Today's Labour News
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.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 2 June 2020
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 2 June 2020.
JSC to finally hear Western Cape judge president John Hlophe’s misconduct case
- Details
BL Premium reports that after a two-year delay, a date for the hearing of the 12-year-old gross misconduct complaint against Western Cape judge president John Hlophe has finally been set.
Fawu calls for private testing at Worcester factory after Covid-19 death
- Details
Cape Times reports that following the death of one of its a members, the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) has calling for the RCL Food Processors plant in Worcester to provide private testing for all its employees suspected to have contracted Covid-19.
SAPS refutes as fake news a social media post claiming June salaries might not be paid
- Details
The Citizen reports that the SA Police Service (SAPS) has dismissed a social media post alleging that June salaries might not be paid to its members.
Teachers union takes DBE to court over 'immature’ reopening of schools next week
- Details
The Citizen reports that the Educators Union of SA (Eusa) says it is going ahead with its court action against the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE’s) intention to reopen schools on 8 June.
Public enterprises department says government has not yet discussed SAA rescue plan
- Details
TimesLIVE reports that the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) confirmed that it has received a draft business rescue plan for SA Airways (SAA), which is in business rescue.
Large quantities of PPE 'disappear' in KZN, costing education department 'millions'
- Details
News24 reports that according to the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) education department, large quantities of personal protective equipment (PPE) have "disappeared" in Umlazi, Pinetown and Zululand.
Covid-19 claims seven lives at Kirkwood psychiatric facility in Eastern Cape
- Details
HeraldLIVE reports that Covid-19 has surfaced at the Life Esidimeni Kirkwood Care Centre in the Eastern Cape, with seven deaths recorded among the 29 patients and six employees infected.
Pam Golding to cut staff as it pursues an organisational shake-up to adapt to new ‘realities’
- Details
BusinessLive reports that real-estate group Pam Golding is cutting head-office staff and reducing branch offices and says the Covid-19 pandemic has underscored a changing market where online activity is becoming increasingly important.
Teacher unions unconvinced schools will be ready to reopen next week
- Details
EWN reports that teacher unions on Monday said they still did not believe schools would be ready to resume teaching and learning under Covid-19 regulations come next Monday.
Five staffers at King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban test positive, but facility won’t be fully shut down
- Details
News24 reports that according to the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) department of health, five staff members at King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban have tested positive for Covid-19.
Gautrain extends operating hours from 1 June, but OR Tambo airport service remains suspended
- Details
Engineering News reports that from 1 June, the Gautrain expanded its operating hours for the train service, in line with the easing of travel restrictions.
Treasury now estimates job losses of between 690,000 and 1.8 million
- Details
Fin24 reports that according to a revised estimate by National Treasury, job losses could be between 690,000 and 1.79 million due to the impact of Covid-19 on the SA economy.
Unions hit at Telkom’s ‘treachery’ for putting job cuts back on table
- Details
Business Report writes that the Federations of Unions of SA (Fedusa) and the Information Communications and Technology Union (ICTU) have called on Telkom to put an immediate end to a renewed retrenchment process.
Draft rescue plan for SAA requires R21bn to settle debts and capitalise a new state-owned airline
- Details
BL Premium reports that a draft business rescue plan for SAA circulated to affected parties at the weekend advises that it will take some R21bn to settle all the obligations of the old SA Airways (SAA) and capitalise a new state-owned airline.
Private pensions may fund recovery after the Covid-19 crisis
- Details
Business Times reports that an ANC document on economic reconstruction proposes the use of private pension savings and direct financial interventions by the Public Investment Corp (PIC) and the Reserve Bank to "fund long-term infrastructure and capital projects" to help revive the economy after the Covid-19 crisis.
UIF wants employers to allow Ters benefits to be paid directly to employees
- Details
Moneyweb reports that the Unemployment Fund (UIF) has advised employers to select having the Covid-19 Ters (temporary employer/employee relief scheme) benefit paid directly into employees’ bank accounts to fast-track these payments.
Former Old Mutual CEO Peter Moyo lost out on multi-million rand payment upon termination of his employment
- Details
Moneyweb reports that Peter Moyo lost out on R68.4 million in share options when his employment at Old Mutual was controversially terminated last year over an irreconcilable conflict of interest.
Angie Motshekga blames provinces for postponement in reopening of schools
- Details
BusinessLive reports that Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Angie Motshekga has shifted the blame to the provinces for the shambles created by her department’s decision to postpone the reopening of schools to next Monday.
President Ramaphosa appoints two deputies in the NPA
- Details
BusinessLive reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed two senior advocates as deputy national directors of public prosecutions at the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Vinpro says 18,000 jobs lost in wine industry
- Details
GroundUp reports that though liquor sales will be allowed from 1 June, the two-month ban on the sale of alcohol, combined with the initial ban on exports, has had a devastating impact on the wine industry.
Aiming to return to full production during level 3, mines work with government to get mineworkers from neighbouring countries back
- Details
Business Report writes that with the national lockdown to ease to level 3 from Monday, the Minerals Council SA (previously called the Chamber of Mines) said on Friday that the mining industry was working with the government to get mineworkers from neighbouring countries back to work.
Nurses at Tygerberg Hospital work in fear of Covid-19 as they provide care to patients
- Details
Mail & Guardian reports that public-sector worker unions claim about 150 staff members at Cape Town’s Tygerberg Hospital have to date tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. Nursing staff from different areas of the hospital have been negatively affected by the Western Cape’s exponentially increasing number of positive cases.
No end to Fawu’s factional fight, with deputy general-secretary suspended immediately after being reinstated by labour court
- Details
Mail & Guardian reports that the tit-for-tat factional battle for control of the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) has taken yet another twist.
Roundup on Monday, 1 June 2020 of weekend labour reports
- Details
In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 29 May 2020.
Prasa not ready for at least another month to restart Metrorail train service, says Mbalula
- Details
Sunday Independent reports that thousands of commuters will have to wait for at least another month to board passenger trains.
Last-minute delay in restarting schools means pupils will only go back on 8 June
- Details
BusinessLive reports that only some 12 hours before pupils were set to return to school after a 10-week closure, Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Angie Motshekga delayed the reopening to 8 June.
Mineral resources minister urges mines to test for Covid-19 without fear of mine closure
- Details
Mining Weekly reports that Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe on Friday urged mines to test for Covid-19 to the full extent without fearing mine closure.
No decision as yet on converting Eskom debt to equity, says Government Employees Pension Fund
- Details
BL Premium reports that the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) has not taken a decision to convert its Eskom bond holdings into shares in the company, principal executive officer Abel Sithole advised on Thursday.
PIC extends suspension of CFO Matshepo More, despite inquiry clearing her
- Details
BusinessLive reports that the board of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) said on Friday that it had decided to extend the suspension of its CFO, even though a disciplinary inquiry found her not guilty.