In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
|
Court dismisses urgent bid to stop retrenchment of SA Breweries workers GroundUp reports that the Labour Court in Johannesburg has dismissed an urgent application by the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) for an interdict stopping retrenchments at SA Breweries (SAB). This related to the company’s decision to retrench 233 employees. Fawu wanted the court to compel SAB to follow “fair procedure” in the retrenchment of workers already in progress at its local brewery. It also wanted the court to interdict SAB and its parent company AB InBev from instituting future dismissals. Fawu Gauteng chairperson William Mokgase claimed that workers had faced continuous retrenchments since 2020. He accused SAB of replacing permanent workers with workers contracted through labour brokers. “They have the audacity to retrench workers and rehire them under brokers. This is turning decent jobs into cheap labour which is why we came to court on an urgent basis,” he indicated. Fawu’s lawyer argued in court that the retrenchments amounted to unfair labour practices, while SAB’s lawyers argued that the restructuring formed part of efficiency measures being implemented at the company. Judge Molatelo Robert Makhura struck the matter off the urgent roll and advised the union to resubmit its application. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Silver Sibiya at GroundUp Ford retrenchments in SA tied to UK tax shift, lower volumes Reuters reports that the SA arm of Ford Motor has attributed planned retrenchments to lower European orders for its Ranger pickup truck, driven by recent tax changes in the UK and sluggish export volumes for its plug-in hybrid Ranger model. Last month Ford sent an official notice to unions, notifying them of its intention to retrench 474 workers at its Silverton car manufacturing plant in Pretoria and Struandale engine plant in Gqeberha. Neale Hill, president of Ford Motor Company Africa, indicated on Wednesday that the company has been forced to reduce its operations from three shifts to two, following a drop in demand for its Ranger. In the UK, from the start of April 2025 double-cab pickups with a payload of one tonne or more have been reclassified as passenger cars rather than commercial vans for tax purposes, making them more expensive to own. "As a consequence of that, people have unfortunately reduced their volume. So that's had a big impact in terms of our European orders," he indicated. Hill also said that demand for the plug-in hybrid Ranger had not hit the volumes that they had been looking for. Ford's plant has a capacity of 200,000 vehicles annually but at the moment the company is not utilising all of it. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
Zoo Lake Clubhouse workers concerned about jobs after massive fire SABC News reports that many workers at the Zoo Lake Clubhouse in Johannesburg could face a bleak future after a fire engulfed the bowling facility on Wednesday morning. The facility’s manager Davian Cooper indicated that the damage was massive and could run into millions of rands. He said this would have a direct impact on the future of their employees. Cooper reported further: “At past six in the morning, I was contacted by a colleague that the place was burning. I came in as soon as possible and was met by all the emergency personnel who were already putting out the fire. The structure has a lot of wood and it was engulfed just in front of our eyes. The fire was getting bigger and bigger. My employees are obviously disturbed because this is their livelihood. Their lives will be affected. But I’m very resilient, I will make sure everything is sorted.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Phanuel Shuma and view a news report at SABC News
Three undocumented foreign truck drivers and others arrested in KZN truck crackdown The Witness reports that that ten undocumented foreign nationals, including three truck drivers, were arrested at the Mkondeni RTI Weighbridge in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday. KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said the arrests formed part of a major road safety operation. The arrests came a day after 177 new traffic officers officially joined the province’s Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) following their graduation parade at the Msunduzi Athletics Stadium. Duma said the officers immediately began their duties as part of intensified multidisciplinary operations to clamp down on reckless truck driving, undocumented drivers, and overloading. He indicated: “Today (Wednesday), our highly efficient RTI team, working with the Home Affairs Immigration Unit, stopped 260 trucks and charged 13 drivers for various traffic violations … We are acting decisively against undocumented truck drivers who have turned our road networks into killing fields and high accident zones. Over the past few months, more than 30 truck-related accidents have been recorded, some involving foreign national drivers who disappeared after the crashes.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nompilo Kunene at The Witness. Read too, KZN transport department launches urgent truck operation on N3 after spike in fatal accidents, at The Citizen
Richard Stewart takes over from Neal Froneman as Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Moneyweb reports that SA’s biggest mining company, Sibanye-Stillwater, has confirmed that Richard Stewart has officially taken over as CEO of the group, with effect from 1 October 2025. Stewart succeeds Neal Froneman, who retired as CEO and executive director on 30 September after more than a decade at the helm. Stewart has been with the group in several senior roles, most recently as chief regional officer for Southern Africa from May 2022. Prior to that, he was group chief operating officer from December 2020, and before that, executive vice president (EVP) for business development. Froneman’s 12-year tenure saw Sibanye-Stillwater grow into a multinational mining and metals-processing group, becoming one of the world’s largest producers of platinum group metals and a leading recycler of critical minerals. The group also announced the appointment of Mduduzi (Mdu) Bhulose as executive vice president for business development. Bhulose joins from the Public Investment Corporation. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Terri-Ann Brouwers at Moneyweb. Read too, Richard Stewart takes helm at surging Sibanye-Stillwater, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Illegal mining in Limpopo ‘spiralling out of control’, with little response from law enforcement The Citizen reports that farmers and the residents of Polokwane and Mokopane in Limpopo are tormented by rampant illegal miners’ operations. Affected residents from areas such as Kuschke, Ysterberg and Eerste Goud indicated: “It is true that illegal mining activities are happening in the area. The people are armed and the operations are damaging our farms and the water is being polluted.” One resident said it was difficult to live in the area because their farming operations and livelihoods were under threat as the armed, violent and organised illegal miners continued searching for gold. More than 100 illegal miners have allegedly invaded the farms, started fires, interrupted the water supply and damaged irrigation lines. It is believed most of the miners are foreign nationals from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho. The DA’s Jacques Smalle said the residents have repeatedly alerted the police and asked for their intervention, to no avail. He went on to indicate: “Despite several operations and promises of intensified efforts, illegal mining continues to grow unchecked. Many believe the police lack the resources, capacity, or political will to clamp down fully. The situation is spiralling out of control and escalating into violent and deadly conflict between rival zama zama groups.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Masoka Dube at The Citizen
Vukani Mngxati appointed as CEO of Microsoft SA as it ramps up spending on data centres TechCentral reports that Microsoft has appointed Vukani Mngxati as the new CEO of Microsoft SA, effective immediately. Mngxati takes over from Lillian Barnard, who was recently named as chief of enterprise partners for Microsoft Middle East and Africa. In his new role, Mngxati will lead the company’s South African operations with a mandate to expand cloud infrastructure, build AI skills in local communities and forge partnerships that support the country’s national development priorities, Microsoft said in a statement on Wednesday. Mngxati previously held several leadership roles at Accenture, serving most recently as CEO and board chairman of the consulting firm in Africa. He also pursued an entrepreneurial venture earlier in his career. The timing of Mngxati’s appointment dovetails with Microsoft’s growing infrastructure push in SA. In March this year, Microsoft said it was committing a further R5.4-billion investment in new AI-optimised data centres in SA, a move intended to support compute-intensive workloads such as large-scale AI and machine learning in the region. Beyond hardware, Microsoft plans to back its infrastructure moves with skills development and has committed to training 50,000 people in in-demand digital and AI skills via certification programmes. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by TechCentral. Read too, Microsoft appoints new South Africa CEO, at BusinessTech Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Appointment of Joburg city manager stalls again News24 reports that Johannesburg is no closer to having a permanent city manager after the applicable agenda item was withdrawn from a protracted council meeting on Tuesday. The urgent matter was brought to the council under the agenda item ‘Progress to Date on the Process to Recruit the City Manager’. But, the document containing all the details was not part of the agenda package and was only given to councillors on Tuesday evening in a behind-closed-doors meeting. Without giving a reason, a councillor asked Speaker Margaret Arnolds to hold discussion on the item confidentially in the council, and she agreed. All witnesses were removed from the gallery, and all cameras were turned off. The outcome, apparently, was that parties within the leading coalition between the ANC, EFF, PA and other minority parties could not come to an understanding. They clashed over the report having been introduced at the last minute, leading to claims of agreed protocols having been bypassed. Eventually, at around 19:30, the item was withdrawn. The City has been without a city manager since Floyd Brink left office on 14 December. In July, the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, appointed Kiba Kekana as the acting city manager. The position is of importance because the City has no access to funding from banks without an accounting officer. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alex Patrick at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Suspended UIF commissioner paid R1.4 million over past year to sit at home Newsday reports that Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) commissioner Teboho Maruping has been paid R1.4 million over the past year by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) while on precautionary suspension. According to a response by DEL Minister Minister Nomakhosazana Meth to a parliamentary question posed by Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Michael Bagraim, the commissioner has been earning his full salary since his suspension. Maruping was suspended in September 2024 after he was implicated in the unlawful R5 billion Thuja Capital contract. The court set the deal aside, ruling it invalid. The DEL then suspended Maruping in September last year for his failure to conduct due diligence and intimidation of UIF officials who had raised concerns. The disciplinary process hasmoved at a snail’s pace. Evidence was only wrapped up in September 2025, and final arguments are only due on 12 October. The hearing will then reconvene on 20 October. Bagraim said this followed a worrying pattern. “Maruping previously sat at home on full pay between 2020 and 2022 while facing another disciplinary process over irregular spending,” he noted. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kimberley Kersten at Newsday. Read too, Suspended UIF Commissioner continues to earn R1.4 million amid ongoing disciplinary hearing, at IOL Business Prasa Group Human Capital Chief Naledi Modibedi placed on precautionary suspension IOL News reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has confirmed the precautionary suspension of its Group Chief Human Capital Officer, Naledi Modibedi, with effect from 29 September 2025. The move comes amid circulating reports alleging tender irregularities linked to Prasa’s pension fund management. But, a Prasa spokesperson categorically denied any connection between the suspension and tender irregularities. The precise nature of the allegations prompting the suspension has not been disclosed, with Prasa underscoring the importance of due process and fairness to the employee involved. Last year, a news report was published about a January 2023 report by Omnicor that highlighted potential challenges relating to Modibedi’s performance, specifically difficulties in processing unfamiliar information under time constraints. But on inquiry this week, Prasa stressed the confidentiality of internal disciplinary processes and urged caution against speculation until the ongoing investigation and formal hearing have been completed. The agency promised to communicate the results of the inquiry in due course. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thabo Makwakwa at IOL News Following RTMC CEO’s suspension in July, CFO also suspended after whistleblower allegations Moneyweb reports that whistleblower allegations have led to Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) chief financial officer Liana Moolman being placed on precautionary suspension. Her suspension follows that of RTMC CEO Advocate Makhosini Msibi, who was placed on precautionary suspension effective from 1 July 2025 amid a host of serious allegations made by a whistleblower. Msibi has since launched a high court application to have his suspension reviewed and set aside. RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane on Tuesday confirmed that Moolman was placed on precautionary suspension, effective from Monday last week, with the suspension authorised by interim RTMC CEO Refilwe Mongale. Zwane said Moolman’s suspension “is related to the whistleblower reports that have been in circulation in the past few months”. He added: “This is to allow internal investigation processes to proceed fairly without prejudice. There is currently a forensic investigation at the RTMC. The investigation is still underway.” The RTMC has appointed KPMG to conduct the forensic investigation. According to a whistleblower, the allegations against Moolman relate to her alleged failure to manage the RTMC’s budget, with the corporation apparently reporting a deficit in the year, which has forced the RTMC to implement severe cost-containment measures that are negatively affecting operations. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Roy Cokayne at Moneyweb
Two former Gauteng education officials and accomplice face sentencing for R3.8m ghost employee fraud The Star reports that two former Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) employees and an accomplice, who defrauded the department of millions through a ghost employee scheme, were scheduled to appear for sentencing at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and Thursday. The external accomplice is the brother of one of the convicted former staff members. The scheme, uncovered through an internal risk investigation, involved seven officials from the Gauteng West District Office’s Human Resources Unit and siphoned off approximately R3.8 million. The matter dates back to 2016, when a criminal case was first opened. GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona the investigation implicated five additional employees, all of whom were dismissed following an internal disciplinary process, bringing the total number of staff fired over the scheme to seven. “These dismissals were challenged at the Public Service Sectoral Bargaining Council, but the department successfully defended its actions in both the Labour Court and the Labour Appeal Court, with the decision upheld in January 2025,” Mabona reported. On 23 May, the Joburg Commercial Crimes Court found the three accused guilty on multiple counts, including fraud, forgery, and theft, linked to a ghost employee scheme. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Masabata Mkwananzi at The Star. Read too, Two former GDE employees convicted of fraud and theft to be sentenced, at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Axed Limpopo school principal loses court battle over mishandled sexual abuse claims IOL News reports that a former Limpopo school principal failed in his legal bid to get his job back after he was fired by the Education Department for failing to submit a report after a Grade 2 learner was reportedly raped or sexually abused by other learners, and allegedly attempting to bribe the learner's guardian to prevent further action. Jack Machengwana turned to the Joburg Labour Court to review and set aside his dismissal. Machengwana lost his job following an incident when a 7-year-old learner complained that she had been sexually assaulted by some boys of the same age, who were also at the same school. Machengwana claimed the incident never happened. He reasoned it would have been impossible, as the alleged culprits were small children and “incapable” of rape or sexual abuse. The department, however, submitted that he tried to bribe the child’s guardian and the child not to report the sexual assault by suggested that he would take up the matter with the school governing body (SGB) to raise money to build a house for their accommodation. . If that failed, he promised to build a three-room house for them himself. At a later date, he gave the child money in a bid to keep her quiet. All these allegations were vehemently denied by the applicant. The version of the guardian was that the applicant threatened her, alleging that there was no case of sexual assault of the girl and that he would urge the police not to open a case. The guardian further alleged that the child was given R500 and a pizza to discourage her from taking matters further. In turning down his application, the Labour Court said the applicant failed to provide evidence to refute the allegations against him. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zelda Venter at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Prasa says Cape Town's Central Line will have full train services in November EWN reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) says Capetonians will have full train services running on its busy Central Line from next month. The Central Line was brought to its knees by illegal occupation of railway tracks and infrastructure vandalism just before the Covid-19 pandemic. It was the busiest train corridor in the Western Cape, transporting more than 600,000 passengers daily during peak times. Prasa Regional Manager Raymond Maseko gave an update on the recovery of this corridor at the launch of Mobility Month in Cape Town on Wednesday. He indicated that out of the 21 train stations on the Central Line, only Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain, and Kapteinsklip did not have train access. "These three stations we will be testing the first trains now in October, then we will write to our regulator to come and do the test and come and check whether we have recovered the line to the appropriate standard. But Capetonians will start utilising trains from the Mitchells Plain side in November of this year," Maseko advised. He added that this would conclude the trains and stations recovery programme for the Western Cape. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Ntuthuzelo Nene at EWN. ead too, Mitchells Plain railway corridor restoration at final stages, at Cape Argus Other internet posting(s) in this news category
|
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page