In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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KZN commuters brace for two-day taxi strike on Thursday and Friday TimesLIVE reports that KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) commuters have been warned to make alternative transport plans after minibus taxi operators announced a two-day strike from Thursday in solidarity with the Clermont and KwaDabeka Taxi Owners Association. A notice circulating on social media on Wednesday indicated: “All KZN taxi associations will take part in the strike. Therefore there will be no taxi transport available. Please advise your staff accordingly and if your children use taxis to get to school, please make alternative arrangements. Should the situation change we will update residents.” The solidarity strike follows strike action in Clermont, Durban, in protest against the impounding of 25 taxis on Friday. The taxis were impounded after taxi bosses from the Clermont and KwaDabeka Taxi Owners Association allegedly squared up with e-hailing drivers. One driver was shot and another assaulted. Police detained 15 taxi owners and drivers in connection with the violence. Santaco KZN chairperson Boy Zondi clarified that some taxis would be operational and indicated further: “I need to clarify there will be taxis in the province, maybe they will not be available in Durban.” KZN transport MEC Sboniso Duma said they are aware of the impending strike in Durban on Thursday and Friday. Duma said representatives from the department were scheduled to meet with Durban taxi associations on Wednesday to find a long-term solution. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mlungisi Mhlophe-Gumede at TimesLIVE. Read too, Taxi operators in Durban to halt services over permit issues, at Daily News
Naked man arrested after disarming Cape Town police officer in dramatic scuffle IOL News reports that a naked man was arrested after disarming a police officer during a dramatic scuffle in Cape Town on Wednesday. Provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie, said police received a complaint about a naked man on the sidewalk on Keerom Street at around 1pm. "On arrival at the scene, police found a young naked man who refused to cooperate and cover himself. A scuffle ensued during which the man took the firearm from one member and discharged shots, fortunately no one was hit," said Pojie. Three police officers managed to overpower the suspect. "They arrested him on charges related to the robbery of a firearm, discharge of a firearm in a public space and public indecency," added Pojie. The man is expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court soon. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sinenhlanhla Masilela at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Durban waste workers protest over salary cuts GroundUp reports that refuse workers in Durban picketed on Monday, blocking the gates to the Solid Waste depot and demanding that their previous salary rate be restored. The workers, employed by several companies contracted by the municipality, claim they were unexpectedly told in March that their basic monthly salaries would drop from R8,400 to R4,000. The municipality started a new contract with the companies in March, under which employees are paid R4,000 a month (R29 per hour) as set by the Bargaining Council for Contract Cleaning Services Industry. But the previous contract had employees earning R8,400 a month (R51 per hour). There has been no change in the scope of the contract or the type of work between the two contracts. “We will make sure that we stop every truck that wants to exit the depot,” said Nosipho Memela, one of the employees leading the picket. A representative from the municipality accepted a memorandum and promised a response within 48 hours. An eThekwini spokesperson said the workers’ pay was in line with the relevant bargaining council, but did not answer further questions on why the pay rate is lower than in the previous contract. During the picket, a municipal vehicle drove into the group of protesting workers, injuring three, who were taken to the nearby clinic. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tsoanelo Sefoloko at GroundUp
Stellenbosch council to meet over HR boss’ transformation comments in video News24 reports that an urgent Stellenbosch municipal council meeting will be convened later this week after a human resources manager was captured on video proposing that life for white employees should be made “difficult” until they resigned. In the widely shared clip, Alexander Kannemeyer voices his disapproval of the appointment of a white man and expresses concerns that the appointment hinders transformation within the entity. “I have a big concern that every time we appoint somebody and come back and go to the highest score, it’s always a white male. I believe that we are never going to get this organisation right with that type of attitude, we are not going to transform, and we are going to struggle for years and years,” Kannemeyer says in the video. He took issue with the appointment of white men over internal staffers. “I have a problem with that, because the message we’re sending out, especially to internal staff, is that they don’t have the capability and the competency for that,” he stated. He went further to suggest that candidates from other demographics should be prioritised, even if white men performed the best in interviews. “I cannot support the fact that we always appoint the best-scoring candidate, and it is always the white male. I am saying, we make life difficult for the person who came in, the person resigns and, afterwards, we get what we want,” he added. The video led to outrage on social media and sparked backlash from opposition parties in the Stellenbosch council. The FF Plus called for Kannemeyer’s immediate suspension. