In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Multiple resignations leave Necsa board paralysed, amid failed attempt to suspend CEO Daily Maverick reports that as of Thursday, SA’s nuclear energy corporation is without a functioning board after five board members resigned. The Nuclear Energy Corporation of SA (Necsa) is in the grip of a governance crisis with Group CEO, Loyiso Tyabashe, and CFO, Precious Hawadi having been served with disciplinary notices in August based on allegations of financial misrepresentation, conflicts of interest and self-enrichment. According to Necsa chairperson Dave Nicholls, three of the board’s seven independent board members have resigned. In addition, the Department of Electricity and Energy’s board member, as well as its alternate, have also resigned, bringing the total to five resignations. Necsa needs five board members to be quorate. At present, that is not the case, meaning that Necsa functionally has no board. Nicholls would not be drawn into sharing substantive details on what prompted the resignations, saying only: “There was a disagreement or there was a dispute between the relationship between the board and the executive, in other words, different views about the executives.” But, he touched on what seemed to be the key issue, namely pay increases for top executives. The CEO adjusted some of the executive salaries and some of the board thought that should have been discussed more by the board, he said. Asked whether a notice of intended precautionary suspension and a notice of disciplinary hearing were formally issued to Tyabashe in August 2025, Dr Nikelwa Tengimfene, Necsa’s senior manager of corporate communication, said the notices that were issued were not legal as they did not comply with the founding Act of Necsa, the Nuclear Energy Act, as well as governance processes. Read the full original of the extensive report in the above regard by Ethan van Diemen at Daily Maverick
Two young trainees die during Joburg metro police’s physical assessment programme News24 reports that two trainee candidates who participated in the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) recruitment and selection programme have died. The deaths were recorded days after the department commenced the physical assessment recruitment process on 25 August. On 28 August, the first death was recorded when 24-year-old Marvellous Michael Nyambi from Rabie Ridge fell ill from heat exhaustion during the selection activities held at Ruimsig Stadium. “He was immediately attended to by emergency management services personnel and was later transported to Yusuf Dadoo Hospital for further treatment,” JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said. Nyambi died a day later. On Monday, another tragedy unfolded at the same location. Zwelethu Tekete, 26, from Braamfischerville Phase 1, was brought into the stadium unresponsive during the selection process. “Emergency management services officers on site immediately initiated CPR, but unfortunately, their attempts to revive him were unsuccessful,” Fihla indicated. Tekete was declared dead at the scene. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Police on alert in Gqeberha following threats of violence against truck drivers The Citizen reports that Eastern Cape police will be on alert on Friday following threats of intimidation and violence against truck drivers. According to the SA Police Services (SAPS), several trucking companies have alleged that they have been intimidated not to use their trucks on Friday in Gqeberha or else the trucks will be stopped and burned. Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said the threats originated from a group unhappy that foreign drivers were being used by trucking companies. SAPS Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Major General Vuyisile Ncata, commented: “SAPS wishes to discourage this type of intimidation. SAPS and its security partners will be deployed in the affected area to stop any potential violence, and to ensure the safety of all motorists and trucks on our public roads in the Nelson Mandela Bay area.” Ncata urged businesses to report any threats of violence and to open intimidation cases against the perpetrators. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Faizel Patel at The Citizen Runaway fire leaves Pongola farm manager with critical injuries, as MEC warns of veld fire dangers The Mercury reports that a farm manager is in a critical condition after sustaining severe burn injuries during a runaway veld fire near Pongola on Wednesday afternoon. According to IPSS Medical Rescue, their Advanced Life Support Paramedic responded to the farm where community members and paramedics braved the flames to reach the victim. “Once stabilised by paramedics, the man was carried to the waiting Netcare 911 Medivac Chopper. He has been airlifted to a Level 1 trauma facility for the specialised treatment he requires,” the service reported. KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, commended the “remarkable bravery and efficiency” of all involved in the rescue. He extended his support to the injured man’s family. The MEC said the incident highlighted the persistent risk of veld fires across KwaZulu-Natal, with dry and windy conditions fuelling danger. 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
