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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Public Protector finds Lesufi’s crime prevention wardens irregular and unlawful News24 reports that the Public Protector (PP) has found that establishing and deploying the controversial Gauteng crime prevention wardens (CPWs) to conduct policing was irregular, unlawful, and inconsistent with the Constitution. Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, released her report on Wednesday, just hours after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi disbanded the “Amapanyaza” without providing reasons. Gcaleka’s investigation found that the Gauteng Department of Community Safety’s conduct in establishing, recruiting, appointing, and deploying wardens without a supporting legal framework was unlawful and in breach of the Constitution. The report follows a complaint filed on 23 September 2023 alleging that Lesufi was acting outside the law and that maladministration occurred in the establishment and deployment of the CPWs. The PPP recommended that Lesufi, who championed the wardens, must, within 180 days, ensure CPWs operated as traffic wardens under the National Road Traffic Act, in line with an agreement involving the justice and police ministers. During Lesufi’s press conference on Wednesday, he said the wardens would be absorbed into the province’s established policing and security structure. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Noxolo Sibiya at News24 (subscription / trial registration required). Read too, ‘We have swallowed our pride’: Lesufi says Amapanyaza will be pulled off the streets, at The Citizen
Motorbike fatalities spike amid rising ecommerce demand EWN reports that according to DSC Attorneys, between 2023 and 2024, fatalities from motorbike accidents increased from 1.9% to 3.2% of all reported road accident deaths. This is said to be the tragic consequence of the rising use of services like Uber Eats, Mr D, and Checkers Sixty60. Legal expert and Director at DSC Attorneys, Chris Smit, said the increase equated to roughly seven incidents per day – just from delivery drivers. He pointed out that in addition to the loss of life, his put a huge burden on the Road Accident Fund. “The Road Accident Fund is already burdened as it is, with the increase in the number of accidents the claims are also going to increase, and I don't think as it stands that they have the capacity to deal with this,” Smit opined. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Keely Goodall and listen to an interview with Smit at EWN
Sibanye-Stillwater highlights its gold and platinum community upliftment Mining Weekly reports that gold and platinum producer Sibanye-Stillwater on Wednesday highlighted its expansive array of community development projects that are contributing to near-mine communities. In online gold and platinum booklets, the mining company outlined a multiplicity of wide-ranging shared value initiatives in education, agriculture, skills development, health, wellness, social infrastructure, refurbishment and even supplying schools with essential educational tools such as WiFi. “We remain committed to continuing the journey towards ensuring long-term, sustainable benefits for the communities around our operations. We believe the true value of mining extends beyond the resources we extract. It lies in ensuring that the positive impact we have on communities endures long after the life of our mines,“ Sibanye-Stillwater’s Thabisile Phumo indicated on Wednesday. The Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act requires holders of mining or production rights to contribute towards the socioeconomic development of the areas in which they operate as well as the areas from which the majority of the workforce is sourced. Social and labour plans (SLP) are a regulatory requirement for socioeconomic development and transformation in SA and are delivered following implementation plans agreed in the specific SLPs of each mining right. In gold, Sibanye-Stillwater has eight SLPs in place, while in platinum it has nine SLPs. The Mineworkers Development Agency is its partner in the development of the Marikana Agri-hub, which is scaling up beyond the 16 ha of land it occupies. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly
Consumer inflation rose marginally in September to 3.4%, but food price increases eased IOL Business reports that in an environment of cooling food price increases, headline consumer inflation still ticked up in September. CPI inflation rose by 0.2% month-on-month in September, bringing the year-on-year reading to 3.4% against 3.3% in August. In a welcome trend, food price inflation, a major component of the CPI basket, eased notably to 4.4% year-on-year from 5.2% previously. Within the basket, meat prices rose modestly, constrained by foot-and-mouth disease, while cereal products remained steady at 1.6% year-on-year. Fuel prices had little effect, with only a 4 cent per litre drop in September and a similarly negligible change in early October. Core inflation, which strips out food, fuel, and energy costs, nudged up to 3.2% from 3.1% in August. Koketso Mano, FNB senior economist, said headline inflation could lift to 3.8% year-on-year in October. “This will reflect the hike in average fuel prices, which will push the year-on-year number out of deflationary territory,” she indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicola Mawson at IOL Business. Read too, Annual CPI picks up moderately in September as meat and maize prices remain elevated, at Daily Maverick Consumer inflation increase means hope for another repo rate cut in November is fading The Citizen reports that consumer inflation increased again in September to 3.4% from 3.3% in August, with economists reckoning that this makes another repo rate cut in November unlikely. Jee-A van der Linde, senior economist at Oxford Economics Africa, commented that the uptick in headline inflation aligned with their overall outlook for SA, with inflation forecast to average around 3.3% this year. “Although the upward trend is expected to intensify modestly in the fourth quarter of 2025, headline inflation is projected to peak at just over 4% in mid-2026. The overall inflation outlook remains benign, supported by a stronger rand exchange rate and favourable international oil prices”, he indicated. But, Jee-A van der Linde went on to opine: “Even so, we believe monetary authorities will extend a rate-cutting pause until 2027.” Sanisha Packirisamy, chief economist at Momentum Investments, indicated: “We expect the Sarb to keep the repo rate unchanged at 7% in November, with softer quarterly inflation outcomes slightly increasing the odds of a 25-basis-point cut.