In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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ActionSA calls for axing of ‘indifferent’ Labour Minister over growing unemployment News24 reports that ActionSA has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to axe Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Nomakhosazana Meth for failing to present a feasible plan to tackle SA’s growing unemployment rate. In a letter to Ramaphosa, ActionSA MP Alan Beesley wrote that South Africans were facing a distressing reality of unemployment which continued to erode hope, dignity and opportunity for millions of people. Noting that according to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, 291,000 jobs had been lost in the first quarter of 2025 alone, Beesley pointed out that the losses equated to “more than 24,000 jobs lost each week, and almost 5,000 each workday.” He noted that “the proportion of young South Africans aged 15-34 who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET) rose to 45.1% in Q1:2025 – a devastating indicator that nearly half of our youth have been left without opportunity, support, or a path to a better future.” But according to Beesley, despite these damning figures, the DEL, under the leadership of Meth, failed to present or implement a coherent strategy to arrest job losses. “This disturbing indifference to the suffering of millions of South Africans is deeply disappointing and confirms her unwillingness to take responsibility,” Beesley stated. Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said ActionSA’s statement was not serious and did not reflect either the nuanced understanding or appreciation of the root causes of unemployment. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jason Felix at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) In face of youth unemployment crisis, over 5,700 new jobs created in SA’s global business services sector IOL Business reports that in the face of a youth unemployment crisis, 5,787 jobs for young people have been created in the global business services (GBS) sector, which is a catch-all phrase for outsourced services that support business operations across multiple locations or regions. People employed in this sector provide services in aspects such as finance, HR, IT, and customer service. According to the October to December 2024 GBS Sector Job Creation Report by Business Process Enabling SA (BPESA), 6,290 new net jobs for international companies were recorded between October and December 2024, with 92% of these having been for younger South Africans. For the 2024 calendar year, the GBS industry created 20,518 jobs, having grown three-fold in just five years. Around 10 million South Africans aged 15 to 24 encounter significant challenges when entering the workforce, with unemployment rates notably higher than those of older youth. Half of all citizens between 15 and 24 years of age were unemployed in 2015. Ten years later, this number has jumped to 62.4%, Statistics SA indicated in its research. “For many young South Africans, landing a job is more than just a milestone, it is a crucial step toward economic independence and inclusion. Yet for millions, this first step remains out of reach,” Statistics SA said in a data print released mid-month. BPESA’s report showed that most of the jobs created as a result of expanding GBS activities into SA were in the Western Cape at 49.7%, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and Eastern Cape. Cape Town is SA’s business process outsourcing capital. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicola Mawson at IOL Business
Four teens arrested after brutal axe attack on Mossel Bay police officer Cape Times reports that a Mosel Bay police officer had a narrow escape when he sustained life-threatening injuries to his neck and head in an attack by four juveniles wielding an axe and sharp objects while walking with his partner in the early hours of Sunday. The teenagers, aged 16 and 19, have since been arrested and were scheduled to appear in the Mossel Bay Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Police spokesperson Christopher Spies said a thorough and swift investigation into the brutal attack on the off-duty 30-year-old constable attached to the Da Gamaskop police in Mossel Bay ensured that four juveniles were facing charges of attempted murder. He said the motive for the attack formed part of the ongoing police investigation. The officer was taken to a nearby medical facility where he remains in a critical condition. Western Cape police management assigned internal SAPS Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) practitioners to provide professional social-psychological support to the member and his relatives. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Cape Times. Read too, Teens face attempted murder charges for 'brutal attack' on cop in Mossel Bay, at TimesLIVE SANDF refutes claim of troops returning from DRC having to surrender weapons when transiting through Rwanda EWN reports that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) has rubbished claims that returning troops from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) would have to surrender their weapons when transiting through Rwanda. On Sunday, City Press published an article outlining the difficult withdrawal procedure of the peacekeepers who have been stationed in Goma since December 2023. The SANDF denied the report, claiming that the current withdrawal process was in line with a SA Development Community (SADC) agreement of protocol established with partner countries. Following a ceasefire that was brokered earlier this year, the SADC gave a directive for the withdrawal of troops. The first group of peacekeepers exited the volatile eastern DRC in April, and, with the second group having begun its exit earlier in May, it is set to wrap up soon. During this time, there have been multiple reports of buses meant to transport soldiers from Goma back to SA failing to arrive. City Press' report claimed that soldiers on the ground were stranded and not allowed to carry personal weapons or firearms into Rwanda, rendering them vulnerable. SANDF spokesperson, Prince Tshabalala, reacted: "The article is not factual but sensationalist and it appears to be aimed at creating panic and discrediting all involved.” He gave the assurance that the SANDF remained committed to returning all troops back home safely. Read the full original of the short report in the above regard by Ntokozo Khumalo at EWN
Amid patient care crisis, Gauteng hospital security bill soars to R2.54bn The Citizen reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has voiced concern over soaring security costs at Gauteng public hospitals, which have nearly quadrupled in just three years from R655 million in 2022 to R2.54 billion in 2025. According to DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom, the rising security expenditure is diverting much-needed funds from critical healthcare services. Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed in a written reply to the provincial legislature that the increase was due to “additional points of service provision” and higher rates regulated by the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA). However, Bloom questioned the justification, noting that PSIRA’s annual rate increase stood at only 7.38%, far below the near six-fold rise in overall security spending. In response to Bloom’s inquiry, the department indicated: “The security assessment report conducted justifies the additional increase in the number of guards, and it is in line with the PSIRA rates.” Despite these massive outlays, some security workers are not being paid on time. At Tembisa Hospital, guards have gone on a go-slow, protesting after not being paid for three months. At George Mukhari Hospital, Mafoko Security Patrollers recently lost a court case over failing to pay over provident fund contributions. Similar allegations have surfaced at Bertha Gxowa Hospital. “Many security companies seem to be grossly over-charging while underpaying their workers,” Bloom claimed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Oratile Mashilo at The Citizen. Lees ook, R2,6 miljard: Veiligheidsdienste by Gauteng-hospitale kos nou byna vier keer meer, by Maroela Media
Plastics industry employers table above-inflation multi-year wage offer to unions BL Premium reports that employers in SA’s plastics industry have tabled a multi-year wage proposal to unions in the sector’s bargaining council aimed at bringing stability to businesses employing nearly 40,000 workers nationally. CEO of the Plastic Convertors Association of SA, Natalie van Vreden, said employers had tabled a three-year wage offer with increases based on minimum rates of pay of 7% in the first year and 6% in the two outer years, respectively. “The three-year duration will ensure stability and sustainability within the plastics industry for employers and employees,” Van Vreden noted. The wage talks began on 10 April with the offer to unions – including the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), National Union of Mineworkers, Uasa, Mewusa and Saewa – tabled on 20 May. “The offer presented to the trade unions … is conditional and unmandated as the understanding among the parties is that both sides will take the offer back to their respective constituencies in an endeavour to receive a mandate to hopefully settle,” Van Vreden explained. The parties will reconvene on 6 June to receive feedback from all involved. Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola on Monday confirmed that an offer was on the table and said the union was discussing it with its structures. She recently said the union’s demands included a one-year 10% across-the-board wage increase “on the actual rates of pay”, reconfiguration of shifts, and removal of area differentials. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Security officers, unions to march in PMB on Tuesday against unfair labour practices The Witness reports that security officers, backed by the Democratised Transport Logistics and Allied Workers Union, together with the SA Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) in KwaZulu-Natal, will be marching to the Premier’s office in Pietermaritzburg (PMB) on Tuesday. The unions will also be joined by the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa). They are all demanding access to health insurance and provident funds, as well as decent and fair basic salary and allowances, for all security officers. March co-ordinator, Thabiso Zulu, said they are expecting close to 1,000 people to participate in the march, which is scheduled to start at 9 am on Langalibalele Street and end at the KZN Premier’s Office, where the protestors will submit a memorandum of demands. In a statement, Numsa said they were participating in the march to demand a stop to the handing out of security tenders to security companies that did not comply with the National Bargaining Council for the Private Security Sector (NBCPSS). “Security companies are defrauding workers by deducting money for medical insurance and pension fund, but not paying it over to the service provider. This means that when workers have to claim, there are not enough funds or no funds at all,” said Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola added. Another march is scheduled to take place in Durban on Wednesday. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zama Myeza at The Witness
