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 Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
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Mass retrenchments averted as Eskom extends last-minute lifeline to smelters News24 Business reports that Eskom has signed an agreement with Samancor Chrome and the Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture that has effectively halted mass retrenchments at ferrochrome smelters that would have commenced as early as this week. SA’s ferrochrome sector and the broader smelting industry have been steadily shrinking as power prices have ballooned 900% in recent years. According to the Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, this resulted in the closure of 14 smelters and some 350,000 job losses. Industry warned this year that virtually all remaining smelters would soon close, affecting 300 000 jobs, should the government fail to intervene. Samancor warned employees it would have to take drastic action soon, while the Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture has already initiated a retrenchment process. The agreement, which was announced by Eskom on Monday, was reached after urgent talks between the smelter owners and Ramokgopa. It sets in motion a three-month process to design a sustainable electricity pricing solution aimed at stabilising SA’s embattled ferrochrome sector. The agreement establishes a joint multi-stakeholder task team which “will prioritise developing an intervention that supports industrial competitiveness while ensuring that electricity pricing solutions do not impose additional burdens on other customers.” Meanwhile, the application for interim power tariff adjustments for the smelters, if approved by the the National Energy Regulator of SA, will effectively suspend any retrenchment processes and will see some 40% of idled ferrochrome smelting capacity brought back online. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisa Steyn at News24 Business (subscription / trial registration required). Read too, Eskom throws ferrochrome producers a lifeline, at BusinessDay Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Armed robbery at Caluza Clinic in KZN raises employee safety concerns The Star reports that following an armed robbery that occurred on 29 November 2025, the Public Servants Association (PSA) expressed great concern about the safety of employees at the Caluza Clinic in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Two men pretending to be ill robbed the security personnel at gunpoint as soon as they were given permission to enter the building. The robbers shot one of the security guards for refusing to give up his cell phone before running away. The victim was taken to the hospital. Patients and staff are said to be traumatised and afraid for their lives as a result of this incident. ''The PSA has repeatedly raised concerns about deteriorating safety conditions at public health clinics and hospitals, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, where such incidents have occurred at various facilities during 2025. Health workers have become soft targets in their place of work and face hijackings, robberies, rape, and threats of violence,'' the trade union lamented. It added that critical care was being jeopardised and essential services were being interrupted. The PSA called on the KZN Department of Health to put in place more stringent security measures to safeguard workers, particularly on weekends, and to offer counseling to those who were impacted. In order to stop similar incidents in the future, the PSA also called on the police to conduct routine surveillance at public health facilities. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at The Star
Police identify three ‘persons of interest’ in Madlanga witness Marius van der Merwe’s murder News24 reports that according to national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola, three persons of interest have been identified in relation to the murder of Madlanga Commission secret witness Marius van der Merwe, who was gunned down outside his home in Brakpan on Friday. One of the persons has been taken in for questioning. Van der Merwe was killed less than three weeks after his testimony laid bare a murder cover-up plot which implicated suspended Ekurhuleni police chief Julius Mkhwanazi. The 41-year-old father was shot dead by two men who had lain in wait on a barely lit Gauld Street in Brakpan, concealed in roadside bushes. Two men struck when the car stopped. Two shots were fired, both striking Van der Merwe. His wife, who had been in the car, was unharmed. While investigators continue their probe, the motive for the killing remains unclear. Masemola indicated: “We can’t directly link to the work of the Madlanga Commission. There are other areas [of investigation]; it’s just one of them. There are other areas with potential motives.” Another potential motive that police are investigation is that Van Der Merwe apparently intended to return to the commission to expose government connections to the illegal mining industry. The murder has raised fresh concerns about the safety of witnesses testifying before the commission, which Masemola said has prompted a review of security arrangements for those involved. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thato Gololo at News24 (subscription / trial registration required). Read too, Abandoned bakkie linked to Van der Merwe murder found in Alexandra, at Brakpan Herald Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Losi says ‘unity can never be abandoned’ and that Cosatu needs ANC, SACP to face painful challenges News24 reports that according to Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Zingiswa Losi, the unity of the tripartite alliance is sacrosanct and unity among the ANC, Cosatu and SA Communist Party (SACP) can never be abandoned. She declared the trade union federation’s “love for the ANC and the SACP” at its 40th anniversary rally at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Saturday. “Our struggle over these past 40 years has been a journey where we stood shoulder by shoulder with our alliance partners, the ANC, the SACP and SANCO (SA National Civics Organisation). Together we defeated the apartheid regime and built this proud democracy. We love the ANC of Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo. We love the SACP of Joe Slovo and Chris Hani. We need them as we face painful socio-economic challenges, as some at home and abroad seek to undermine our hard-won democracy and transformation path,” Losi told members. According to Losi, Cosatu’s central committee in September was unambiguous that the alliance was sacrosanct. She went on to say: “Our unity can never be abandoned. It is critical that the issues that distract us be resolved