In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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BLSA’s Mavuso severely castigates Transnet for capitulating to ‘unreasonable’ union wage demands Mining Weekly reports that Busisiwe Mavuso, CEO of Business Leadership SA, was “astounded” to learn last week of Transnet's capitulation to unions’ strike threats by agreeing to give workers 6% pay rises in each of the next three years. “This agreement represents a failure of leadership on both sides – militant unions holding the country hostage with strike threats and management caving to their demands without a fight,” she said in her weekly newsletter on Tuesday. Mavuso noted that, while SA businesses were cutting costs and workers faced retrenchment across the economy, Transnet workers would get pay rises that were double the inflation rate, funded by taxpayers who were already struggling to make ends meet. She pointed out that consumer inflation was running at 2.7% and the economy was expected to grow by only 1.4% this year. Amplifying Mavuso’s concern was that the wage increase news came mere days after National Treasury had agreed to give Transnet additional guarantees to enable it to manage its huge debt pile. Mavuso commented further: “The unions are acting as if we live in a world we haven't seen for 15 years, when growth was running at over 5% and government boasted a budget surplus.” She pointed out that instead that “we live in a world where Goodyear Tyres has just let go of over 900 workers … where South African Breweries is engaging with unions about retrenching workers … where mines across the country are retrenching thousands because they cannot get their output to the markets.” In her view, in many of these cases, “union action at Transnet is a direct contributor to this job carnage.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly. Read too, Unions treat government as an endless ATM, says Busisiwe Mavuso, at News24 (subscription / trial registration required). Read Busisiwe Mavuso newsletter in full at Moneyweb
Women on Farms Project welcomes ban on terbufos EWN reports that the Women on Farms Project says Cabinet’s decision to ban the hazardous pesticide terbufos is a victory that will transform farming practices and prioritise lives over profit. Minister in The Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshaveni made the announcement last week by indicating that Cabinet had approved the ban of import of terbufos into SA. Terbufos made headlines last year after it was linked to the deaths of six children from Naledi in Soweto after they consumed snacks bought from spaza shops. The highly hazardous organophosphate insecticide is primarily used in agriculture to control insects and nematodes in the soil. However, due to its toxicity, it is also a major cause of pesticide poisoning, especially in informal markets where it's sold as a "street pesticide" without proper labelling or warnings. While the announcement has been well received, Women on Farms said the struggle continued as there were still many other similar hazardous agrochemicals that had to be banned. Spokesperson Kara Mackay explained: “We endorse the South African Human Rights Commission’s proposal to establish a multi-sectoral task team with a six-month mandate to identify viable, effective alternatives to terbufos and other highly hazardous pesticides.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thandoluhle Ngcobo at EWN. Read too, Toxic pesticide ban a victory for people and environmental justice, say activists, at Mail & Guardian Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Nehawu members picket at Northdale Hospital over ghost workers, harassment The Witness reports that members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) picketed at Northdale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday morning. The main bone of contention was the failure of the provincial health department and the hospital to produce a report detailing the employer’s action against 134 alleged ghost employees uncovered back in 2023. The picket was made up of a small group of Nehawu members and the local leadership of Cosatu and the Young Communist League. Nehawu regional secretary Mazwi Ngubane said the ghost employees issue was one of many at the hospital, including a case of sexual harassment by a manager against a woman employee. He added that the hospital and the department have had various issues of abuse and corruption reported to them, but with no action taken. “We will come back here to deal with these issues until they are resolved. The department knows that there is sufficient staff complement yet on the ground we have minimal staff because some are on the payroll by name, the warm bodies never set foot on the premises of the facility,” claimed Ngubane. The union gave the department seven days to respond to its grievances. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chris Ndaliso at The Witness