Business rescue begins at Daybreak Farms as 2,800 jobs hang in the balance News24 reports that state-owned chicken producer Daybreak Foods has confirmed the appointment of a business rescue practitioner (BRP), with the crisis-hit company aiming to save 2,800 jobs and provide a turnaround plan to save itself from financial ruin. In a statement on Monday, Daybreak said that it had appointed Tebogo Maoto as BRP. He will work with the Daybreak Foods board to draw up a rescue plan, which will then be subject to a vote by Daybreak’s creditors. The Public Investment Corporation (PIC), in its capacity as Daybreak shareholder and creditor, said it supported the decision to place the company in business rescue. The PIC manages the investments of the Government Employees’ Pension Fund, the Compensation Fund, and the Unemployment Insurance Fund, each of which owns a third of the chicken producer. Meanwhile, the appointment of Maoto comes after the Gauteng High Court handed down a final order ordering Daybreak to stop the inhumane culling of chickens and provide adequate chicken feed so that the birds could be humanely processed. The ruling follows a previous interim order earlier this month. In a statement, the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) welcomed the ruling. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Na'ilah Ebrahim at News24 (subscription / trial registration required). Read too, Gauteng High Court orders Daybreak Foods to cease inhumane culling practices, at IOL News
Reserve Bank prepares to narrow consumer inflation target band BL Premium reports that the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) is poised to adjust SA’s consumer inflation target for the first time in nearly 25 years. Deputy Governor Fundi Tshazibana indicated last week that the current 3%-6% range was “too wide and out of line with that of our trading partners”. He confirmed that technical teams had completed their analysis and were preparing formal recommendations. The potential shift would mark the first adjustment to the framework since inflation targeting was introduced in 2000. At the time a wider band was considered appropriate for an emerging economy facing volatile price pressures. In recent years, however, economists have noted the Bank has placed greater emphasis on the midpoint of 4.5% while also arguing that the domestic and global contexts had shifted significantly. Most countries now target a single rate – typically 2% or 3%. Citadel chief economist Maarten Ackerman argued that by reducing the band – potentially to between 3% and 4% – the SARB could lower inflation expectations and ultimately reduce the cost of borrowing. “If unions and businesses know the Bank is aiming for 3%, wage negotiations won’t start at 6%. That lowers inflation pressures and allows for lower interest rates in the long term,” he argued. SARB’s next interest rate announcement is scheduled for Thursday, but any possible changes to the inflation framework are unlikely to influence that monetary policy decision. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jana Marx at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Possible petrol price hike in June as fuel levy increase kicks in The Citizen reports that motorists will feel the impact of the fuel levy increase at the pumps when the official price changes for petrol and diesel kicks in on 4 June. Budget 3.0’s inflation-based general fuel levy (GFL) hike will see petrol prices increase by 16 cents to R4.01, while diesel tax will rise by 15 cents to R3.85. Based on current over-recovery trends, consumers should consider themselves lucky if petrol sees a marginal decrease of 3 cents per litre in June. There is even the possibility that the fuel levy increase could result in a small hike in petrol prices if the rand weakens or if global oil prices rise further this week. The fuel levy increase raises the total tax on petrol to R6.37, factoring in the R2.18 Road Accident Fund (RAF) levy, which remains unchanged, as well as the 14 cent carbon tax penalty and four cent customs and excise duties. While the previously announced 1% Value Added Tax (VAT) hike fell away following pressure from within the ranks of the government of national unity (GNU), Treasury now has an additional R61.9 billion shortfall to fund over the next three years. According to Frank Blackmore, lead economist at KPMG SA, the fuel tax hike represents an inflationary increase of 4% in the fuel price, which is larger than the proposed VAT increase. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cornelia Le Roux at The Citizen. Read too, The fuel levy increase vs VAT hike explained, at Daily Maverick Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Solidarity calls on Eskom Board to put operational needs above racial transformation Maroela Media reports that in a strongly worded open letter to Eskom, Solidarity has called on the board of the state-owned power utility to put operational needs above racial transformation. The trade union’s letter was issued following a submission to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy that highlighted how a lack of experience at Eskom was hamstringing the running of coal-fired power stations. Solidarity made reference to a Daily Investor report on 15 May 2025 to the effect that “Eskom has lost so many skilled employees that it now requires assistance from external companies and original equipment manufacturers to run its power stations.” In 2022, Solidarity responded to a direct request from Eskom for assistance by submitting a list of over 300 qualified and experienced technical professionals, many of whom had previously worked at the SOE. Collectively, they represented more than 5,500 years of engineering and operational expertise. But, while these individuals were willing to return, mentor and support Eskom’s recovery only 18 were appointed. Solidarity wrote in its letter: “We believe it is now time for the board to acknowledge what the public already knows: the ideological rigidity that led to the loss of these skills was a mistake, and repeating it is unacceptable. The burden of loadshedding is not carried equally. It falls heaviest on the poor and vulnerable. It disrupts access to healthcare, education, safety, and affects dignity. When ideology is placed above impact, the result is not transformation – it is regression.” Solidarity reiterated that it was prepared once again to assist. Read the full original of the Afrikaans report in the above regard at Maroela Media. Read Solidarity’s open letter at Politicsweb
Samwu calls for forensic probe after nonpayment of May salaries of iMpendle municipal employees TimesLIVE reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) in the Mafika Mshengu region has called for a forensic investigation after workers at the iMpendle municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Midlands were not paid their May salaries. “The municipality has once again failed to honour this obligation, with employees not receiving their salaries for April and May respectively. Not only has the April salary been short-paid, but the municipality also failed to remit third-party payments – this despite such deductions having been made from employees’ remuneration,” said regional secretary Nkosikhona Biyela. He described the failing by the municipality as a serious breach of trust and fiduciary responsibility with severe and dire consequences for workers and their families. The union has formally written to the municipality demanding accountability and clarity on whether consequence management would be instituted against those responsible for this gross negligence. It has also called on the KZN Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the Department of Employment and Labour to urgently initiate a forensic investigation into the financial affairs and internal governance of the iMpendle municipality, which “must include a thorough probe into the mismanagement of municipal funds, nonpayment of third-party obligations, and a determination of individual culpability.” The municipal manager responded as follows: “We want to assure employees that the municipality management is actively working to resolve the issue. We are taking immediate steps to address the issue, the root cause of the delay and to ensure that salaries are paid as soon as possible.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mfundo Mkhize at TimesLIVE
Two Mpumalanga police officers sentenced to prison for attempted murder during high-speed chase IOL News reports that two police officers – one currently serving and the other a former member – have been sentenced to prison by the eMalahleni Regional Court for attempted murder and assault related to a high-speed chase incident that occurred in 2020. Sergeant Louise Venter, 43, and former officer Sergeant Stefaans Breytenbach, 42, were each handed five years' imprisonment for attempted murder and 18 months for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH). The sentences, imposed on 22 May 2025, carried no option of a fine. Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane reported that the officers attempted to stop a vehicle during a roadblock operation on the N4 near Balmoral on 11 May 2020. The driver reportedly failed to stop, resulting in a pursuit. “During the pursuit, the officers reportedly fired multiple shots at the fleeing vehicle until it eventually came to a stop,” said Ndubane. After the vehicle was halted, the officers assaulted the driver. A criminal case was opened that led to charges of attempted murder and assault against both officers and their eventual conviction. Breytenbach resigned from SAPS in November 2022 after serving five years, having rejoined the service in 2017. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Wendy Dondolo at IOL News. Read too, Cops jailed for attempted murder of motorist who ignored roadblock, at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
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