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 Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Ghost worker crackdown reveals R3.9bn in possible state payroll fraud BusinessLive reports that SA’s public service may be losing more than R3.9bn annually to ghost employees, based on a 1% compromise rate across the state’s 1.3-million payroll. The figure, presented to parliament on Wednesday, reflects the scale of systemic fraud now under investigation by the National Treasury, the Department of Public Service & Administration (DPSA) and the Auditor-General SA (AG). Briefings to the portfolio committee on public service & administration confirmed that fraudulent entries on government payrolls were present across all three spheres of government. These ghosts include fictitious people, no-show employees and family members added to payroll systems to divert salaries. Treasury’s data tests flagged multiple anomalies, including duplicate personnel and salary (Persal) profiles, salaries paid to minors and individuals drawing basic allowances from more than one department. National Treasury has launched a cross-system audit using data sets from SARS, home affairs, Emis (education management information system), and Hetmis (higher education management information system). The initiative applies anomaly detection to reduce the verification burden and target high-risk cases. A two-month window will be provided for flagged individuals to verify their employment status. The DPSA confirmed that a binding circular was issued on 8 September requiring all departments to conduct full physical verification of every person on payroll, including interns, board members and traditional leaders. Departments must submit consolidated reports by 28 February 2026. Departments that fail to comply will be referred to the committee for consequence management. Pension contributions made to ghost employees will be clawed back from the Government Employees Pension Fund. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tara Roos at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Parliament demands accountability and oversight in respect of George building collapse IOL News reports that according to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, the investigation into the 2024 George building collapse, which claimed 34 lives, has revealed serious gaps in oversight, accountability, and regulatory processes. The committee received a briefing from the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) on Wednesday. Committee chairperson Carol Phiri commented: “The issue of the collapse of George is very complex. What we have got from the report is that there are multiple stakeholders, be it your municipality, the Department of Labour, Human Settlement, SAPS, ourselves and other entities like safety officers and engineers.” She indicated that the committee had resolved to call for a joint sitting with other relevant portfolio committees, including Human Settlements, to get to the bottom of the tragedy. Phiri noted that the full forensic report remained sensitive and had not yet been made public. “They feel it’s very sensitive. It cannot be discussed now. It will need us (to meet) in camera first,” she explained. The committee also raised alarm over irregularities in the construction process itself, which Pire described as deeply troubling. The committee is seeking approval from the chair of chairs, Cedric Froelich, to conduct an oversight visit to George and engage directly with stakeholders. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Wendy Dondolo at IOL News. Read too, MPs left fuming after being denied access to full forensic report on George building collapse, at EWN
Numsa and Solidarity sign above-inflation wage deal at South32 Hillside Aluminium BL Premium reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and trade union Solidarity have signed an above-inflation, multi-term wage agreement with South32 Hillside Aluminium. The company describes itself as the largest aluminum smelter in the southern hemisphere, producing primary aluminium for the domestic and export markets. In a media statement on Wednesday, Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola said the five-year pay deal would see market technicians and artisans receiving increases of 6% for three years, followed by 6% or CPI plus 0.5%, whichever was greater, in the outer years of the agreement. Inflation is hovering around 3.3%. Above market artisans and operators will receive a 5.5% increase for each of the first three years of the agreement, and then for the last two years of the agreement they will receive a 5.5% increase or CPI plus 0.5% whichever is greater. Workers will also receive a one off signing bonus of R20,000. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Surprise slackening of inflation rate to 3.3% as food prices rise slower than in July BusinessLive reports that the consumer inflation rate unexpectedly slowed in August, largely due to softer-than-anticipated food price pressures. Stats SA reported on Wednesday that the annual consumer price index (CPI) eased to 3.3%, down from 3.5% in July, while prices declined by 0.1% month-on-month. After accelerating for six consecutive months, food inflation came in at 5.2% year-on-year, slightly down from 5.5% the previous month, driven by cereal products, fruit and nuts and vegetables. “In all these products, SA has an abundant harvest, and the benefits of it are starting to show in prices,” Agbiz chief economist Wandile Sihlobo pointed out. A key product many are watching is meat, which has remained elevated, although slaughtering has resumed in major feedlots across the country. KPMG lead economist Frank Blackmore said that he expected inflation for the rest of the year to be higher than the 3% mark, which will result in overall inflation of about 3.6% for the year. Meanwhile, economists broadly expect the SA Reserve Bank to keep interest rates on hold at its monetary policy meeting Thursday. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jana Marx at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). See too, Inflation surprisingly slows in August 2025, at The Citizen
