In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Workers take to the streets on Tuesday on World Day for Decent Work GroundUp reports that hundreds of workers from unions affiliated to the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) marched in in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban on Tuesday to mark World Day for Decent Work. The day is observed globally to highlight workers’ rights. Amongst other issues, the marchers raised concerns about unemployment, corruption, poor working conditions and the rising cost of living. In Johannesburg, about a thousand union members marched from the Cosatu head office through the city centre to the Gauteng Premier’s office, where they handed over a memorandum of demands. Marchers also accused municipalities of failing to honour wage agreements. “Mogale City is battling to pay for the wage gap and the City of Tshwane is failing to give workers decent salary increases, yet councillors were given 5% salary increase,” it was asserted. Similar demonstrations were held outside Tembisa Hospital, where unions demanded action on corruption and protection for whistleblowers, and in Pretoria. In Cape Town, nearly 300 people marched to the provincial legislature and municipal offices, highlighting high levels of crime, gangsterism and violence in working-class communities. In Durban, hundreds of Cosatu members marched from King Dinuzulu Park to Durban City Hall. Along the route, they picketed outside several stores, demanding the immediate payment of outstanding UIF and pension fund money and compliance with the national minimum wage. Calling on employers to provide safe transport for workers, unions also urged government to regulate public transport and refurbish rail infrastructure. Government institutions have been given 14 days to respond to the unions’ demands. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ihsaan Haffejee, Vincent Lali and Tsoanelo Sefoloko at GroundUp Cosatu protest prompts Western Cape government to commit to creating 600,000 jobs by 2035 IOL News reports that in response to Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) marchers, the Western Cape government has committed to creating more than half a million jobs by 2035. Union members marched on Tuesday through the Cape Town city centre to deliver a memorandum of grievances to the three spheres of government. Cosatu provincial secretary Malvern de Bruyn explained that the demonstration aimed to highlight the urgent need for decent and sustainable employment. He said that Cosatu had previously engaged with the Premier’s Office, but was not convinced that the provincial government was doing enough to address job creation. De Bruyn criticised the reliance on the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), arguing that it failed to provide sustainable employment or basic worker benefits. Western Cape director-general Harry Malila responded that the provincial administration had a plan to grow the economy and expand employment opportunities. “As part of our provincial strategic plan for the next five years, we wanted to grow the economy because that would enable the private sector to do what they needed to do. In that plan, we wanted to create 600,000 jobs over the next five years, at least up until 2026,” Malila advised. He said the province’s unemployment rate stood at about 21%, and although the Western Cape accounted for “90% of the net jobs created in South Africa over the last two to three years”, more needed to be done. Malila added that the EPWP should be seen as a stepping stone rather than a permanent solution. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mandilakhe Tshwete at IOL News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Two years after submarine SAS Manthatisi tragedy, widower challenges Navy's 'freak wave' explanation Cape Argus reports that while the Hawks investigate the SAS Manthatisi submarine tragedy two years ago, widower Commander Romero Hector is preparing a civil claim. On 23 September 2023, Lieutenant Commander Gillian Hector, Warrant Officer William Malesela Mathipa, and Warrant Officer Mokwapa Lucas Mojela were killed when high waves impacted a vertical transfer exercise involving the South African Air Force Maritime Lynx helicopter and the SA Navy’s submarine SAS Manthatisi in Kommetjie. The submarine was on route to Cape Town when seven crew members were swept out to sea during the incident, of whom four survived. In July, the SA Navy handed over a copy of the BOI to the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks). On Tuesday, Hector, who is a senior navy officer, asserted that the 1,105 page report of the BOI was a true reflection in its entirety of what transpired and called for accountability. He cited that there had been mismanagement and negligence, including a submarine which had just been serviced and not authorised properly, a weather warning ignored and outdated equipment. Hector claimed that Chief of the Navy, Admiral Monde Lobese, had misled the public when he stated that no one was responsible for the tragedy and that a freak wave, in other words Mother Nature, had been the cause. “I am happy with the BOI, it was a thorough investigation. There are two investigations, criminal and civil, which is us. We are preparing the civil documents for court, to sue them for negligence. It is about accountability, and people who will be held responsible,” Hector indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Genevieve Serra at Cape Argus Other internet posting(s) in this news category
NUM demands 15% wage increase ahead of Eskom wage talks Bloomberg reports that the biggest union at Eskom is demanding a wage increase of as much as 15% ahead of negotiations that are set to begin. The current wage agreement will expire in June 2026. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), representing about 15,000 employees at the state-owned utility, has submitted its demands for negotiation in the central bargaining forum, according to Khangela Baloyi, energy sector coordinator for the trade union. The wage demand is more than four times the rate of inflation, which stood at 3.3% in August. The utility last week reported its first profit in eight years and plans to raise debt after relying on billions of dollars of government bailouts. Previous wage talks proved difficult for the utility, even when it claimed to lack the funding for increases. The upcoming wage talks could stall early over Eskom’s proposal to let unbundled and legally separated entities establish their own union recognition agreements. .Decentralising the bargaining will kill the trade unions, Baloyi indicated, adding that the union wanted all entities to conform to agreements made with Eskom’s holding company. Eskom has been undergoing a years-long process to split into generation, transmission and distribution units. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Paul Burkhardt at Moneyweb
