In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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With 900 jobs at stake, Numsa and government scramble to find partners to take over Goodyear tyre factory BL Premium reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition (DTIC) are racing against time to find strategic partners to take over the Goodyear SA plant in the Eastern Cape and safeguard more than 900 jobs before a two-month deadline expires. The tyre manufacturing plant in Kariega shut its doors on Friday after unions secured an improved severance deal, which will see each retrenched employee receive a lump sum, plus four weeks’ pay for every year worked. The workers will also get their August salary and a 2025 bonus entitlement accrual. More than 900 people were employed at the plant, the closure of which is a significant blow to the Nelson Mandela Bay economy. In a briefing on Monday, Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said Goodyear SA had agreed not to dispose of its property for a period of two months, “to enable Numsa to further pursue discussions with government and third parties in an attempt to save the manufacturing plant”. Jim said the union and the government were “busy looking for strategic partners that can invest and take over the plant with the intention of saving the jobs that have been lost as a result of Goodyear’s decision to close the plant. There is one strategic partner that we are talking to.” Jim stressed that he was not presently at liberty to divulge who the strategic partner was. DTIC spokesperson Kaamil Alli advised: “The department is currently engaged with the firm in respect of the announced closure. We are considering the options available to us and will communicate once a firm decision has been taken.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Security guard killed, another wounded in brazen East London cash-in-transit heist News24 reports that a security guard was shot dead and another wounded during a cash-in-transit (CIT) heist in East London on Monday morning. The Hawks in the Eastern Cape said a Fidelity CIT vehicle was collecting cash from Kausers Cash and Carry in Buffalo Street when the incident happened. According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, one of the three guards in the armoured vehicle went inside the shop to collect cash as another guard was on standby next to the truck. When he returned, the guards were ambushed by four unknown armed suspects, who were driving a silver grey Hyundai. An undisclosed amount of cash was taken, said Mhlakuvana. The one guard was declared dead on the scene, while the other sustained injuries and was taken for medical treatment. An eyewitness, who works at a nearby retail shop, said she heard four gunshots. “One of them was wearing a blue overall, like the construction workers. It was so horrific witnessing them ambushing those security guards. One of them with a big gun was literally standing not far from our shop, but as soon as they were able to overpower the guards, he went to join them,” said the eyewitness. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sithandiwe Velaphi at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Six people killed in N12 accident in Mpumalanga when truck carrying farmworkers was rear-ended SABC News reports that six persons were killed in a crash involving two trucks on the N12 freeway, just after the R42 Bronkhorstspruit/ Delmas off-ramp near Delmas in Mpumalanga on Monday morning at 7.30am. Apparently, one of the trucks, which was transporting approximately 22 farm workers to a farm in the area, was stationary in the emergency lane of the N12 when another articulated truck crashed into it from the rear. Six other people also sustained minor to serious injuries. Provincial Community Safety, Security and Liaison spokesperson Moeti Mmusi said the injured persons were taken to nearby hospitals. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Motsebi Monareng at SABC News. Lees ook, Plaaswerkers sterf in botsing naby Delmas, by Maroela Media Search for missing pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray entered day four on Monday IOL News reports that the search for missing pilot Andrew Blackwood-Murray entered its fourth day on Monday. His light aircraft plunged into the sea off Battery Beach during an aviation display that took place last Thursday in Durban. The wreckage of the plane has been located and retrieved, but the pilot remains unaccounted for. Multi-agency teams are continuing systematic search operations. Authorities underscored the ongoing challenge of locating Blackwood-Murray, even as favourable weather and sea conditions have allowed the search to persist uninterrupted. The eThekwini Municipality has closed Battery Beach and surrounding areas to the public in support of safety and ongoing operations. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Xolile Mtembu at IOL News Cop killers get life sentences for assassination of police detective The Citizen reports that tree men found guilty of the assassination of a 44-year-old detective have been sentenced to life in jail. The trio, 25-year-old Thando “Flokkie” Mangolwane, 24-year-old Siyabonga “Jacks” Zimela and 29-year-old Siphelo “Spikiri” Bebe appeared in the Bisho High Court in the Eastern Cape on Monday, where the sentence was handed down. Warrant Officer Phumlani Dastile was murdered in Zwelitsha on 23 August 2021 in revenge for the conviction of Bebe for violent crimes committed in 2018. Bebe, the mastermind who was already serving multiple life sentences, orchestrated the hit on Dastile using a cellphone from inside his prison cell. On the day of the crime, Dastile was ambushed and shot multiple times at close range outside a tavern in Zwelitsha in broad daylight. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said the court found the accused’s denials to be inconsistent and improbable against the weight of the evidence. In aggravation of sentence, the state’s attorney argued that the assassination was a “senseless killing of a police officer simply carrying out his duty”. In addition to the life sentences, Mangolwane and Zimela each received 15 years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of a semi-automatic firearm and three years for possession of ammunition. These sentences will run concurrently with the life terms. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Faizel Patel at The Citizen. Lees ook, Swaar vonnis vir drie wat saamsweer om speurder te moor, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Foskor HR executive remains suspended after charges over alleged firearm threat in boardroom withdrawn Business Report writes that according to suspended vice president for human capital and corporate affairs at Foskor, Vincent Matlala, criminal charges laid against him earlier this year for pointing a firearm at a colleague had been concocted by a disgruntled subordinate. Matlala’s assertion come in the aftermath of the charges having been withdrawn last month at the Midrand Magistrate’s Court. State-owned Foskor mines and beneficiates phosphate rock at Phalaborwa in Limpopo. Speaking last week, Matlala said he had lodged a disciplinary and misconduct grievance against a payroll manager for processing inappropriate payments to employees. He added, however, that he had never been charged with wielding a firearm in the boardroom nor in the employer's premises. "The SAPS investigated the matter, resulting in court proceedings where the charges made against me were withdrawn as such charges were baseless and unfounded. The employer also subjected these allegations to an independent forensic firm, where I was cleared of allegations made. I was relieved of my duties pending these investigations, and I cooperated fully with the investigators," Matlala said. Foskor group manager corporate affairs, Vhontsia Ramashia, said Matlala remained on suspension pending an internal disciplinary process into allegations of misconduct. "This process is entirely separate from any criminal proceedings, which fall outside the company jurisdiction. This is being addressed strictly in accordance with company policy and the highest standards of corporate governance. No further comments will be provided," Ramashia advised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Banele Ginindza at Business Report Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Nearly half of Nelson Mandela Bay infrastructure and engineering posts are vacant The Herald reports that almost half of the posts in Nelson Mandela Bay’s infrastructure and engineering department are vacant. This was revealed in a report tabled at the infrastructure and engineering committee ton Friday. The department has a total of 1,094 posts, with 478 of them vacant and 335 not budgeted for. The committee urged that the metro accelerate the filling of vacant positions to enhance service delivery. ANC councillor Nonkuthalo Maswana said she was not impressed with the rate at which the city was filling vacancies and added: “We need a detailed plan as to how we are going to improve the rate at which we are filling vacancies because this is not a good picture, especially for this department.” GOOD councillor Lawrence Troon urged the city to review how it applied demographic data when considering job applicants. “According to the Employment Equity Act, coloured people are referred to as black, but when it comes to employment opportunities, they are seen as just coloured and not African, which affects the job opportunities afforded to them. This is causing immense dissatisfaction among the people. We have to take a look at this contradiction as we go forward,” he stated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Andisa Bonani at The Herald Number of Standard Bank cash tellers down by half since 2020 BL Premium reports that the number of Standard Bank’s cashless branches in SA has increased to 65 as the group continues to reshape its branch infrastructure in its biggest market due to a rise in digital payments in Africa’s largest economy. Group CEO Sim Tshabalala said the lender has largely moved the handling of cash out of branches and into ATM and cash centre infrastructure. “For example, 84% of cash deposits and 97% of cash withdrawals are now done outside branches. Of course, this has allowed the number and average size of traditional branches to be reduced. We currently have 491 branches in SA, of which 65 are cashless. Also, we have ramped up alternative and cashless points of representation like kiosks inside retailers,” Tshabalala indicated. The reshaping of the group’s branch network has seen its mix of front-line staff pivot towards more multi-skilled consultants rather than traditional cash tellers, with the number of cash consultants in branches half that of 2020. Banks are said to prefer consumers to use digital means to make payments as this enables them to gather data they need to inform them on consumer behaviour and in turn which products to take to market. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kabelo Khumalo at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Leadership overhaul at MTN as SA boss gets redeployed ITWeb reports that the MTN Group has announced changes to its executive committee (exco) team. Among the changes, Ferdi Moolman, the current group chief risk officer (GCRO), will succeed Charles Molapisi as CEO and executive director of MTN South Africa. Molapisi was appointed as MTN SA CEO, effective January 2022, replacing Godfrey Motsa. Prior to the appointment, he served as chief technology information officer. Molapisi, who has a strong background in network and IT, will remain on the group exco, taking up his previous role as group chief information and technology officer (GCTIO). He will have additional responsibilities and focus on speeding up artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and infusion across the business. Moolman has held several senior roles within the group, including CEO of MTN Nigeria from 2016 to 2021. Consequently, MTN advised that he would step down from the MTN Nigeria board effective 31 October. Ahead of the upcoming retirement in 2026 of MTN SA chairman Mike Harper, the company has been implementing measures to ensure a smooth and structured transition in the entity’s board leadership. “In this context, we are pleased to announce that Sindisiwe Mabaso-Koyana will succeed Harper as the new chairperson of MTN SA in the first quarter of 2026,” MTN announced. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Admire Moyo at ITWeb. Read too, MTN shakes up board with Ferdi Moolman to take CEO role at SA unit, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Former RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo refers dispute over non-renewal of contract to the CCMA The Citizen reports that former Road Accident Fund (RAF) CEO Collins Letsoalo has referred a dispute with the fund to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). The dispute apparently relates to Letsoalo’s expectation of the renewal of his contract, with the now-dissolved former RAF board allegedly having made an offer to reappoint him for a further term as CEO. Letsoalo is no longer employed by the RAF after his term of contract as RAF CEO expired on 6 August 2025. The previous RAF Board suspended Letsoalo in early June 2025 for insubordination related to his refusal to appear before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa). Following his suspension, Letsoalo launched an unsuccessful urgent application in the North Gauteng High Court related to his suspension and reappointment as RAF CEO. Judge Graham Moshoana ruled in June this year that Letsoalo’s suspension by the RAF board had been lawful, rational, and reasonable, and dismissed his application with costs. He also ruled that there was no factual or legal basis for the assertion that Letsoalo had acquired a right to be reappointed as CEO of the RAF. He noted that the (now dissolved) RAF board denied this, and Letsoalo had failed to provide any resolution taken by the board in support of the allegation of a reappointment decision. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Roy Cokayne at The Citizen
Legal Practice Council and CEO Charity Nzuza cleared of wrongdoing after Ombud investigation IOL News reports that the Legal Practice Council (LPC) and its chief executive officer Charity Nzuza, who was accused of maladministration, have been cleared of any wrongdoing with the Legal Service Ombud finding no evidence to support the allegations. This was after the Ombud established an inquiry following allegations levelled against Nzuza and Alida Janse Van Rensburg, director of the Northern Cape provincial office. The allegations included, among others, financial mismanagement, poor treatment of senior managers and unlawful instructions to alter candidates’ examination marks, as well as poor governance and a lack of transparency. Nzuza was also accused of abusing her powers in seeking to charge the whistleblower for alleged misconduct. However, the Ombud found that the whistleblower’s evidence did not support the allegations, adding that they were unsubstantiated and without merit. The Ombud’s report recommended that the LPC should conduct a skills audit and organogram review, with particular attention in the present circumstances to the compliance, risk, curatorship, and regulatory functions. The report also stated that LPC should develop a travel policy as it had emerged during the inquiry that officials embarked upon regular local and international travel to conferences and on other business of the organisation. LPC spokesperson Kabelo Letebele said the council remained focused on implementing the recommendations and continuing to build a resilient and accountable institution that served the public and the legal profession with distinction. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Manyane Manyane at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Six persons convicted for Compensation Fund fraud The Mercury reports that six persons have been convicted for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme to siphon Compensation Fund monies into their personal bank accounts through fictitious medical providers. The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) indicated that the group of six pleaded guilty after their arrest late last year. Three other persons are still proceeding to trial. Sentencing is scheduled for November this year. The Compensation Fund, which provides financial and medical support to workers who sustain occupational injuries or diseases, has been the target of several fraud investigations in recent years. According to the DEL, it has since implemented measures aimed at tightening governance and reducing opportunities for fraud within the Fund. These include enhanced monitoring and auditing systems; collaboration with medical regulatory bodies to validate providers; advanced digital platforms to limit human interference in claims processing; and closer partnerships with law enforcement to fast-track investigations and prosecutions. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siphesihle Buthelezi at The Mercury Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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