East London could become a ghost town due to US tariffs, says Naamsa CEO The Citizen reports that the CEO of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa) has warned that United States (US) tariffs on exports could have devastating effects for the Eastern Cape, particularly in East London. At the DealerCon summit on Wednesday in Sandton, Mikel Mabasa discussed the potential impact of the 30% US tariffs on the automotive industry if alternatives were not implemented He pointed out that the automotive industry was very resilient and so the tariffs would not result in massive retrenchments. Mabasa highlighted that Mercedes-Benz would feel the pinch of the high tariffs, but fortunately other brands that were manufactured in SA did not export to the US. . BMW used to export a high volume to the US, but the brand has diversified its market, and is not affected by these tariffs. Mercedes-Benz manufactures its C-Class model in East London and exports some of these to the US. Mabasa said the brand played a significant role in the Eastern Cape’s economy, including employing people in the province. If Mercedes-Benz and the government did not find ways to mitigate the losses from the US tariffs, the car company could face significant financial distress. This could result in retrenchments or even the closure of the East London plant, which could see the town becoming a ghost town. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tshehla Cornelius Koteli at The Citizen
Thousands of jobs at risk as Gayton McKenzie pulls funding from arts festivals IOL News reports that from Cape Town to Makhanda, and Potchefstroom to Bloemfontein, the curtain is falling on SA’s biggest arts festivals as government funding is withdrawn. Funding for the provincial flagship programme has been cut by Minister Gayton McKenzie’s national sports, arts and culture department. The blow will hit flagship events including Oudtshoorn’s Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees, Makhanda’s National Arts Festival, and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Aardklop in Potchefstroom, the Cape Town Carnival, Innibos in Mpumalanga, and Vryfees in the Free State will also be affected. The festivals are the lifeblood of SA’s cultural stage, generating millions of rand in revenue, putting food on the tables of hundreds of artists and technicians, and drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year. The funding crisis began when festival organisers were told, one after another, that their existing funding had been declined and that they should apply for support through the Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) Fund. Most of the MGE applications were apparently rejected. This has left festivals in the lurch without the financial support they had relied on for years. DA MP Leah Knott said in parliament on Tuesday that the department was failing to meet its constitutional mandate and was being used as a political tool. She called for reinstatement of funding for established festivals, full disclosure of all MGE allocations, a depoliticised adjudication process, and a full account of every budget reallocation. Western Cape sports, arts and culture MEC Ricardo Mackenzie said the provincial government was “perturbed” by the cuts, but that the provincial government would continue working with partners to sustain major cultural events. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Brandon Nel at IOL News. Read too, Gayton McKenzie faces rising backlash over funding cuts to cultural festivals, at IOL News
MPs hear how zama zamas are shafting Ekurhuleni residents News24 reports that four parliamentary committees heard on Wednesday how zama zamas (illegal miners) are shafting Ekurhuleni residents and imperilling employment on the East Rand. DA MP Michéle Clarke presented a petition on behalf of residents to the portfolio committees on police, mineral and petroleum resources, forestry, fisheries and environment, and home affairs. It called for urgent implementation of an action plan to address illegal mining in Ward 92 in the City of Ekurhuleni. The ward includes the suburbs Klopper Park, Highway Gardens, Buurendal, and Harmelia. Clarke said illegal mining in the East Rand had really has got out of hand and had become an “unbelievable issue.” She said people in the area were no longer safe because they were surrounded by old mine shafts that had not been closed. According to Clarke, criminal activity was affecting residents’ lives on a daily basis as the manner in which illegal mining was managed in SA was at a point of “complete crisis”. Councillor Kade Guerreiro said the community’s biggest challenge was an old mine shaft that has never been closed in the heart of one of their industrial areas, Meadowdale. “We are obviously deeply concerned because many of the big businesses, including Komatso and PepsiCo, are not happy and are wanting to relocate to other municipalities, and some have even said that they are happy to move back to their original countries,” he explained. Guerreiro warned that this would lead to economic and job losses. Meanwhile, the zama zamas have tapped into Ekurhuleni’s water and sanitation system, using it to wash the minerals, which, according to Guerreiro, was negatively affecting the environment. Read the full original of the extensive report in the above regard by Jan Gerber at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Pupils protest to demand safety from zama zamas vandalising their school News24 reports that illegal miners (zama zamas) have allegedly stripped the Wedela Technical High School of piping and other infrastructure, leaving toilets non-functioning and teachers and pupils living in fear. On Wednesday morning, a large group of pupils led by the Congress of SA Students (Cosas) embarked on a protest, demanding safety and services at the school. Police vans, the principal’s car, and passing vehicles were pelted with stones. Two female pupils sustained head injuries after stones ricocheted off speeding police vehicles, before hitting them. During the chaos, pupils burned tyres, blocked streets, and turned away vehicles attempting to pass the school. Cosas West Rand deputy convener, Nikho Phakathi, said the issues at the school were “alarming” as zama zamas had looted much of the school’s critical infrastructure, leaving over 1,400 pupils without basic services. Phakathi stated: “The situation is unbearable, and the (education) department has ignored our repeated pleas. We are here, led by the pupils, declaring: enough is enough. We demand a conducive learning environment.” Cosas vowed to continue with the school shutdown until their concerns were addressed. The parent of a pupil urged the Department of Education to provide round-the-clock armed guards to protect the school from illegal mining activities. “If zama zamas aren’t stopped, they will eventually enter the school to rob and harm everyone. Nobody is safe. They’ve looted almost everything, and when there’s nothing left, they’ll target people,” she warned. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Other general posting(s) relating to mining