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Solidarity calls for suspension of Stellenbosch municipality’s HR manager Alexander Kannemeyer Maroela Media reports that on Wednesday, Solidarity addressed a letter to Jeremy Fasser, executive mayor of Stellenbosch, calling for the suspension of the Human Resources Manager Alexander Kannemeyer, pending a disciplinary process. This followed discriminatory remarks Kannemeyer made in a leaked video. In the letter, the trade union also indicates that should Kannemeyer not be suspended within seven days, it would consider further steps, including action to hold the employer jointly liable for discrimination. In the video, Kannemeyer made discriminatory remarks about an appointment process. Among other things, he expressed his frustration with the fact that candidates who obtain the highest scores in application processes were always white males, stating that “the white person” was part of the problem. He also suggested that life be made difficult for “whites” so that they resigned. He furthermore said that he did not mind being called a racist. Solidarity has submitted a memorandum about Kannemeyer to Fasser. In the memo, it is revealed that the position in question was apparently not filled by the best candidate (a white candidate) initially, but that it was first offered to a coloured candidate and then, after her resignation, to a black candidate. The black candidate declined the offer, and only then was the white candidate appointed. Read the full original of the Afrikaans report in the above regard by Maroela Media
ArcelorMittal, IDC takeover talks stall over Amsa valuation Bloomberg reports that ArcelorMittal’s talks to sell its local unit (Amsa) to SA’s state-owned Industrial Development Corporation are being held up by differences over the entity’s valuation, according to people familiar with the matter. While ArcelorMittal and the IDC may still reach an agreement on the fate of Amsa before the end of a due diligence period on 30 September, the Luxembourg-based company apparently wants considerably more than what has been offered. No public statements have been made about a potential takeover. Offers of as much as R7bn ($396 million) for Amsa have been discussed, the sources said. Talks about a takeover by the IDC, which is the steelmaker’s second-biggest shareholder, have emerged as SA authorities try to preserve steel operations crucial to the domestic economy. Since November 2023, Amsa has threatened to shut two loss-making mills that produce grades of steel essential to the automotive and mining industries. “The company has been exploring various strategic options while the IDC has simultaneously been conducting its due diligence into the company and the government has been pursuing structural interventions,” Amsa said in a statement to the local bourse on Tuesday. The IDC said it remained in active and ongoing discussions with relevant stakeholders aimed at identifying sustainable long-term solutions to preserve strategic industrial capacity. In the absence of any firm commitment, Amsa has switched off the blast furnace at its Newcastle steel mill and has begun talks with employees about the potential closure of its so-called longs business. In total, Amsa’s steel mills in Newcastle and Vereeniging employ about 3,500 people and support as many as 100,000 jobs at clients and suppliers. The Department of Employment and Labour said on Tuesday it would not be providing Amsa with any support from its Unemployment Insurance Fund, as such funding was contingent on the company guaranteeing it would not fire any workers. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Loni Prinsloo & Antony Sguazzin at Bloomberg News. Lees ook, Antwoorde geëis oor Amsa-reddingsboei, by Maroela Media
Daybreak Foods to chop 2,200 jobs in brutal business rescue plan Daily Maverick reports that Daybreak Foods, the troubled poultry producer once hailed as a black empowerment success story, will be cutting more than 2,200 jobs, which amounts to almost 80% of the workforce. This comes as the company’s business rescue practitioner (BRP), Tebogo Maoto, executes a survival plan designed to keep the lights on and recover what little value remains for the company’s main funder, the Public Investment Corporation (PIC). Only about 500 employees are expected to remain to sustain its breeder farms and hatcheries. For most workers at the Delmas and Sundra abattoirs, or in corporate offices, it’s the end of the line. Maoto indicated: “We have to align the workforce with the company’s operational needs. As difficult as this is, the decision is about saving the business and preserving what jobs we can.” Daybreak generates about R20-million a month from limited operations, while its salary bill is nearly R33-million. Without drastic action, the company would bleed out before the business rescue plan even got to a vote. “Daybreak cannot afford to carry people who are not rendering services,” Maoto told employees in a letter on Tuesday in response to union queries. He added: “The stipend provision was necessary to comply with the funding arrangement and at the same time provide some degree of financial support.” But employees say the stipend system, namely R1,500 for those earning less than R15,000, and 10% of salary for those earning above that, was forced on them without consultation. Unions are already exploring their options. The SA Equity Workers’ Association (Saewa), which represents a portion of Daybreak staff, has warned that unilateral changes could trigger industrial action. Others are considering direct challenges to the BRP’s decisions at the Companies Tribunal or High Court. Read the full original of the extensive report in the above regard by Lindsey Schutters at Daily Maverick Cosatu warns that government must act decisively on electricity prices to avoid further job losses EWN reports that trade union federation Cosatu is calling for immediate action to reduce unaffordable electricity prices to prevent job losses in some sectors. According to the federation, since load shedding commenced in 2006, electricity prices have increased by more than 450%. Spokesperson Matthew Parks said the latest increases would lead to the closure of businesses. "These relentless electricity price hikes have led to closure of numerous smelters, with the latest alarms being sounded by Glencore that will see thousands of workers lose their jobs, more lost downstream and ghost towns created. Industry and labour have raised the alarm bells on this crisis with government over many years. It is time that government acted decisively to avoid further job losses," he said Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Babalo Ndenze at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Lesufi’s Nasi iSpani is back, with promises to provide 45,000 job opportunities for young people