In fixing SA’s ‘catastrophic’ jobs crisis, CDE calls for scrapping of Setas and private-led skills reform BL Premium reports that incentivising technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges to partner with business and scrapping the country’s sector education and training authorities (Setas), are said to be key steps in addressing SA’s “catastrophic” unemployment crisis. This is according to a new report released on Tuesday by the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE), which paints a stark picture of the joblessness crisis and sets out practical recommendations to steer the country onto a more employment-rich path. “The [jobs] situation now can only be described as catastrophic ... a complete failure of government,” said the CDE’s Ann Bernstein. She noted that in 1994, 3.7-million people were unemployed, compared to 12.6-million today. According to Bernstein, about 1,000 South Africans have joined the unemployment queue every single day for the past 17 years and fewer than four in 10 working-age adults are employed. The CDE describing the Setas as a failed and expensive experiment that has done little to improve workforce readiness. “Let’s stop mulling about, they’re not performing their function,” said Bernstein. In their place, the CDE has proposed a skills development system driven by private companies, with TVET colleges incentivised to partner with business. Labour market reforms top the list of CDE’s proposals, aimed at encouraging firms to hire more workers. These include a 12-month probation period without special dismissal protections, ending the extension of collective bargaining agreements to non-parties, lifting restrictions on labour brokers and experimenting with labour market reforms in a special economic zone. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jana Marx at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Government urged to scrap ‘dysfunctional’ Setas, at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Joburg’s water crisis affecting factory owners could lead to 4,000 job losses, DA warns BL Premium reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has warned that up to 4,000 local jobs could be at risk if the ongoing water crisis gripping Johannesburg is not resolved urgently. This as residents of Coronationville, Selby and Marshalltown have been without water for about nine weeks. According to the DA’s Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, factory owners in those areas have also been affected, “which could lead to job losses of close to 4,000 South Africans”. She indicated: “Despite numerous requests to the executive mayor [Dada Morero] to directly intervene, these factory owners have been left on their own, with the city denying them their basic right to water. The DA met factory owners, who are on the verge of closing because of no water, and Johannesburg Water is still unable to clearly diagnose what the problem is with the Hector Norris Pump.” Businessperson Lionel Feldman, whose company is situated in Selby, is among those affected by the water crisis. He indicated: “We employ 17 people, but currently only six are coming to work because of the toilet issue. Our businesses are suffering, we have been without water for three months. Not a drop of water is coming out of our taps, it’s insane.” The DA has since written to Morero and member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for the environment and infrastructure services department Jack Sekwaila to “once again implore them to intervene in the dire situation”. She added: “We will do whatever is necessary to hold the mayor and his executive accountable for the water crisis and the subsequent job losses as a result.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Defamation case brought by Solidary against Minister in the Presidency proceeds unopposed Newsday reports that the defamation case brought by trade union Solidarity against Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Minister in the Presidency, will proceed unopposed. This after Ntshavheni and the second respondent in the case, President Cyril Ramaphosa, failed to file responses within the prescribed deadline. Solidarity launched the defamation case against Ntshavheni and Ramaphosa in September 2025. The case came about after Ntshavheni stated at a media conference that the Cabinet was concerned about continued “misinformation campaigns by Solidarity and AfriForum.” She also said that law enforcement agencies were investigating alleged violations of the law by Solidarity and AfriForum. These statements were made following the Solidarity Movement’s visit to the USA after President Trump issued an executive order regarding South Africa. Solidarity CEO Dirk Hermann said it came as no surprise that the government had not taken the opportunity to present its side of the case. “There is, and never was, any evidence of misinformation spread by Solidarity in the United States,” he indicated. Hermann added that there had not been any violation of laws that could justify an investigation of treason. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Rudolph Muller at Newsday. Lees ook, Solidariteit se lastersaak teen minister gaan onbestrede voort, by Maroela Media
Illegal mining must be combated as a national priority, says PwC BL Premium reports that according to the latest PwC review of the local mining sector, the scourge of illegal mining has escalated to the extent that it ought to be treated as a national priority. The actions of so-called zama zamas are deepening the country’s perceived operating risk, according to the report, which covers the 12 months to end-June. PwC SA Mine project leader Vuyiswa Khutlang said the losses to the industry as a result of smuggling and theft might be much higher than the R60bn estimated by Mineral & Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe earlier this year. “R60bn is in the lower end of the range. Companies are also spending a lot on security, not to mention production losses, lost revenue and the social and environmental impact,” Khutlang said. Mining companies, including Sibanye-Stillwater and Pan African Resources, have called for harsher punishment as record gold prices in recent months have fuelled an increase in gold theft. Andries Rossouw, the report’s author, pointed out that socioeconomic challenges in the country, coupled with soaring gold prices, have contributed to an increase in illegal mining. Mine closures inevitably lead to deep job losses and, without proper security and rehabilitation, abandoned mines have become targets as former employees resort to illegal mining to keep food on the table. PwC said the solution was to improve collaboration between the public and private sector. “The issue now involves billions of rands and requires co-ordinated, cross-border action that addresses economic and social dimensions,” Rossouw argued. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jacob Webster at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Process to appoint Shamila Batohi’s successor at NPA begins, with Ramaphosa naming selection panel Daily Maverick reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has set up the long-awaited panel tasked with finding the person who will fill the top job at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). On Tuesday, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said SA’s new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) would be chosen through “an open and transparent process that reflects the importance of this vital position in our democracy”. Advocate Shamila Batohi, the current head of the NPA, will retire in January 2026. She has brought a measure of stability to the role after the turmoil of the Jacob Zuma years, but the structural damage done to the institution during the State Capture years has been hard to reverse. Batohi was appointed, as required by the Constitution by the President in February 2019, following the first-ever public interviews for the position in November 2018. The NDPP has a non-renewable 10-year term in office with an age limit of 65. According to Magwenya, Ramaphosa has decided to “follow the same open and transparent process” that led to Batohi’s appointment as NDPP. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has been appointed as the panel’s chairperson. The panel comprises leaders of the legal fraternity and Chapter Nine institutions. The panel will be required to hand over its final report with recommendations to Ramaphosa within three months of its appointment. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Victoria O’Regan at Daily Maverick. Lees ook, Ramaphosa wys paneel aan wat NDOV sal kies, by Maroela Media
Almost 60% of posts at government’s IT agency vacant News24 reports that the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) has a 57% staff vacancy rate, according to its 2024/25 report tabled in Parliament last week. Of the 759 approved posts for the year, 435 remained unmanned. “Our delivery capacity was constrained by high vacancy rates [...] and a shortage of critical ICT skills,“ said Gopal Reddy, managing director of SITA, in an overview note in the report. He added that “talent retention remained a challenge” for the agency. SITA functions as the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure for all government departments. But, at a meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies at the end of last year, both Home Affairs and the SA Police Service called the government-run IT service out for inefficiency, procurement delays, and excessive costs. This led to Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, introducing new regulations in May allowing departments to procure IT services outside of SITA. Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, announced in his department’s 2025/26 performance plan that it intended to separate from SITA. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Aurelia Mouton at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Labour Minister places blame for delay in September payments to education and general assistants on education department TimesLIVE reports that Department of Employment & Labour (DEL) Minister Nomakhosazana Meth has called on the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to submit supporting documents in order for delayed payments of stipends for education assistants and general assistants for September to be processed. These documents constitute verified monthly attendance registers of 158,000 assistants employed in 20,000 public schools and funded outside Treasury allocations. The DBE says, however, that the onus lies with the DEL. According to Meth, the payment process was in accordance with a service level agreement (SLA) signed between the DBE and the Industrial Development Corporation of SA (IDC). She said the programme was governed by a multiparty funding agreement, which required strict compliance before the release of funds. Meth indicated further: “Releasing the funds without due process would undermine good governance, expose the UIF and the department to audit findings and irregular expenditure and compromise the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) principles that bind all government entities.” She assured education and general assistants that payments would be processed once the DEL received attendance registers from the DBE. However, DBE Minister Siviwe Gwarube claimed that her department had submitted all required documents. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Innocentia Nkadimeng at BusinessLive. Read too, Basic Education Ministry blamed for the late September stipends for education assistants, at The Star
Farmer ordered to pay R50,000 and apologise after calling NSPCA inspectors ‘baboons’ IOL News reports that an Eastern Cape farmer has been ordered to apologise to two National Council of SPCA (NSPCA) inspectors and pay the animal advocacy group R50,000 after he was found guilty of making a racial slur against the officers. The matter was brought before the Equality Court for the District of Stutterheim against Gregory John Miles. NSPCA spokesperson, Jacques Peacock, said Inspectors Singh and Khumalo went to Miles's farm in March following a complaint about the farmer's sheep farm. "The officers found that the premises was empty and as they were leaving, Miles confronted them. During the exchange, he shouted, 'You f*****g c***s want to stop farmers from exporting live sheep.' He then locked the gates and refused to let the men leave," Peacock said. Singh and Khumalo opened a case of crimen injuria and when they returned to the farm the next day, Miles made racial slurs towards them. According to Peacock, Miles shouted, "A baboon can’t f*****g close a gate because it has a f*****g tail.” He also tried to interfere in the officers' work. Miles, in court, went on to deny the allegations against him or that it was a human rights violation. The related criminal matter, which had been provisionally abated pending the Equality Court’s decision, will now be reinstated. The NSPCA slammed Miles's actions. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Se-Anne Rall at IOL News
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