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ina Opperman at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Court overturns North West municipal manager appointment over falsified competency tests IOL News reports on the case in which the Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality in Ganyesa was hauled to the North West High Court for attempting to hire a municipal manager based on allegedly doctored competency test results. Unsuccessful candidate Tshepo Bloom approached the court after the municipality appointed Eric Gaborone in November 2023. According to Bloom, the competency assessments conducted by Gijima Holdings misrepresented the outcome of Gaborone’s true assessment. He claimed that the selection panel presented an altered or falsified outcome and misled the council. On that basis, Bloom sought to have Gaborone’s appointment set aside as unlawful, unreasonable, and procedurally unfair. In response, Gaborone said the legal action was based on inadmissible hearsay, opinion, and speculation. He characterised the evidence as “imaginary” documents that were never properly placed before the court. On Friday, Acting Judge Charlotte Oosthuizen-Senekal ruled that the decision of the council to appoint Gaborone “was taken on the basis of information that was either falsified or, at the very least, not the authentic record of the competency assessments conducted by Gijima." She said the recruitment process had been tainted by the presentation of reports that appeared to have been altered or misrepresented, and by the failure of the council to interrogate the authenticity of the material before it. The judge set aside the decision by the council to appoint Gaborone as the municipal manager. 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
Skills exodus imperils air traffic control in SA BusinessLive reports that Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) is struggling to fill critical positions, particularly air traffic controllers (ATCs). The outflow of experienced personnel outpacing the capacity of the entity’s training pipeline was “regrettably almost compromising service delivery,” the company has said in a frank admission. ATCs are the backbone of air safety worldwide, playing an indispensable role in preventing collisions by managing the flow of aircraft on the ground and in the air. During the 2024/25 reporting period, 86 employees left ATNS, with more than half of these from its air traffic services division. In its 2025 annual report, the state-owned ATNS said the exodus of skilled people from its ranks was worsened by international peers poaching its staff. In response, ATNS, which has the sole responsibility of ensuring air safety in SA, has launched a project to lure back lost skills in a process that might see it review its pay. “International providers offer remuneration and other incentives that ATNS cannot match. Following recommendations from the Ministerial Intervention Team, ATNS launched an accelerated recruitment drive for vital roles, including air traffic service personnel, flight procedure designers, and engineers,” ATNS advised. This drive also involves encouraging previous ATNS employees to return to SA to bridge the current expertise gap within an 18-month to three-year timeframe. The company has also revised its recruitment policy to allow for headhunting and has implemented open-ended advertising for top roles. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kabelo Khumalo at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Solidarity report shows Gauteng schools face financial disaster after drastic cuts Trade union Solidarity indicated on Wednesday that new report released by the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI) has revealed deeply worrying findings about funding and staffing for Gauteng schools for 2026. The report shows that the allocation per learner for quintile 5 schools has dropped from around R900 to R315, namely a decrease of 65% which is estimated to affect more than 750 schools. According to the report, notice of this cut in subsidy was only issued by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) after the budget deadline of 30 September 2025, which has seriously disrupted planning and budgeting processes at schools. According to Johnell Prinsloo, education researcher at the SRI, the report was based on data from a survey by the Solidarity Support Centre for Schools (SCS). The report shows that 67% of schools have received a weaker allocation for 2026, even as approximately 80% are struggling to pay for basic services such as water and electricity. Several schools report that their funds are only enough to cover their expenses for a few more months. According to Prinsloo, many schools have lost between one and eight jobs, resulting in larger classes and pressure on timetables. “In some cases, the learner-teacher ratios have risen above 1:40. This places a tremendous burden on teachers and has a clear negative impact on the quality of learning,” she warned. There is also widespread confusion and frustration about the late and inadequate communication from the GDE. According to Prinsloo, the report’s findings indicate an urgent need to rethink funding, communication, and collaboration between schools and authorities. Read Solidarity’s press statement and listen to an interview with Prinsloo at Solidarity News. Read too, Disaster for ‘rich’ public schools in Gauteng, at BusinessTech
Sakeliga launches fresh court salvo against health minister’s NHI Act legal strategy BusinessLive reports that business lobby group Sakeliga has pushed back against Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s attempt to pause the constitutional challenges to the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act with a new, two-pronged legal attack of its own. The controversial NHI Act, signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in May 2024, aims to establish universal health coverage in which a central NHI fund will purchase services for all eligible patients. The NHI Act faces eight separate legal challenges from organisations representing doctors, medical schemes, private hospitals, trade union Solidarity, Sakeliga and the Western Cape government. In August the minister asked the High Court to consolidate all the cases that had by that stage been launched and suspend all challenges to the constitutional validity of the legislation until the legal attacks on the President’s decision to sign the Act had been resolved. Sakeliga has now filed papers opposing the Minister’s stay application, along with a conditional counter-application asking the court to interdict the state from implementing NHI if the Minister succeeds in pausing the constitutional challenges to the Act. If the minister’s stay application were to be successful, it would suspend judicial scrutiny of the NHI Act while the controversial policy was implemented, said Sakeliga. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at Business Day (subscriber access only)
