed in the DRC, is also responsible for the repatriation of the soldiers. The initial plan was to take the soldiers to Chato by bus and then they would be flown home to the military’s mobilisation centre at De Brug in Bloemfontein. The latest plan involves the soldiers supposedly flying home from Mwanza International Airport (about 720km from Goma) rather than from Chato. A senior officer involved in coordinating the repatriation in Tanzania indicated: “Our feedback is that the SADC has not yet hired the buses, and we are also not aware of any flights.” A frustrated officer said: “The problem is that we are completely in the dark, while we just see how the equipment becomes less and less, but we’re not going anywhere.” The officer said some of the soldiers were threatening to protest at SamiDRC’s headquarters, which would be an even greater disgrace for SA. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Erica Gibson at City Press (subscription / trial registration required). Read too, What is taking so long? Why SANDF troops can’t get a lift home, at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Three more arrested for murder on Wednesday in Vlakfontein of JMPD officer SowetanLive reports that three more suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of a Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer in Vlakfontein last week. They were allegedly found with the slain officer’s service pistol that was stolen during the attack. The suspects aged between 20 and 35 were arrested on Saturday in Dobsonville, Soweto. Their arrests bring to five the number of people held in connection with the murder. Mogale said the first two suspects, aged 25 and 27, were arrested by the Vaal Rand-based serious organised crime investigation unit on 15 May. All five suspects will appear in the Lenasia Magistrate’s Court on Monday to face charges of murder, possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, as well as defeating the ends of justice. The murder happened on 14 May when JMPD members attended to an attempted robbery complaint. When the vehicle involved was spotted and the JMPD crew made a tactical approach towards the vehicle, they were met with gunfire that killed one officer. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jeanette Chabalala at TimesLIVE. Read too, Arrest of suspects in JMPD officer’s murder case welcomed, at SABC News Sewage flood triggers long-awaited relocation on 1 September of Joburg Deeds Office to interim building Moneyweb reports that the Johannesburg Attorneys Association (JAA) has confirmed that relocation plans are underway following a sewage flood at the Johannesburg Deeds Office. This follows video footage showing a leaking parking area at the building, initially assumed to be water but later confirmed to be human waste. “It was definitely sewage. The stench was unbearable. The maintenance company said it came from the outside toilet on the ground floor of the building,” said Karla Strydom, a committee member of the JAA property committee. She noted that the JAA had been raising concerns with the deeds registrar for years about the building’s uninhabitable conditions, but it took a sewage flood to prompt any action. In a statement, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development conceded that the facilities and environment presented occupational hazards to the department’s employees and presented safety concerns for clients. Strydom confirmed that they have received communication indicating that on 1 September staff at the Deeds Office would relocate to an interim building while construction was completed on a new facility in Anderson Street, Marshalltown. She said the new building would probably be finished in 2026, but at the latest 2027, if everything went according to plan. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Anathi Madubela at Moneyweb Health workers traumatised after being hijacked on duty in the Eastern Cape GroundUp reports that a group of community health workers are receiving trauma counselling after they were threatened and hijacked at gunpoint while travelling between towns in the Eastern Cape last week. The staff were contracted by One to One Africa, a non-profit organisation that provides health services to about 100 underserved villages in and around Ngqeleni. On the morning of 7 May, five One to One Africa health workers were a few kilometres outside Mthatha when they were stopped by armed men and hijacked. The staff were using a converted 4x4 bakkie as a mobile clinic to provide free health checks for children and the elderly and to distribute chronic medicines to those who could not access local clinics. Eastern Cape police spokesperson Majola Nkohli advised that three occupants armed with firearms in a white Toyota Hilux forced the vehicle off the road and hijacked it. In the vehicle that day were a driver, two field workers, a nurse and a student doctor. The gunmen abandoned them in a forest and took off with the organisation’s vehicle, with the medication inside. Nkohli said a case had been opened at Ngqeleni police station and was under investigation, but there have been no arrests. Village Chief Gideon Vulihlanga Sigcau lamented that the incident has left the community in distress. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik at GroundUp Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Solidarity gives Minister Ntshavheni seven-day ultimatum to 'withdraw defamatory statements' IOL News reports that Solidarity has launched legal action against Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, accusing her of defamation over her claims of the trade union spreading misinformation. The Minister has been given seven days to withdraw a media statement made on 27 March and offer an unconditional apology to Solidarity for reputational damage. In a formal legal notice served on Ntshavheni, the union’s CEO Dirk Hermann demanded that Ntshavheni should apologise or face defamation charges. Failure to do so would result in the union pursuing more legal charges. The controversy began when Ntshavheni accused Solidarity and AfriForum of waging a "misinformation and disinformation campaign" during their joint visit to the US. Hermann described the accusations as absurd and part of a campaign to deflect attention from diplomatic relations between SA and the US. The situation escalated when Ntshavheni described Solidarity's actions as "treasonous" and a threat to national sovereignty. Law enforcement agencies are currently investigating treason charges against Solidarity and AfriForum based on Ntshavheni's allegations. Solidarity denounced Ntshavheni's statements, calling them an attempt to silence organisations that challenged prevailing state ideologies. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mashudu Sadike at IOL News
Fatal shooting at Foskor Mine in Limpopo after fraud suspect tried to disarm officer The Citizen reports that the Limpopo police have launched an investigation into a shooting incident that claimed the life of a suspected fraudster at Foskor Mine in Phalaborwa on Friday. The shooting took place at approximately 8:45am on Friday, when a team of detectives approached a suspect at the mine. In relation to a fraud case that originated in the Thohoyandou policing area earlier in the month. The investigation reportedly led officers to a 32-year-old man who was allegedly attempting to defraud the same victim again through what authorities described as a fraudulent tender for laboratory services. Police officers approached the suspect, who, upon realising the police presence, fled on foot. During the pursuit, police discharged a warning shot when the suspect attempted to scale a high security fence at the mine premises. According to preliminary reports, when the suspect found himself unable to climb over the fence, he turned and allegedly grabbed the service firearm of the nearest police officer. A struggle ensued over control of the weapon, resulting in the discharge of the firearm. The suspect sustained gunshot wounds and was certified dead at the scene. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Enkosi Selane at The Citizen Collusion and coercion drive the extensive illegal gold mining operations in Welkom News24 reports that illegal miners will stop at nothing to access gold mining shafts in the Free State town of Welkom. Efforts by the mining companies to combat the ‘zama zama’ practice are often thwarted by their very own employees, who allow what police believe to be “thousands” of illegal miners access to old and operational shafts. The head of Operation Vala Umgodi in the Free State, Colonel Nontando Ndzotyana, confirmed this and said illegal miners interviewed after their arrest said they accessed the shafts with the help of employees, who charged them between R10,000 and R60,000 for two weeks. Mining companies operating in Welkom include Harmony Gold and Sibanye-Stillwater. James Wellsted of Sibanye indicated: “Unfortunately, we do have illegal miners operating in our mines. During 2024, we recorded 540 incidents of illegal mining [up from 459 in 2023] and made 1,487 arrests, [1,239 in 2023] of illegal miners.” The arrests included cases in Welkom as well as Westonaria in Gauteng. “Collusion and coercion are significant factors supporting illegal mining, and we consider collusion or coercion of employees as one of the most prominent threats faced by the industry,” Wellstead indicated. Zama zama kingpins dominate underground networks, charging miners up to R60,000 for two weeks’ access to shafts. Welkom was established in 1947 by Anglo American after gold was discovered in the area. The town boasted lavish recreational facilities, but today it is strewn with rubbish and has deeply potholed streets. As many mines in Welkom closed amid a decline in easily accessible deposits and increased production costs, many retrenched mineworkers have continued to ply their trade underground illegally. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tankiso Makhetha at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Ters funding of R381m provides reprieve for SA Post Office workers Moneyweb reports that an agreement signed by the SA Post Office (Sapo) and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) will inject R381 million over six months for nearly 6,000 post office workers. The funds will be made available through the Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (Ters), which is for companies facing financial distress. This is part of a package of measures intended to rescue the SA Post Office (Sapo), which was placed in business rescue in 2023 owing creditors R8.7 billion. Costs were reported to exceed revenue by 200%, with employee costs alone accounting for 150% of revenue. Sapo and the UIF have now signed an agreement establishing a strategic partnership between the two entities. Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth indicated: “This is a bold and necessary step to protect workers and restore confidence in our public institutions. The Ters programme is not just a financial mechanism – it is a strategic tool to stabilise employment, support economic recovery, and ensure that no worker is left behind.” The funding will be disbursed in monthly tranches through a dedicated Ters bank account, with strict governance, auditing, and compliance measures in place. Sapo will be required to submit regular reports, maintain transparent accounting records, and implement a detailed turnaround strategy as a condition of the funding. About 4,800 workers, or 43% of the workforce, were retrenched in July 2023. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ciaran Ryan at Moneyweb