Durban taxi strike suspended after productive talks with KZN transport MEC Duma TimesLIVE reports that the taxi strike which left scores of Durban commuters stranded on Thursday has been suspended. This followed a marathon meeting between taxi operators and transport & human settlements MEC Siboniso Duma. The strike was started by the KwaDabeka and Clermont taxi associations in Durban's outer west. Duma said a task team would be formed to deal with issues affecting the industry. It will also delve into the issue of e-hailing services. He said he had spoken to the national transport minister Barbara Creecy, who had undertaken to gazette regulations relating to e-hailing within 21 days. “It's an issue that has caused instability within the operations. It's something we must also consolidate,” he indicated. The task team will include Mayor Cyril Xaba and municipal manager Musa Mbhele. On Thursday eThekwini resembled a ghost town. Mkhize apologised to commuters who had borne the brunt of the strike. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mfundo Mkhize at TimesLIVE. Read too, Santaco urges study on taxi permit issues in Durban as task team formed to address grievances, at The Mercury
Five individuals to stand trial for Jagersfontein tailings dam disaster in 2022 TimesLIVE reports that criminal proceedings are set to start regarding the 2022 tailings dam wall collapse at the Jagersfontein Fine Tailings Storage Facility, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has confirmed. The docket was finalised and referred to the National Prosecuting Authority in Bloemfontein, which has taken a decision to prosecute five people. Their first appearance is scheduled for 10 September 10 in the magistrate’s court in Jagersfontein. It is expected that the case will be transferred to a higher court. The Diamond Fields Advertiser quoted a Free State Hawks spokesperson as saying the suspects were employees of an engineering company, a compliance officer and an operations manager. They will face charges that include murder, malicious damage to property and contravention of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The dam wall collapse devastated houses in the nearby community and claimed two lives, with a third missing person believed to be dead. Farmland was covered with sludge. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shonisani Tshikalange at BusinessLive. Read too, Water department welcomes prosecution of suspects in 2022 Jagersfontein dam wall collapse, at SowetanLive Shootout between illegal miners erupts at Brakpan informal settlement EWN reports that police in Brakpan are keeping a close eye on the situation at the Plastic City informal settlement after a shootout between illegal miners. Law enforcement officials were sent to the area on Thursday. Earlier, residents of Plastic City were woken up by series of gunshots. Some residents fled their homes due to the incident. Police were alerted and rushed to the scene. They have confirmed that no fatalities occurred as a result of the shooting. It is believed those responsible were illegal miners who were fighting amongst each other. Police said the illegal miners emerged from a nearby dump site and torched some shacks. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Jabulile Mbatha at EWN Compensation for ill former miners sees only 30% of claimants paid out by Tshiamiso Trust GroundUp reports that only three in every ten former miners claiming compensation from the R5-billion Tshiamiso Trust have been compensated, the Trust’s CEO Munyadziwa Kwinda told the online AGM last month. Most of the claimants were found to be medically ineligible. The Trust was set up in 2019 as a result of a settlement between mine workers and six gold mining companies, namely African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony and Sibanye-Stillwater. The agreement provides for compensation for miners who worked at these companies’ mines between March 1965 and December 2019 and who contracted silicosis or TB while working there. So far just over 24,000 claimants have been compensated, and just over R2-billion has been paid out. Kwinda said of the 83,810 claims certified to date, about 58,400 (70%) did not meet the criteria for medical eligibility for compensation. “I need to emphasise this because it’s a very critical step of our claims process where hopeful claimants get into the system, and out of ten, only three are found to have a qualifying disease,” said Kwinda. At the AGM, Janet Kahn, a member of the Trust’s advisory committee, said delays in processing of claims and massive rejection of claims went against the Trust’s values, “to give claimants the benefit of the doubt”. She said ex-miners and their families were frustrated and disappointed as the Trust rejected their claims in large numbers. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sipokazi Fokazi at GroundUp