and the alliance is united. We are heading towards our most difficult local elections in a year. Victory for the masses of our people, requires an alliance that is coherent and united.” During his address, ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa said the party was “determined to strengthen the relationship between the workers of our country and the ANC”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jason Felix at News24 (subscription / trial registration required) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Five suspects linked to illegal recruitment for Russian military granted bail SABC News reports that a SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) freelance radio presenter Nonkululeko Mantula and four other accused have been granted bail by the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on charges related to the alleged recruitment of people for the Russian military. They face charges under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act. The five had been in custody since their arrests two weekends ago at OR Tambo International Airport while en route to Russia. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine almost four years ago. Mantula, who is accused number 1, was granted bail of R30,000, while accused number 2, Xolani Ntuli, was granted bail of R15,000 . The other three accused were given R5,000 bail each. The state alleges that Mantula was the main planner of the illegal recruitment. The magistrate instructed that the passports of all the accused remain with the police and prohibited them from applying for new travel documents. The court also ordered that they not leave SA, with Mantula required to notify the investigating officer of any domestic travel 48 hours in advance. The case was postponed to 10 February 2026 for further investigations. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Refilwe Mekoa at SABC News. Read too, Russia recruitment case: Radio presenter granted R30,000 bail, but blocked from leaving SA, at The Citizen. En ook, Borgtog vir vyf oor Russiese militêre werwing, by Maroela Media
Joburg has 4,000 insourced guards but spends R16m a month on private security Daily Maverick reports that the City of Johannesburg spends more than R16-million every month on outsourced private security, even though it has more than 4,000 insourced guards available. The outsourced costs include more than R1-million just to guard the condemned Metro Centre. Yet despite this huge expenditure, break-ins at city facilities have cost the City more than R182-million over the past five years, according to written responses to questions submitted by DA councillor Shakes Chabalala. The Metro Centre was evacuated after structural and fire safety failures rendered it uninhabitable. But despite being empty and guarded at huge cost, syndicates continue to gain access to the basement archives, removing building plans and property records – documents now reportedly being sold on the black market to desperate developers and residents unable to obtain them legally. Chabalala asked: “We have our own internal guards – 1,028 officers actually deployed – and a total of more than 4,000 insourced security personnel on the payroll. Why are we paying private contractors when we already have our own people?” For Chabalala, this represents a double cost: “Taxpayers fund permanent staff, and then pay again for private contractors doing the same work.” There are suspicions that politically connected contractors are benefiting from this arrangement. Despite numerous requests over the past month, the City of Joburg and its public safety department have repeatedly declined to respond to questions from Daily Maverick. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Anna Cox at Daily Maverick
Cosatu advocates that foreign health funding must build clinics, not pay salaries EWN reports that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is advocating for foreign donor funding in healthcare to be utilised for infrastructure development rather than paying the salaries of health workers. According to the trade union federation’s parliamentary coordinator Matthew Parks, while funding will eventually cease, developing infrastructure such as clinics will provide a lasting benefit long after the years of donor support have ended. Parks made Cosatu's submission during public hearings into the Special Appropriation Bill. The Bill aims to allocate R754 million to address a funding shortfall in the Department of Health brought about by the withdrawal of US donor funds previously earmarked for HIV/AIDS programs. "If we receive any (funding) in the future, we welcome it, but we recommend in the future if we receive such aid, whoever it's from, let it go towards funding infrastructure like a clinic, like a hospital or ambulances so that when the funding comes to an end, because ultimately it will come to an end, we shouldn't use it for salaries." Parks argued. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Babalo Ndenze at EWN
Nehawu leads protest outside ANC NGC over unpaid wages of Luthuli House staff Sunday World reports that employees from the ANC’s head office, Luthuli House, staged a picket outside the party’s 5th National General Council (NGC) at Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre on Monday, demanding that their salaries and benefits be paid. The picketing was led by the ANC’s alliance partner, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu). The employees stood at the main gate with placards pointing out their daily struggles, highlighting that school fees must be paid and that third-party payments such as medical aid had fallen behind. This latest protest took place with the ANC facing ongoing financial troubles. For the fourth time in one year ANC head office employees have gone unpaid, raising questions about how the NGC itself was being funded. Nehawu’s Dan Semenya explained that the union was picketing because of delayed salaries and unpaid provident fund and medical aid contributions. “We really don’t want this matter of salaries to be limited to November because it has been a recurring issue,” he indicated. Semenya added that while payments had been promised, and some members had received part of what was due to them, a lot of members had still not been paid. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Boitumelo Kgobotlo at Sunday World. Read too, ANC workers protest at NGC over unpaid salaries, at IOL News. And also, ‘Stop showing off your wealth,’ Ramaphosa tells ANC while party staff picket over pay outside, at Daily Maverick Other internet posting(s) in this news category