News24 reports that Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s Nasi iSpani jobs initiative will relaunch on Saturday, with promises of 45,000 job opportunities. Speaking at a briefing on Wednesday, Lesufi said Nasi iSpani, which was originally launched in June 2023, had already generated substantial employment through its 13 special programmes. This next phase, Nasi iSpani 2.0, would aim to create 45,000 new job opportunities and would specifically target youth who were not in employment, education, or training. “Nasi iSpani is not a panacea or a magic wand that will solve the problem of unemployment. However, its core objective is to build a capable state by hiring residents directly for public service roles, thereby reducing the province’s dependence on external service providers. It also aims to skill the youth to ensure they are in a better position to get jobs in the public or private sectors or to become entrepreneurs or self-employed,” said Lesufi. Since its launch, the initiative has been criticised, with some arguing that it is politically motivated. But according to Lesufi, if it were political, he would not have launched the project now when no elections were pending. He indicated that the 45,000 work and training opportunities would include internships, work-integrated learning, artisanal development in mining communities, the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, and the filling of vacancies. The initiative will also continue programmes from the previous intake. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jason Felix at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
Western Cape government takes NHI battle to Constitutional Court BL Premium reports that the Western Cape government has lodged an application in the Constitutional Court seeking to have the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act declared unconstitutional. Filed on Monday, the application invoked section 167 of the constitution, which grants the court exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether parliament has failed to fulfil a constitutional duty. The challenge is directed at the chair of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), the speaker of the National Assembly, the speakers of all nine provincial legislatures and the health minister. The dispute centres on the NCOP’s handling of the NHI Bill during the latter half of 2023. The Western Cape contends that the NCOP adopted the bill without ensuring that all provinces had completed and transmitted reports on their public participation processes, and without allowing adequate time for deliberation on the input received. According to the founding affidavit, six provinces submitted negotiating mandates without accompanying participation reports, while the Western Cape’s own mandate and report were not considered before the NCOP voted. Requests from the Western Cape provincial parliament for extended time frames to complete hearings and analyses were refused, it said. The Western Cape’s application is one of seven legal challenges under way against the NHI Act. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tara Roos at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Masemola's 'procedural spaghetti' breached Sibiya's rights, court told TimesLIVE Premium reports that the Pretoria High Court heard on Wednesday that the “procedural spaghetti” followed by national police commissioner Fannie Masemola when he instructed his deputy, Shadrack Sibiya, to “stay at home” pending an investigation breached Sibiya’s legal rights. The court was hearing Sibiya’s urgent application to set aside Masemola’s instruction and to interdict “parallel proceedings and action” against Sibiya until the conclusion of the Madlanga commission established to investigate explosive allegations by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. In a letter to Sibiya on 14 July, Masemola said his office was “gravely alarmed” by Mkhwanazi’s allegations and instructed Sibiya to stay at home, pending an investigation. On Wednesday, Sibiya’s counsel, Kameel Premhid, said the instruction was unlawful as Masemola did not have the power under the SA Police Service’s disciplinary regulations to make it. Under the regulations, Sibiya could not be put on precautionary suspension — effectively, according to Premhid,what had happened with the stay-at-home instruction — unless he had been given an opportunity to make written representations. Yet there had been no such opportunity. Premhid faced several questions from the judges about Masemola’s claim that the stay-at-home instruction was not a suspension in terms of the SAPS regulations but was instead an exercise of his powers under the constitution to control and manage the SAPS. Stephanus Coetzee SC, counsel for the SAPS and Masemola pointed out that the stay-at-home instruction was followed by a “notice of intended suspension” — on August 19 — in which Sibiya was given the opportunity to make representations. “This application is completely premature and in fact is done with the intention of stopping any investigation,” he argued. Judgment was reserved Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Franny Rabkin at TimesLIVE Premium (subscriber access only). Read too, Masemola was not obliged to follow SAPS policy, court told, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Bronkhorstspruit deputy principal charged with raping eight-year old pupil on three occasions TimesLIVE reports that a 53-year-old deputy principal at Bronkhorstspruit Primary School, east of Pretoria, appeared in the local magistrate's court on Wednesday on three counts related to the rape of an eight-year-old pupil of the school. “It is alleged that from June 2024 until August 2025, on three occasions, the accused raped the child on school premises during school hours,” National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana reported. The girl's mother noticed her child was walking strangely, and when she inquired, her daughter disclosed what had happened. The mother reported the matter to the police and the accused was arrested on Monday. The matter was postponed until 11 September for a bail application. The state has indicated it intends to oppose the application. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at TimesLIVE
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