Judgment reserved in Nehawu provincial congress list dispute in Mpumalanga SABC News reports that the Mpumalanga High Court in Mbombela has reserved judgment on an application brought forward by National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) Ehlanzeni Region members, to invalidate the list of the union members that are set to represent the region in the upcoming provincial congress. They have argued that the regional secretary did not consult the members before compiling the list and that there had not been a formal meeting to nominate and elect their preferred representatives. The decision has been reserved to later this week by Acting Judge Lungile Bhengu. “Ehlanzeni is the biggest region in the province that submits a huge number of delegates in the congress. If we continue in the state where we are; where names are submitted without the endorsement of the regional executive committee that says Ehlanzeni will not have the voice because the people who are going to represent Ehlanzeni will not have a mandate from us so that they speak to the issue of our preferred leadership in the province,” explained regional committee member Selby Mabele. Meanwhile, Nehawu provincial secretary, Welcome Mnisi said these issues were normal during congress sittings and planning. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Michael Makungo at SABC News
Exorbitant cost of government's national dialogue plan faces public backlash The Star reports that the SA government’s plan to spend R700 million on a national dialogue, labelled “Codesa 2.0,” has sparked intense public criticism and deepened concerns over the country’s leadership priorities. Announced as a nation-building platform to address SA’s economic, social and political divisions, the programme will include a National Convention in August 2025 involving over 1,000 delegates, followed by six to nine months of public engagements. An Eminent Persons Group will be appointed to serve as ambassadors, and the process aims to produce a long-term plan focused on jobs, inequality, education, health care, and land reform. However, critics argue that the plan is light on measurable outcomes and heavy on cost. Civil society leaders and analysts warn that the initiative risks becoming another bloated government project that benefits consultants and politically connected insiders, without delivering meaningful change. The plan has also drawn comparisons to the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into state capture, which cost over R1 billion. While it exposed widespread corruption, few prosecutions have followed, leading many to doubt whether high-cost state-led initiatives can achieve real reform. A key concern raised by the public is the apparent silence around unresolved political scandals, especially the Phala Phala affair involving President Cyril Ramaphosa. Social media users have warned that unless the dialogue directly addresses such issues, it will be seen as lacking credibility. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sifiso Mahlangu at The Star With oldest person in national dialogue group aged 92, concerns raised about skewed age representation TimesLIVE reports that the composition of President Cyril Ramaphosa's national dialogue group has sparked concern about its age representation. The oldest member, Dr Brigalia Bam, is 92 years old and the youngest, Miss South Africa Mia le Roux, is 29. Last week, Ramaphosa announced an eminent persons group which would guide the national dialogue discussing challenges facing SA such as poverty, unemployment, inequalities, crime, gender-based violence and corruption. People between 60 and 69 years old dominate the group. Younger members below 35 include Springbok captain and world champion Siya Kolisi, award-winning rocket scientist Siyabulela Xuza and student activist and former MP Nompendulo Mkhatshwa. The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) has expressed concerns about the underrepresentation of youth in the group, citing the daily challenges faced by young people. ANCYL leader Collen Malatji commented: “That national dialogue will have no direction if it's not directed by the youth who are in the majority. We need a youth dialogue to unite young people. You can’t have a task team of only bourgeois while those who are struggling daily are left out. If they are not included we will host our own youth dialogue on the eve of the national dialogue and hand over resolutions to implement.” Meanwhile, the proposed R700m budget for the national dialogue has also sparked criticism. EFF leader Julius Malema said the proposed amount should be used to address service delivery issues. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Innocentia Nkadimeng at Daily Dispatch Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Pikitup warns Joburg residents against fake job advertisement EWN reports that City of Joburg's waste management company, Pikitup, has warned residents not to respond to fake job advertisement that was currently circulating on social media and other job sites. It said the fake advert, claiming to be looking for general workers, was an altered version of a legitimate job posting Pikitup issued in May last year. Pikitup urged Joburg residents not to respond to the post, saying it enabled fraudsters to exploit desperate job seekers. "Pikitup managing director Ms Bukelwa Njingolo expressed profound concern over the misuse of social media. It is deeply troubling that individuals are using social media to deceive job seekers who are simply looking for employment opportunities. These deceitful acts not only exploit vulnerable individuals but also have the potential to disrupt Pikitup operations," said Pikitup spokesperson, Muzi Mkhwanazi. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Thandoluhle Ngcobo at EWN
