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 Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Brian Molefe and Siyabonga Gama out on R50,000 bail after Transnet fraud charges laid TimesLIVE reports former Transnet group CEOs Brian Molefe and Siyabonga Gama are out on bail after their arrests on Monday morning on charges of fraud and contravening the Public Finance Management Act. The charges relate to millions paid by Transnet to Trillian Capital Partners for organising a R30bn club loan to help buy 1,064 locomotives. It was allegedly a double payment as Transnet had already paid Regiments Capital for the work. Trillian allegedly did nothing to earn the fee but still invoiced Transnet. The two MK party MPs appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court and were released on R50,000 bail each pending more investigation. They were arrested on matters related to their roles at the state-owned rail, ports and pipelines entity. Allegedly due process was not followed, which led to the initial cost of R38bn ballooning to R50bn, including the dodgy R93m payment to Trillian for the benefit of the Gupta family. The accused are alleged to have enabled and ensured that costs were inflated and that their preferred bidder was unduly advantaged. They are among 11 accused in another Transnet fraud and corruption case involving about R400m that is before the Johannesburg High Court. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Isaac Mahlangu at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Former Transnet executives in court over multibillion-rand locomotive deal from 2011, at Daily Maverick Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Unions seek mandate on Prasa’s final revised wage offer of 5.5% BL Premium reports that the two largest unions at the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) have embarked on a mandate-seeking process after the operator tabled a final revised offer of 5.5% for 2025/26. The consolidated wage demands of the United National Transport Union (Untu) and its rival the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) include a 15% across-the-board wage increase. The unions are also demanding a R3,000 housing subsidy, a standby allowance of R50 an hour, a night shift allowance of R10 an hour, a moratorium on retrenchments and a medical aid subsidy with the employer contributing 70%. Untu spokesperson Atenkosi Plaatjie said the union made it clear during a CCMA-facilitated process at the weekend that “a back payment is non-negotiable, considering the deliberate and unnecessary delay in concluding this process”. He went on to state: “Additionally, labour told Prasa that the inclusion of a non-retrenchment clause for the duration of the agreement is non-negotiable, with the understanding that job security remains paramount as the government continues to push for private sector reforms at state-owned entities through the department of transport. In response, Prasa management agreed to include a non-retrenchment clause.” Untu also raised the issue of Prasa continuing to advertise senior management vacancies. Satawu spokesperson Amanda Tshemese claimed Prasa had “enough money to meet our demands”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Two more suspects nabbed for 2023 murder of Fort Hare vice-chancellor’s bodyguard SABC News reports that two more suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of the Fort Hare University vice- chancellor Prof Sakhele Buhlungu’s bodyguard. They were expected to appear in the Alice Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape on Monday. Mboneli Vesele was shot and killed inside a vehicle while waiting for the vice-chancellor outside his home in January 2023. National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe reported that the two hitmen were apprehended in Zakariyya Park in Johannesburg. Mathe indicated: “Two of the three hitmen were arrested. The total number of suspects arrested in relation to the Fort Hare murders are now 12. Ten others were arrested since 2023, with some still in police custody. Members of the public played a significant role in assisting the work of the police in apprehending wanted suspects.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Kim Daniels at SABC News. Lees ook, Nog twee vas oor Fort Hare-moord, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Employees of Ratlou Municipality in Setlagole down tools over organisational structure SABC News reports that employees of the Ratlou Local Municipality in Setlagole outside Mahikeng have downed tools over an organisational structure due for adoption in a council meeting on Monday but which had allegedly not been approved by local labour forums. Workers are also protesting against the appointment of senior managers without consent from the Cogta MEC and about unfair recruitment. SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) member Katlholo Setlako said protocol in respect of staff regulations had not been followed. He explained as follows: “This is an issue about the structure which they want to enforce. They did not follow the protocol of the staff regulations, so they want to enforce that so that some of the