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 Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Solidarity barometer reveals impact of US trade tariffs Maroela Media reports that on Thursday, trade union Solidarity released its first tariff barometer report analyzing the impact of US trade tariffs on SA and its various industries. A similar barometer report will be released monthly. According to Theuns du Buisson, economic researcher at the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI), the barometer shows how free trade is being restricted by tariffs and highlights the consequences of government inaction. The report for September shows worrying trends, although the impact is still limited at present. “Currently, the general tariff of 30% is not yet reflected in the data. The impact on steel exports is already evident. Steel from all over the world has been subject to a general tariff of 25% since February. The consequences are devastating,” Du Buisson indicated. He went on to state: “We can expect the impact on other industries to be just as severe, or even greater. The government should learn from what happened with steel exports and enter into a trade agreement with the US as soon as possible.” According to Du Buisson, there was ample reason to believe that such an agreement was realistic and negotiable. “The fruit industry, especially citrus, does not produce at the same time as the US. We are therefore not competing with them, and our exports complement their production. An exemption in this case is clearly warranted,” he explained. Meanwhile, Solidarity is demanding urgent government intervention as several industries in SA are currently serving retrenchment notices to employees and unions. Read the full original of the Afrikaans report in the above regard at Maroela Media Other internet posting(s)
State spends R54bn annually on jobs programmes with little to show for it Sunday World reports that the SA government spends R54-billion every year on labour market interventions, but the money is not producing the big changes needed to fight youth unemployment. This was revealed by the director in the Presidency responsible for the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI), Tshegofatso Walker, on Thursday. Walker explained that the R54-billion covered skills training, labour market programmes, support for small businesses, and public employment projects. The funds are shared among all departments, but according to Walker, the spending is not well coordinated. “The R54-billion is a strength, not a weakness. The challenge is the utilisation of that R54-billion. These programmes often operate in isolation. Each department does their own thing, often in competition with each other. The programmes are not mutually reinforcing. There is not even a strategy at an overarching level for all of these programmes and all of this funding,” Walker pointed out. She also said some programmes were not working and urged the government to be honest and brave about reorienting money towards initiatives that were more efficient. Walker advised a new youth employment strategy for the seventh administration had been finalised, focusing on aligning and strengthening interventions across the departments. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Boitumelo Kgobotlo at Sunday World Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Popcru shuts down dilapidated Makhanda police station, vows to close others in Eastern Cape The Herald reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in the Eastern Cape temporarily closed the dilapidated Makhanda police station on Wednesday and vowed to shut others across the province. Popcru’s Xolani Prusente said the union took the decision to order its members to close the police station as it posed both a physical danger and a health hazard. Prusente indicated: “Renovations that were meant to restore this station began as far back as 2021, yet the appointed contractor disgracefully abandoned the project midway through 2024, leaving behind a skeleton structure where doors and windows remain open, where there is no running water, and where members are expected to function without ablution facilities. This has turned what is supposed to be a centre of service into a health hazard, exposing workers to disease and stripping them of the most basic workplace rights.” Prusente said the union would embark on a province-wide programme to close several other police stations with hazardous work environments. A police spokesperson said service delivery was not affected by the temporary closure on Wednesday and the police station had been operating smoothly since. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Herald. Read too, Police union shuts down Eastern Cape police station over abandoned R52m renovation project, at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Rubbish piles up in KwaMashu as striking waste workers dispute salary cuts GroundUp reports that rubbish is piling up in the streets of KwaMashu township in Durban as waste workers downed tools this week over cuts to their salaries. The workers are employed by several companies subcontracted by the eThekwini Municipality. The previous contract, which ran until March, provided for workers to earn about R8,400 a month, but under a new contract they only earn about R4,000. According to the municipality, the pay rates are in line with those of the Bargaining Council for Contract Cleaning Services Industry. But the workers want to be paid according to the local government bargaining council’s rates instead. Dozens of workers from Mayville, Chesterville and Lamont townships picketed outside the City Hall on Tuesday and stayed at home on Wednesday. This followed a smaller picket outside the solid waste depot in KwaMashu last week. Worker representatives held a meeting with the mayor’s special advisor inside the City Hall on Wednesday, but no agreement was reached. eThekwini municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilane pointed out that the workers were not employed by the municipality but by subcontractors. Sisilane did not respond to questions on why the budget for salaries was reduced under the new contracts, despite the scope of work not having changed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tsoanelo Sefoloko at GroundUp Employees of Department of Military Veterans to stage lunchtime pickets from Friday over organisational structure review