Uncertainty about who should employ health inspectors The Citizen reports that SA has a shortage of public health inspectors, but it is not clear who should employ them to enforce health, safety and sanitation regulations to protect the public. After a foodborne disease outbreak was declared a national disaster last year, government said Treasury would allocate more than R200 million for the employment of inspectors. Recently, a group of unemployed health inspectors accused government of failing to fulfil its promise to employ more than 500 of them. Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mohale admitted there was a shortage, but said it was the responsibility of municipalities to hire them. He also denied that government had promised to employ 520 health inspectors. Mohale pointed out that according to the constitution, the responsibility for municipal health services, including environmental health services, as defined in the National Health Act, rested with local government. He did also advise that a request had been submitted to Treasury to explore funding for the temporary appointment of the inspectors and that discussions were ongoing. “A joint circular has been issued to all 52 district and metropolitan municipalities by the departments of health and cooperative governance and traditional affairs, urging the immediate prioritisation of the inspectors’ appointments,” Mohale noted. But cooperative governance and traditional affairs spokesperson Legadima Leso denied it was his department’s responsibility to employ the practitioners and referred questions back to the department of health. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Masoka Dube at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Sadtu and Naptosa say new Bela Act guidelines have no legal weight BL Premium reports that SA’s two biggest teachers’ unions have pushed back against the guidelines for implementing the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act published by Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Siviwe Gwarube last week. The guidelines, approved by the Council of Education Ministers, are intended to help provincial education departments bring the act’s provisions into effect. But the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) and the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA (Naptosa) say the act empowers the minister to craft regulations, not guidelines, which carry no legal weight and cannot be enforced. Gwarube told MPs on Tuesday that the guidelines would only be in place until regulations to the Act had been finalised. Draft regulations would be released for public comment by the end of June, she advised. A document detailing the guidelines indicates that they are intended to provide clarity on aspects of the Act, including some of its most controversial provisions dealing with schools’ language and admission policies. Sadtu urged its members who serve on school governing bodies to ignore the guidelines and called on the minister to retract them. Naptosa’s Lorvica Matthew said the fact that the guidelines were not legally binding ran the risk that provinces would implement them inconsistently. This risk was particularly acute for the sections dealing with language and admission policies, and the powers of school governing bodies, she argued. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Nkabane reveals names of advisory panel members amid backlash over SETA chairperson appointments News24 reports that after initial reluctance, Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has revealed the names of an independent panel of advisors she claimed assisted her in recently appointing Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board chairpersons. The appointments were later reversed. Nkabane appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training last month to address questions regarding the persons who had been appointed chairpersons of various SETA boards, many of whom were considered to be aligned to the ANC. MPs requested that she disclose the names of the advisory panel members appointed to oversee the selection and recommendation of the board chairpersons. However, the minister initially refused to comply. Following their insistence, she stated she would consult the panel members to ascertain whether consent could be granted to disclose their identities. On Tuesday, chair of the portfolio committee, Walter Letsie, confirmed receipt of a letter detailing the names of the five members. Advocate Terry Motau SC served as the chairperson of the advisory panel, but, according to Letsie, he did not attend any meetings. Other members included Asisipho Solani, Nelisiwe Semane, Mabuza Ngubane, and Rhulani Ngwenya. Letsie welcomed the disclosure as the portfolio committee had consistently argued that Nkabane was constitutionally obligated to share the information with Parliament. He added the committee would further question the minister regarding the processes followed in appointing chairpersons to oversee SA’s 21 SETAs. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Noxolo Sibiya at News24 (subscription / trial registration required). Read too, Parliament welcomes disclosure of Seta board appointments, at TimesLIVE