directors must be in the structure. So, that is what we are complaining about, and we are also saying most of the people who have just been employed, including the accounting officer, are not qualified and some of the directors never met the requirements.” Gapi Verby from the Independent Municipal and Allied Workers Union (Imatu) alleged the municipality was also refusing to acknowledge trade unions. “The problem is we are not recognized. We are not acknowledged in this municipality. Today, the council has to adopt that structure without the consultation of the local labour forum structure because we do have the problem and there is an issue of recruitment and selection process. We do have the problem about the structure that has to be adopted today without consultation of the workers,” said Verby. Read the original of the report in the above regard by SABC News
Labour Court rules against labour registrar’s bid to place PSA under administration SowetanLive reports that the Labour Court has dismissed an application brought by the registrar of labour relations, Lehlohonolo Daniel Molefe, to place the Public Servants Association (PSA) under administration. Judge Maitu Phehane found last week that Molefe had failed to place “cogent evidence” to show that PSA was not a genuine trade union or that it was materially failing to perform its functions due to serious mismanagement. Molefe approached the court in 2024, arguing that alleged financial mismanagement showed the union was no longer acting in the best interests of its members. He also said he had requested information related to an August 2020 forensic report by Fundudzi Forensic Services, but said these efforts were met with threats. The report allegedly documented serious allegations of corruption, fraud, nepotism, unlawful overspending, procurement and financial mismanagement in the PSA. The PSA, which represents over 245,000 members, opposed the application, arguing that the registrar had not met the legal threshold required to justify placing the union under administration. In its court papers, the union said there was no evidence showing it was in financial distress or failing in its duties. Phehane said in her ruling: “The registrar’s suspicion that the financial statements are inaccurate based on a report that, on his own version he has no knowledge of, is incomplete ... and the veracity upon which he does not rely does not lay a concrete factual foundation that there is serious financial mismanagement in the PSA.” She said the union’s unqualified audited annual financial statements were submitted, and no irregular expenditure appeared. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jeanette Chabalala at SowetanLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Numsa unfazed by Mercedes-Benz SA’s month-long production halt Moneyweb reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has played down the decision by Mercedes-Benz SA (MBSA) to suspend vehicle production at its East London plant until the end of July. Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim pointed out on Monday that other top automotive companies – Volkswagen and Nissan – have also been suspending production. “Mercedes-Benz are now handling their own challenges but we have not been told beyond the period they won’t be coming back [into production],” Jim commented. MBSA advised on Monday that an annual shutdown at the East London production plant was standard procedure and it was common cause for production plants to suspend production based on volume adjustments in the production programme. “MBSA has of course kept in close contact with all relevant stakeholders regarding the decision to have a planned non-production period due to production volume adjustments. Suppliers have been consulted. Employees of MBSA have also been appraised and will be undertaking a variety of training and upskilling programmes during the period and compensated based on the provisions of the collective bargaining agreements of the National Bargaining Forum (NBF),” the company advised. Some reports about the suspension of vehicle manufacturing at MBSA’s plant have attributed it partly to the introduction by the United States of a 25% tariff on imported vehicles from April 2025. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Roy Cokayne at Moneyweb. Read too, Mercedes says East London plant shutdown is ‘standard procedure’, at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
Job cuts on the cards at Exxaro's Leeuwpan opencast mine TimesLIVE reports that Exxaro Resources has announced a review of its loss-making Leeuwpan opencast mine in Mpumalanga. According to CEO Ben Magara, the mine continues to run at a loss despite efforts to turn it around. He said the group began formal section 189 retrenchment consultations with employees and representatives at the operation on Monday. “We expect to get all the employees and their representatives to share their suggestions on the way forward because the loss making at Leeuwpan is not sustainable,” he indicated. The process will likely take up to 90 days. “We have started this process this morning (Monday). It is too early to say what will come out of it, but we will share details as they emerge. The most important thing is to minimise any job losses while ensuring a viable business, that is why we are here,” Magara added. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at TimesLIVE. Read too, Exxaro calls time on unsustainable Leeuwpan Colliery, at Miningmx Other labour / community posting(s) relating to mining