IOL News reports that employees of the Department of Military Veterans (DMV) are expected to embark on lunchtime pickets from Friday over the DMV’s failure since 2013 to review its organisational structure. They have not ruled out full strike action. Public Servants Association (PSA) general manager Reuben Maleka notified acting DMV director-general Nontobeko Mafu last month of the trade union’s intention to embark on industrial action as of 12 September 2025. In the notice issued in terms of the DMV/PSA picketing rules, the PSA referred to the certificate issued by the General Public Service Sector Bargaining Council (GPSSBC) confirming that the dispute between the PSA and DMV remained unresolved. "As you are aware that the PSA and DMV remain in dispute on the demand concerning a matter of mutual interest relating to organisational structure review. As a result of all failed attempts to resolve the dispute amicably, the PSA has authorised a picket by its members and supporters in terms section 69(1) of the LRA," Maleka indicated. The pickets will be held at DMV head office in Hatfield, Tshwane on every working day from Friday during lunchtime indefinitely, until the employer tables a reviewed organisational structure in the GPSSBC chamber, failing which a full shutdown will be implemented. DMV acting head of communications Mxolisi Mkhonza said the department was aware of the envisaged industrial action and had tried to engage with the union on several occasions to address the issues raised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Loyiso Sidimba at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Mining Qualifications Authority finance manager faces investigation for misconduct and offensive behaviour Daily News reports that within the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA), Finance Manager Myan Govender has become the focal point of an internal investigation spurred by multiple allegations of unprofessional conduct. A grievance hearing by the Seta’s HR division have igniting concerns about governance and ethical standards within the MQA. The conflict originally began in February 2018 when Govender reportedly swore at an Auditor-General (AG) representative during an official audit. When the auditor requested payment records, he was met with aggressive verbal abuse from Govender, who allegedly used profanities and insulted the then Chief Financial Officer (CFO) by calling her “dumb” and “stupid”. The episode was described by the AG’s office as “very serious.” The incident triggered a slew of grievances stretching back a decade, showcasing a troubling pattern of behaviour that underscored a culture of impunity within the MQA's finance division. A source within the MQA said allegations extended beyond verbal outbursts and that Govender has reportedly made sexist remarks towards female colleagues. Finance Administrator Thembi Norman has lodged a grievance against Govender, claiming a lack of integrity and instances of disrespect and unprofessional conduct. "As the MQA grapples with these serious allegations, Govender remained in his position while the internal process to appoint an investigator proceeds. The outcome of this investigation will likely carry significant implications, not only for Govender but for the organisation's credibility in maintaining a culture of accountability and professionalism," the source indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ayanda Mdluli at Daily News
South African employers race to hire AI talent TechCentral reports that demand for employees skilled in the use of AI has surged 77% in SA in the past year. According to Pnet’s Job Market Trends Report for August 2025, employers are on the lookout for AI-specific skills for roles that will help them build technologies to run their businesses. The need of AI skills across traditional professions such as marketing and finance is also increasing quickly. “AI is no longer confined to specialist positions. From software developers and data scientists to marketers, financial clerks and content creators, the demand for AI expertise is reshaping career paths across sectors. Employers and jobseekers who adapt quickly will be best positioned to benefit from the shift,” said Anja Bates, head of data at Pnet. The report from the online recruitment platform compares data from the first six months of 2025 to the same period in 2024. “AI is reshaping the workplace, redefining job roles and creating demand for new digital skills,” said Pnet in a statement on Thursday. “It is encouraging to see that AI seems to be creating job opportunities in South Africa rather than displacing workers. However, young people entering the workforce for the first time and mid-career professionals alike can expect to see the new technology reshape work as dramatically as the web did 20 years ago,” said Bates. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at TechCentral Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Mashatile asserts that cadre deployment in municipalities is merit-based and not a jobs-for-pals scheme EWN reports that Deputy President Paul Mashatile has denied claims that the African National Congress (ANC) sends unqualified people to head up municipalities, which then leads to their collapse. He was answering questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday on what the government was doing to address the widespread collapse of service delivery at local government lrvrl. He claimed that cadre deployment was not a jobs-for-pals scheme and was merit-based. "Honourable Frederik Badenhorst is saying that maybe we do deploy people without skills. I want to assure you that from my party, we don’t do that. I know that when people hear the word cadre development, they thinks it's jobs-for-pals. That’s not the case." According to Mashatile, the skills problem was at ward level, where communities decided themselves on who their ward councillor candidates should be. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Babalo Ndenze at EWN