Eviction from staff accommodation halted, after HR employee claims her ex-lover had her sacked News24 reports that an HR manager at a fishing company, dismissed after a love tryst with her boss floundered, is off the hook for now after the Western Cape High Court denied an attempt to evict her from staff accommodation. Former Pioneer Fishing employee Lauren Masimla is appealing the lawfulness of her dismissal. This followed the ending of her romantic relationship with the company’s COO, Pieter Greeff, which according to Masimla was the reason she was let go. Pioneer Fishing litigated to have Masimla evicted from company-provided accommodation in St Helena Bay, ahead of a legal bid in the Labour Court over whether or not her dismissal was legal. Masimla’s lease agreement stated that her right to live in the house was tied to her employment. Masimla was dismissed in June 2023. Four months later, she was given notice to vacate the house. Eviction proceedings were tabled in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court in March 2024, which ruled that the eviction process should not proceed until the dismissal dispute had been settled in the Labour Court. In the High Court, Acting Judge Roy Barendse indicated that he would make no presumptions around the reasons, lawfulness and fairness of Masimla’s dismissal. He did, however, dismiss Pioneer Fishing’s appeal against the lower court’s ruling. Barendse pointed out that that forcing Masimla to leave before the Labour Court made a decision would be unfair, especially if she won her case. The eviction matter will only be placed on the roll again after the judgment in the Labour Court matter has been received.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicole McCain at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
Lesufi served legal papers to reverse suspension of Gauteng health boss EWN reports that according to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, he has been served legal papers to reverse the suspension of the Gauteng Department of Health’s Head of Department (HOD) Lesiba Malotana. Lesufi suspended Malotana last Friday, after he failed a lifestyle audit that was conducted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). A comprehensive forensic investigation has now been launched into Malotana’s lifestyle. Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday, Lesufi indicated: “I received legal papers from people representing the HOD of the department, requesting me in 48 hours to withdraw the suspension of the HOD and I told them to jump to the nearest lake. Forty-eight hours have passed, and I have not seen their papers.” Lesufi reiterated that the decision to place Malotana on precautionary suspension had been the correct course of action. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Thabiso Goba at EWN
Cops vs cops saga sees JMPD arresting seven SAPS officers for kidnapping and extortion The Citizen reports that tension between two Gauteng law enforcement agencies has seen the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) and the SA Police Service (Saps) arresting each other’s members. The most recent arrests were executed by the JMPD tactical reaction unit, which arrested seven SAPS officers on charges of extortion and kidnapping. Public safety MMC Mgcini Tshwaku said the arrests followed an incident involving an illegal miner (zama zama) found in possession of material used to refine gold. “The incident unfolded when the SAPS officers allegedly demanded R5,000 from the zama zama, later escalating their demand to R30,000. The police officers are said to have transported the individual to a loaning facility to secure the payment. While awaiting the funds, the JMPD unit intervened, apprehending the officers on the scene,” Tshwaku indicated on Wednesday. The arrested officers are being detained at the Booysens police station. Last week, SAPS officers arrested JMPD officers conducting a vehicle recovery operation in Bekkersdal on the West Rand. The incident occurred on Friday when JMPD’s reaction and vehicle recovery units were acting on intelligence about a suspected stolen vehicle linked to a notorious illegal mining syndicate kingpin. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lesego Seokwang & Sipho Mabena at The Citizen SIU to conduct lifestyle audits on more than 800 top cops BusinessLive reports that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is close to signing an agreement with the SA Police Service (SAPS) to conduct lifestyle audits on more than 800 top cops, after damning allegations of senior officials on the payroll of criminal cartels emerged before the Madlanga commission of inquiry tasked with investigating allegations of corruption and political interference in the criminal justice system. The SIU confirmed that the discussions about a formal agreement with the SAPS were at an “advanced stage”, with the scope of the audit reduced to items flagged during an internal e-disclosure and lifestyle review conducted internally by the SAPS. Lifestyle audits were the process of assessing if someone is living within or beyond his or her means when income and assets are combined over a period, SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago explained. The SIU will start with about 840 members of senior management, ranking from brigadier upward, with national police commissioner Fannie Masemola first. Once this group had been concluded, the SIU will target specific environments such as the central firearm registry, supply chain management, finance and ports of entry. The SIU has been used by other state entities to conduct lifestyle audits on its employees including the Housing Development Agency, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, the Department of Public Works & Infrastructure and the Gauteng Office of the Premier. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Natasha Marrian at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
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