What South Africa's top-paid CEOs earned in 2025-2026 IOL Business reports that some of SA’s top CEOs earned very significant pay packages in 2025, reflecting a combination of salaries, bonuses, long-term incentives, and, in some cases, exit deals. Across sectors from banking and telecoms to mining and retail, these packages were tied to company performance, and shareholder returns. They also reflected the responsibilities of managing some of the country’s largest and most complex businesses. Mike Henry from BHP Billiton topped the list of the highest paid CEOs in SA for 2025–2026, having earned over R258 million. The global mining giant posted solid results across multiple commodities and regions, reflecting both operational scale and market conditions. His compensation included long-term and share-based incentives, highlighting how mining-sector executive pay scales with global scope, corporate size, and shareholder returns. Capitec Bank’s Gerrie Fourie earned around R104 million, including short- and long-term incentives, in his final year as Capitec’s CEO. Vodacom CEO Shameel Joosub took home about R71.1 million recently, including salary, bonuses, long-term incentives, and perks. Investec CEO Fani Titi earned roughly R166.7 million, boosted by long-term and performance-linked incentives. Woolworths CEO Roy Bagattini earned roughly R79.9 million. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicola Mawson at IOL Business Following shareholder concerns and looming Teck takeover vote, Anglo withdraws resolution on executive incentives Bloomberg reports that Anglo American Plc withdrew a resolution on executive incentives, the day before shareholders are due to vote on 9 December 2025 on its takeover of Teck Resources. Anglo’s remuneration committee last month proposed that long-term incentive awards for 2024 and 2025 — tied to shareholder returns, cashflow, return on capital and environmental, social and governance measures — should also be linked to the Teck deal. Under the proposal, a minimum of 62.5% of the awards would have vested on completion of the takeover. That resolution was withdrawn after concerns were raised by shareholders, Anglo said on Monday, adding that the deal was not conditional on approval of that resolution. Investors of both Anglo and Teck are scheduled to vote on the combination — creating a $50 billion producer of copper, iron ore, and other metals across multiple continents — at special meetings in London and Vancouver set for Tuesday. When Institutional Shareholder Services last month recommended that investors should vote in favour of the deal, it added that it did not support the proposed changes to Anglo’s long-term incentive plan tied to the success of the transaction. “Transaction-related remuneration is not considered good market practice in the UK,” the shareholder advisory firm said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dylan Griffiths at Moneyweb. Read too, Anglo’s humbling governance moment, at BusinessDay Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Northern Cape teacher loses bid to return to work after having resigned over ‘intolerable’ working conditions The Citizen reports that a Northern Cape teacher who resigned from her job, alleging hostile working conditions, has failed in her attempt to return to work after the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) ruled that her resignation had been voluntary. Petronella Johnson resigned from her post at Deben Primary School in Kathu on 23 January 2023. She later approached the ELRC, seeking to have her departure declared as an unfair dismissal and requesting 12 months’ compensation. Johnson told the ELRC that although she got along with most colleagues and pupils, three staff members, namely deputy principal Jennifer Louw, a Mr Locky and a Ms Wagenaar, made her working environment “intolerable”. She claimed Mr Locky twice locked her inside the school premises after hours, forcing her to seek help on one occasion and to break the lock on another. She reported the incidents to the school’s principal, Aobakwe Sebolai, who raised the matter at a staff meeting, but no action was taken. She claimed she would not have left if those and other incidents had not occurred. Sebolai, however, testified that Johnson had never submitted any formal or informal grievance prior to her resignation. ELRC arbitrator Selolong Mosoma noted Johnson carried the responsibility of proving that she had been constructively dismissed. He found no proof that Johnson had been targeted or punished unfairly and said there was no evidence of singling her out or punishment. Mosoma also highlighted that Johnson resigned without first lodging a grievance and failed to explain why she did not pursue internal remedies. The council ruled that Johnson “resigned out of her own volition” and dismissed her claim. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Molefe Seeletsa at The Citizen
Special Tribunal orders disciplinary action against 16 KZN education officials implicated in R2.5m toilet contract scandal News24 reports that the axe could fall on 16 KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) education officials caught red-handed in a R2.5-million mobile toilet scam after a web of collusion and price-fixing was revealed. On Monday, the Special Tribunal ordered KZN Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka to immediately launch disciplinary proceedings against officials who orchestrated what the court described as “a fraudulent scheme to procure goods and services without necessary authorisation”. The court exposed how contractor Hawulethu was “unjustifiably enriched” through a staggering 100% markup on chemical toilets for schools, while charging for services never rendered during school holidays. “The officials were aware or should have been aware of the code of conduct, procedures and other regulations ... Their negligence has accordingly resulted in irregular expenditure,” the tribunal pointed out. Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi reacted: “We note the statement by the SIU; we will have a look at it and then ventilate accordingly in terms of what to do next in that regard.” The tribunal ordered Hawulethu to repay all profits with interest and provide audited accounts within 30 days, while facing the legal costs of the entire case. Teachers’ union Naptosa commented: “Every rand lost to corruption is a rand stolen from learners, educators, and communities who rely on a functional public education system. This judgment sends a clear message that no one is above the law.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Anelisa Kubheka at News24 (subscription / trial registration required). Read too, Special Tribunal hammers KZN education officials for corrupt contract, at GroundUp Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Diepsloot youth gain critical digital training as new skills hub opens, at ITWeb
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