SARS deputy commissioner Johnstone Makhubu tipped to succeed Kieswetter Bloomberg reports that Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana favours Johnstone Makhubu to take over as commissioner of the SA Revenue Service (SARS), according to a souce familiar with the matter. Godongwana’s support would make Makhubu a strong contender to replace Edward Kieswetter as the head of the agency when he steps down. Makhubu has been deputy commissioner of taxpayer engagement at SARS since 2023, when he was appointed along with two other deputies. Kieswetter is due to step down as commissioner in April next year. Appointed in May 2019, his five-year term was extended by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2024 for two years as an interim measure to ensure a “smooth leadership transition.” Kieswetter has apparently asked Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana for an early release from his current contract, and the position will be formally advertised in the coming weeks. Godongwana will make his recommendation to Ramaphosa at the end of that process. Kieswetter is expected to stay on until December to oversee the handover to his successor. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Labour Minister ordered to appear in court in November over ‘contempt of race settlement agreement’ Maroela Media reports that Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Nomakhosazana Meth must appear in the Johannesburg Labour Court in November to explain why she disregarded a court order regarding racial quotas in the workplace. A contempt application by trade union Solidarity resulted in this interim order, which was issued on Thursday requiring Minister Meth to appear in the Labour Court on 19 November. According to Solidarity, Meth’s publication of racial regulations in the Government Gazette in April this year was in direct conflict with the settlement reached between the government and the union in June 2023. That settlement was declared an order of the court in October of that year. According to the settlement, affirmative action must be temporary and applied in a nuanced manner and no employee may be dismissed as a result of affirmative action and factors other than race must also be considered when making appointments. According to Solidarity, none of these provisions were reflected in the regulations issued by Minister Meth in April. Anton van der Bijl, Deputy Chief Executive of Solidarity, said the minister must be held accountable for this refusal to honour the agreement. Read the full original of the Afrikaans report in the above regard at Maroela Media
Sizwe Hosmed medical scheme placed under provisional curatorship over inadequate solvency levels News24 reports that Sizwe Hosmed Medical Scheme has been placed under provisional curatorship by the North Gauteng High Court for failing to maintain legally required solvency levels. The court made the order on Thursday after an application by the Registrar of Medical Schemes. Lebogang Grace Mpakati was appointed as the provisional curator, replacing the scheme’s entire board of trustees and giving her the power to take control of its assets and investigate any financial, governance or other irregularities. The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) issued a statement saying it welcomed the decision, adding it was common cause that Sizwe Hosmed had been experiencing financial difficulties and that its solvency level had fallen “far below” the statutory requirement of 25%. The provisional curator will work under the direction of the CMS and will be expected to investigate Sizwe Hosmed’s financial position and advise on viable solutions, including the future of the scheme, covering its possible merger into a rival scheme, possible liquidation, or its continued existence. Sizwe Hosmed is as an open medical scheme that was established through the amalgamation of the Sizwe Medical Fund and Hosmed Medical Scheme on 1 November 2021. The scheme was then placed under statutory management from 11 July 2024. The statutory manager’s August 2025 report subsequently concluded that the scheme was facing severe financial and operational distress. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Garth Theunissen at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Eastern Cape education spokesperson suspended amid workplace harassment allegations News24 reports that Eastern Cape Department of Education spokesperson has been suspended amid serious workplace harassment allegations. Vuyiseka Mboxela, the director of communications and events management, was suspended last month over allegations of emotional distress that led to an intern collapsing at the office. She faces accusations of contributing to a deteriorating work environment within the department’s communications unit. In the letter of suspension dated 25 August, the department alleged Mboxela refused to accept an intern assigned to her office, “where it is alleged that you used rude and insolent language, which caused the intern significant emotional distress, resulting in her collapsing and/or fainting. [The intern] was subsequently transported to the hospital for medical attention.” The department also alleged Mboxela abused her position regarding the treatment of employees “through conduct that may be interpreted as intimidation or misuse of managerial power”. But, Mboxela has denied the allegations or that she abused her authority over interns at the department. In a statement, the department’s other spokesperson, Mali Mtima, said Mboxela and Education MEC Fundile Gade’s spokesperson, Velani Mbiza-Gola, were suspended last month, for their “alleged misconduct relating to harassment”. Mbiza-Gola, who declined to comment, was suspended after an alleged altercation with another employee. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sithandiwe Velaphi at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
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