Boksburg high school teacher fired over 'sexual and verbal assault' of pupils TimesLIVE reports that a teacher from Sunward Park High School in Boksburg has been dismissed after allegations were made that he sexually and verbally abused female pupils on school grounds and outside the premises. The Gauteng education department confirmed the school governing body-appointed educator was dismissed in absentia on Thursday following a disciplinary hearing. Incidents are alleged to have taken back to 2024, with the most recent incident having taken place in August 2025. Parents filed a complaint on 27 August and the teacher was suspended the next day. He faced three counts of sexual assault and one of verbal misconduct. According to the department, his behaviour was “disgraceful, improper and unbecoming” of a teacher. The department said the case would be reported to the SA Council for Educators with a recommendation that his name be permanently removed from the educators’ register, thereby preventing him from teaching again in SA. Gauteng education MEC Matome Chiloane. said the department “strongly condemns any form of violence, abuse or misconduct by educators. Teachers are entrusted with the safety, care and development of learners and any breach of that trust is treated with seriousness.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Gugulethu Mashinini at DailyDispatch. Read too, Gauteng teacher fired after sexual assault and misconduct allegations surface, at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Hawks arrest Kokstad teacher with unlicensed firearm, two stolen cars TimesLIVE reports that after the Hawks arrested a teacher in Kokstad, they found that he was in possession of an unlicensed gun, was driving a stolen car and had another stolen car stashed in his garage. KwaZulu-Natal Hawks spokesperson Lt-Col Simphiwe Mhlongo said members from the Port Shepstone serious organised crime investigation unit and other law enforcement agencies arrested Siseko Ludongeni, a teacher at Dulati Combined School in Magqagqeni location. Police had received information Ludongeni was driving a stolen car and they went to the school to monitor him. “The vehicle was spotted and intercepted. A search was conducted and police found a 9mm pistol with live rounds of ammunition. The vehicle [registration] was circulated and it was confirmed that it was stolen in Pietermaritzburg in November last year,” Mhlongo reported. Ludongeni was arrested and taken to his home where a stripped VW Polo was found in the garage. It was discovered the car was stolen in Bayview, Chatsworth, in December 2024. Ludongeni was charged for possession of an unlicensed firearm and stolen motor vehicles. He appeared in the Umzimkhulu Magistrate’s Court in absentia – as he was admitted to hospital after claiming he was unwell – and the matter was postponed to 22 September. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at DailyDispatch Other internet posting(s) in this news category
‘I am the victim of staff sabotage’, embattled head of College of Cape Town tells MPs News24 reports that the College of Cape Town’s leadership came under fire in Parliament on Wednesday as MPs grilled them over a deepening governance crisis at the institution. The leadership appeared before the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, where its chairperson, Walter Letsie, noted that MPs had been inundated with complaints about management and leadership failures that have worsened in recent years. College principal and CEO Mhangarai Muswaba told MPs that he was being sabotaged by staff opposed to his efforts to transform the institution. He said: “Reputational damage by some staff members who are sabotaging the principal is true, and we have lost prospective funders who had pledged to work with the college in developing mega projects.” Muswaba is locked in a long-running dispute with staff members, who previously wrote to Department of Higher Education (DHET) Minister Buti Manamela raising concerns about his leadership. According to Muswaba, instability at the college has been fuelled by officials at the DHET and two deputy principals who, he said, have taken his vision “backwards”. Muswaba was charged with 13 counts of misconduct by the DHET and placed on precautionary suspension after losing a court bid to halt a disciplinary hearing. He later returned to work while proceedings continued. Manamela told the committee he would establish a stabilisation and dispute resolution task team to investigate the crisis. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24 (subscription / trial registration required). Read too, Principal disciplined as governance crumbles at Cape Town college, at Sunday World
Mashatile’s bodyguards exposed in viral N1 assault video want charges dropped for lack of evidence News24 reports that the lawyer representing eight police officers who were captured on video assaulting the occupants of a VW Polo in July 2023 on the N1 highway argued in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday that the case should be thrown out of court due to a lack of evidence. The officers, who are all out on R10,000 bail each, face 12 charges, including assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, malicious damage to property, reckless driving, and obstruction of justice. Footage of the incident, which circulated widely on social media, showed the officers brandishing rifles and pistols as they assaulted the trainee soldiers in the VW Polo. Despite the video evidence, the officers were reinstated to non-operational office roles in October 2023 after their suspensions lapsed. Their advocate, Mswazi Makhubele, argued that the court could not rely on the evidence presented by the State and challenged the admissibility of the video footage that captured the assault. He said the victims failed to identify which of the eight officers assaulted the victims or damaged their vehicle. Makhubele also said two of the accused could not be prosecuted for assault because they were not at the scene. On the charge of defeating the ends of justice, Makhubele argued that the charge was vague. He added that the State could not rely on the principle of common purpose as there was no evidence of a conspiracy between the officers before the incident. Makhubele questioned the testimony of the State’s video expert, arguing that he did not conform to the police checklist required to analyse the footage and did not have access to the original recording device. Magistrate Abdul Khan reserved judgment on the application for 9 October. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tankiso Makhetha at News24 (subscription / trial registration required). Read too, Mashatile bodyguards want implicating video excluded as evidence, at SABC News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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