RAF CEO launches urgent court bid to set aside his suspension, claiming his life is on the line if security detail is withdrawn News24 reports that Road Accident Fund (RAF) CEO Collins Letsoalo has launched an urgent court bid to set aside his suspension. He fears that if his security detail is withdrawn, a grave injustice will befall him or his family, as threats have allegedly been made on his life. “There is no doubt that this is a matter of life and death and cannot wait any longer and need urgent relief now and not later,” Letsoalo argued in an affidavit filed before the North Gauteng High Court. Letsoalo was initially placed on special leave on 27 May amid a probe by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into allegations of corruption. But, the RAF board conceded that placing the CEO on special leave was not legally sound. The special leave was withdrawn, and Letsoalo was suspended for allegedly refusing to attend a meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on 28 May. Letsoalo then turned to the court, asking for an order setting aside the suspension and declaring it unlawful, irrational, and unreasonable. He also wants an order allowing him to return to work immediately and interdicting the RAF and its board from advertising the CEO position pending the finalisation of the process to reappoint himself. Making a case for urgency, Letsoalo argues that he will not receive adequate and substantial redress if he has to wait for a hearing in due course. It would take months for the matter to come before the courts, and his employment contract expires in August. However, he also contends that the application must be heard urgently as it relates to “my security and [the] security of my family”. Arguments in the application will be heard next week. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alex Mitchley at News24 (subscription / trial registration required). Lees ook, Geskorste POF-hoof vra hof om skorsing om te keer, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Two more arrested as Hawks crack down on KZN fake passport syndicate City Press reports that the Hawks have arrested two more suspects in a major crackdown on a home affairs-linked syndicate accused of issuing fake documents to foreign nationals. This brings the total number of arrests to 38 – seven of whom are Department of Home Affairs (DHA) officials – arrested in the crackdown since September 2022. Hawks’ spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said the Serious Corruption Investigation unit arrested the two suspects in an ongoing operation that began on 14 June 2025 when five other suspects were arrested in various parts of Durban. The operation was sparked by a complaint from the DHA about the issuing of fraudulent passports to undocumented foreign nationals. Mogale said these unlawful activities took place outside of regular business hours, including evenings, weekends and public holidays, when the DHA’s offices were officially closed for business. The criminal activities were prevalent at DHA offices in Isipingo, Durban Central and Eshowe. Twenty-four individuals – of whom four were DHA officials – have already been convicted and sentenced to a combined sentence of 310 years' imprisonment. The seven most recent arrestees will face charges of corruption, fraud, contravention of the Immigration Act and contravention of the Identification Act. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sipho Mabena at City Press (subscription / trial registration required). Read too, Seven accused in fraudulent passport case remanded in custody, at The Citizen. En ook, Sewe in hof oor paspoortbedrog, by Maroela Media
Standard Bank’s ‘disproportionate’ attempt to foreclose on Zwelinzima Vavi’s Sandton home fails in court Moneyweb reports that Standard Bank has failed in its attempt to obtain authorisation for the foreclosure of a mortgage bond it granted over the Sandton primary residence of SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and his wife Noluthando. The judgment highlighted the high legal costs that resulted from mortgage bond arrears and foreclosure, with the bank claiming more than R160,000 in legal costs from the couple – twice the value of their current mortgage bond repayment arrears. Judge Stuart Wilson said Standard Bank had placed nothing before him explaining why execution against the Vavis’ home was a proportionate means of recovering the arrears. On Tuesday, he postponed the application brought by the bank indefinitely and ordered that each party should pay its own costs. The Vavis owe around R1.68 million on their bond, and are in arrears to the tune of just over R85,000 – or around four months’ worth of instalments. Wilson noted: “The arrears were accumulated around three years ago, and since then the Vavis appear to have serviced their bond punctiliously while taking steps to reduce their arrears from just under R170,000 when the application was instituted to around R85,000 today. The latest home loan statement filed shows around 18 months of apparently perfect adherence to the Vavis’ obligations to pay their monthly instalments.” Wilson added that it was apparent from the affidavits that the bank had tied the resolution of this dispute to the settlement of the R160,000 in legal costs. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Roy Cokayne at Moneyweb
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