Seifsa designates Tafadzwa Chibanguza to take over from Lucio Trentini as CEO Engineering News reports that the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has appointed Tafadzwa Chibanguza CEO designate. Having held the COO position at the organisation since March 2022, Chibanguza will take over as CEO of Seifsa on 1 January 2026. He will succeed Lucio Trentini who has announced his intention to retire in 2027. Trentini will guide and support Chibanguza in the meantime to ensure a seamless transition of leadership. Seifsa president Elias Monage expressed confidence that Chibanguza would take Seifsa forward in the next phase of its growth journey, particularly as the metals and engineering industry continued to face challenges and needed a long-term inclusive strategy. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at Engineering News
Pretoria Girls High principal found guilty because husband assisted unpaid with garden maintenance at the school News24 reports that the head of Pretoria High School for Girls, where controversy over a “racist conversation” on a WhatsApp group emerged last year, has been found guilty of allowing her husband to assist with maintaining the school gardens without compensation. According to the allegations, Phillipa Erasmus’ husband’s supervision of the garden workers at the school “could create the perception of nepotism.” Reportedly, he began maintaining the school gardens in 2019 with the governing body’s approval. Part of the complaint stated that he used a vehicle owned by the governing body to travel to Builders Warehouse to purchase gardening tools. Erasmus was also found guilty of not sufficiently assisting the governing body with the appointment of a new financial manager. However, she was acquitted of the charge related to her handling of the racial controversy. Erasmus faced heavy criticism over “discrimination and racism” at the school after white students complained in a WhatsApp group that they were subjected to stricter rules compared to their Black classmates. An investigation found that the students were not guilty of racism, but Erasmus was still subjected to disciplinary proceedings. According to Dems Nel of the SA Teachers’ Union (SATU), who represented Erasmus, she was never charged with racism. The charge on which she was acquitted was merely that she did not enforce the school’s code of conduct. Meanwhile, Erasmus and the governing body are still trying to gain access to the full report compiled by a law firm that investigated the school’s culture last year at the department’s request. The department only released a summary of the report but has refused to share the complete document with anyone. Erasmus will soon find out her sentence for the two charges she was found guilty of. The punishment could range from a warning to suspension without pay or even demotion. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ruhan Friedrichs at City Press (subscription / trial registration required)
Ex-HR manager sentenced to 12 years for defrauding special needs school of R6m News24 reports that a former HR manager at a school for pupils with special educational needs has been sentenced to 12 years for defrauding the school of R6 million. Ralton Christopher Fischer, 44, appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Monday, where he was sentenced for 11 counts of fraud. The court ordered that six years be suspended for five years, provided Fischer was not convicted of fraud or theft during the suspension period. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Fischer, whose responsibilities included managing payments to staff members employed by the school governing body, made 11 payments into several of his bank accounts. The crimes were committed between July 2018 and April 2022 using Fischer’s accounts registered with seven banks. “The fraud came to light when Fischer scanned and sent documents to a colleague, requesting that they be forwarded to his personal email. The colleague noticed irregularities and raised the alarm,” NPA spokesperson Mahanjana Lumka reported. Fischer pleaded guilty, claiming he used the stolen funds to feed his gambling addiction and purchase a vehicle valued at R150,000. He asked the court to impose a sentence of correctional supervision or a wholly suspended sentence. However, the prosecutor argued for a custodial sentence, stating Fischer’s actions had directly prejudiced the school and its vulnerable pupils. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Noxolo Sibiya at News24 (subscription / trial registration required). Lees ook, Bestuurder van spesiale skool tronk toe vir bedrog, by Maroela Media