SAHRC confirms hiring foreigner as a manager, but slams 'false narrative about its staff composition' TimesLIVE reports that in a statement the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has confirmed the employment of a foreign national in a senior management position. Without mentioning names, the commission confirmed that it has 16 senior managers, one of whom was a foreign national. Of its 169 employees, seven are foreigners. “The misconception that most staff members employed at the commission are non-nationals is incorrect. The misconception that most senior managers at the commission are non-nationals is also incorrect,” it indicated. The SAHRC went on to comment: “The commission has been facing the false narrative about its staff composition for a long time despite efforts made to correct it. The persistence of the incorrect and false narrative, especially on social media platforms, necessitated this statement to nullify the disinformation campaign and provide facts.” It said all employees at the commission were employed in accordance with the Labour Relations Act and other regulations. The commission has also received backlash for its handling of some issues, such as declaring that illegal foreigners have a constitutional right to access health care, with many accusing it of prioritising foreigners' rights over those of citizens. It rejected that narrative in totality and said human rights in the country were addressed irrespective of national status. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Innocentia Nkadimeng at TimesLIVE Limpopo education department ordered to pay R50,000 for snubbing top-ranked teacher for principal post IOL News reports that the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) has held the Limpopo Department of Education (DOE) accountable for unjustly overlooking a highly qualified teacher for a principal position and has awarded her R50,000 in compensation. The case centres around a teacher, referred to only as MM Rakgwale, who was deemed the most qualified candidate and more experienced than others for the role of principal at Makhutjisha Secondary School, yet was consistently excluded from the shortlist. She successfully aced the interview for the principal position and received a recommendation from the School Governing Body (SGB). However, the DOE nullified the recruitment process after receiving grievances from a male candidate, who was later appointed as the principal at Makhutjisha Secondary School following numerous rounds of shortlisting and interviews. Detailing her experience in her appeal at the ELRC, Rakgwale highlighted the bias inherent in the decision-making process. In delivering the judgment, ELRC Commissioner Thapelo Mathekga articulated his dissatisfaction with the treatment Rakgwale had received. “I am satisfied that the department committed an unfair labour practice against Rakgwale by failing to shortlist her despite her adequate qualifications and experience for no apparent reason, given that she was previously shortlisted at least twice in the same recruitment process,” Mathekga ruled. He said based on the nature of the procedural irregularities in this case, a compensation of R50,000 once-off would be just and equitable for the injured feelings of Rakgwale. 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
Cabanac to sue for R5m after being axed as chief of staff by agriculture minister Steenhuisen TimesLIVE Premium reports that Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and his former chief of staff Roman Cabanac are headed to court as Cabanac fights to be reinstated to his R1.2m a year position, arguing that his termination in June was unlawful. Cabanac and his lawyers had given Steenhuisen and the agriculture department until 22 August for him to be returned to his job. If that failed, they indicated they would head to court to claim loss of income damages to the extent of just over R5m, covering the five-year term he would have served from August 2024 to August 2029. Cabanac has argued that the process followed by Steenhuisen and his department was flawed, as they removed him over reasons unrelated to performance and in breach of the Public Service Act. Cabanac, who was born in France, was apparently axed because he could not obtain a security clearance certificate required for his job, because of his dual citizenship. On Wednesday, Steenhuisen through his spokesperson said they were ready to legally defend the matter. It took the DA leader nine months between September 2024 and June 2025 to decide to fire Cabanac, who has a track record of making racist comments on social media and podcasts, after the controversial figure refused to step down when asked to do so. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thabo Mokone at TimesLIVE Premium (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Codeta launches court challenge against Cape Town’s 30-day taxi route closures News24 reports that the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) has approached the Western Cape High Court to have the provincial government’s 30-day temporary closure of taxi routes between Khayelitsha, Mfuleni and Somerset West set aside. Codeta claims that for weeks now, its members have not been involved in violence. Six taxis were impounded on Wednesday morning as the closure came into effect. The closures follow weeks of deadly violence between rival associations over contested routes in the affected areas. With taxis off the road, buses have been deployed to assist commuters, but many passengers complained that the alternative has left them late due to longer routes and delays. Mayco Member for Safety and Security JP Smith stated: “At this stage, our teams have reported that the Khayelitsha, Somerset West and Mfuleni taxi ranks are not operating as per the closure and we continue to monitor these and other various locations.” On Tuesday, former CATA spokesperson and executive member, Andile Soyamo, was killed in Nyanga. According to a police spokesperson, gunmen opened fire on Soyamo in Dlepu Street after he left home. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Velani Ludidi at News24 (subscription / trial registration required). Read too, Commuters scramble as 30-day taxi shutdown begins, at GroundUp. And also, CATA shaken after taxi executive gunned down in Nyanga, at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
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