Higher Education committee will still question minister on withdrawn Seta chair appointments News24 reports that Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane withdrawing the appointment of ANC-connected people as chairpersons of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) does not quell the questions of the portfolio committee overseeing her, according to the committee’s chairperson, ANC MP Tebogo Letsie. Last week, it emerged that Nkabane appointed ANC politicians, some believed to be close to President Cyril Ramaphosa, and the son of ANC-heavyweight Gwede Mantashe, to these positions. However, Nkabane had reversed the controversial appointments by Thursday evening. “I have taken the decision to withdraw previous appointments in response to public concerns. Further, I take this decision in the interest of good governance [and] transparency to ensure accountability of the appointment process. In this regard, I will reopen the process by issuing a Government Gazette calling for nominations for a limited run of seven days,” Nkabane said in a statement. She added that she would establish a new independent panel to process the nominations and recommend candidates. “Letsie said in a statement that, although the committee welcomed the withdrawals, it was concerned that the minister withdrew the appointments before responding to the committee’s formal request for clarification on the processes followed in making the appointments. Letsie repeated the committee’s ongoing call for a “blacklist system” to prevent the repeated appointment of persons who have previously contributed to dysfunction in the Post-School Education and Training sector. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Gerber at News24 (subscription / trial registration required). Lees ook, Nkabane skrap Seta-aanstellings ná politieke storm, by Maroela Media
Ramaphosa want to head to ConCourt over NHI Act ruling, arguing ‘errors of law and fact’ The Citizen reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa is pushing back against a court ruling that found that his decision to sign the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act into law could be reviewed. Ramaphosa has filed a notice with the Gauteng North High Court indicating his intention to appeal the judgment. The case had been brought forward by the Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) and the SA Private Practitioners Forum (SAPPF). Confirming that it had jurisdiction to hear the matter, the court ruled in the applicants’ favour earlier this month. Judge Mpostoli Twala went on to order Ramaphosa to submit documents explaining the reasoning behind his decision to sign the NHI Act on 15 May 2024. Twala also instructed the president to comply within 10 days, setting a deadline of 16 May. However, Ramaphosa has since chosen to appeal the decision. In his application for leave to appeal, Ramaphosa notified the court of his intention to approach the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) directly by 27 May. He stated that if the ConCourt agreed to hear the case, the proceedings in the high court would be withdrawn. Ramaphosa argued that his appeal has “reasonable prospects of success” and claimed the court had made “errors of law and fact.” His court papers indicate: “Having failed to find that this matter was politically sensitive which meant the Constitutional Court enjoyed exclusive jurisdiction, the court also erred in failing to take into account the breadth of the discretion enjoyed by the president.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Molefe Seeletsa at The Citizen
‘Dishonest’ magistrate accused of bringing justice into disrepute faces removal from post News24 reports that the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development will be recommending to the National Assembly (NA) the removal of Renie Govender, a magistrate in Lenyenye, Limpopo, who was found to have lied to a judge and changing an accused’s plea without legal justification. The misconduct charges against Govender emanated from a High Court review of a criminal case over which she presided. According to the judgment, Govender had been dishonest, her behaviour inappropriate and she had brought the name of the magistracy into disrepute. The committee also recommended to the NA that TF Kekana, a magistrate at the Secunda District Court since 2015, be suspended. The allegations against Kekana are that she did not submit weekly and monthly statistics, did not comply with office hours and, most importantly, on one occasion, had met litigants within the court building and later in their business premises in an attempt to negotiate a mediation between the parties. It did not take much discussion for the committee to unanimously agree to the Magistrates Commission’s recommendations on Govender’s removal and Kekana’s suspension. Across party lines, there were concerns about the time it took to finalise some of the disciplinary matters involving magistrates. The commission receives more than 200 complaints a year, sometimes more than 350. The commission is considering withholding the salaries of some suspended magistrates where this was warranted and in the interest of justice. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jan Gerber at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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