Tribunal hears Judge President Selby Mbenenge could not take ‘no’ for an answer Daily Maverick reports that the mammoth Judicial Service Commission (JSC) Conduct Tribunal probing allegations of sexual harassment against Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge heard expert evidence on Monday of his relentless persistence and harassment. On Monday, Dr Lisa Vetten, a renowned expert on gender-based violence and sexual harassment, interpreted the depth and extent of Mbenenge’s workplace transgressions. Advocates for Mbenenge, have claimed the “relationship” between the Judge President and the secretary had been “consenual”. Vetten clearly set out the definitions of sexual harassment in the workplace and the codes and norms that governed these. She said that the 2022 Code of Good Practice on the Elimination and Prevention of Sexual Harassment in the workplace encompassed four types of contact and behaviour. “This includes physical, unwanted, touching, rape, verbal (as in spoken) and non-verbal (in terms of sending pictures or creating a hostile work environment) and then quid-pro-quo, which amounts to coercion,” Vetten pointed out. To qualify, she added, there needed to be a persistence about the behaviour. One of the reasons sexual harassment was so difficult to tackle and deal with, said Vetten, was because of gender power imbalances, which needed to be carefully examined in each case. Saying “no” to someone who was your senior “is difficult”, said Vetten, adding that if the person has a lot of status and credibility, “who is more likely to be believed or seen as more credible? Whose word will carry more weight?” The tribunal continues. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marianne Thamm at Daily Maverick. Read too, Expert says power imbalances shaped Mengo’s response to alleged sexual harassment by judge, at Mail & Guardian Judge President’s advocate says expert may be ‘completely mistaken’ on Mbenenge – because she’s not Xhosa News24 reports that Judge President Selby Mbenenge’s advocate has suggested that a leading gender expert may have been “completely mistaken” in her analysis of the Eastern Cape judicial head’s sexually laden discussions with a secretary – because she is not Xhosa. “That could certainly be possible,” Dr Lisa Vetten told Mbenenge’s counsel, Muzi Sikhakhane, who then pressed her to concede that “you may actually miss the messaging in the conversation” between the Judge President and secretary Andiswa Mengo. Vetten responded she had looked at Mengo’s testimony “to see what was happening in the translation and what was being said” and also “specifically requested the WhatsApps with the translations so that I could get some insight”. Mengo had testified in isiXhosa and intervened when she was unhappy with her interpreter’s translation of her words into English. On Monday, Vetten testified that her analysis of the WhatsApp messages exchanged between the then-60-year-old Mbenenge and 37-year-old Mengo revealed that the Judge President had asked her for intimate pictures 11 times during their first interaction. He later asked her what her favourite sexual position was 14 times in another discussion – and persistently asked her whether she would have sex with him, despite her using a Bible verse to refuse him. Vetten said she did not believe Mengo was a “willing participant” in these often sexually loaded conversations. “She comes across as reluctant and unenthusiastic,” she added, after stressing that the secretary frequently claimed to be busy with work, cooking or other tasks when Mbenenge was seeking intimate pictures from her or asking her sexual questions. The hearing continues on Tuesday. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Karyn Maughan at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
Joburg Metrobus commuters say new payment system is unaffordable Commuters interviewed by Daily Maverick have come out strongly against Johannesburg Metrobus’ new tap-in, tap-out payment system, which charges per kilometre travelled. A number of commuters said they would not be able to afford the new system. “We are charged per kilometre, which is very expensive compared to the old system,” Maria Muhluba from Malvern complained. Under the old system, once a commuter tagged in, they were able to transfer trips, which they said was affordable. “But this new system has no transfer,” Muhluba pointed out. Another complaint is that Metrobus’ newer vehicles are not designed to accommodate disabled people. A Metrobus driver said he backed the commuters’ concerns. “At the centre of why this bus company is operating should be how it treats all its commuters and drivers. There is a feeling that the company long stopped caring, but I still believe they can get better,” he opined. Metrobus said it was going ahead with the implementation of the new system. “What you saw this morning [Monday] was a very small fraction of our commuters. A number of our commuters are registering for the new system because they understand what it means for our future as a company,” a spokesperson said. He denied that drivers were scapegoated when their buses were overloaded due to cancellations. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bheki C. Simelane at Daily Maverick. Read too, Metrobus says commuters were made aware of new payment system, at SABC News
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