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.
Saftu calls for a drop in public transport and food prices following drop in fuel price
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SABC News reports that the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has appealed to public transport operators to decrease fares following the drop in the fuel price.
Cosatu says it won’t be raising issue of state wage bill at ANC meeting on Monday
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EWN reports that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said it would not be raising its discontent with the Treasury’s handling of the public service wage bill with the African National Congress (ANC) when the alliance met on Monday afternoon.
Joburg public safety MMC wants JMPD chief investigated for abuse of power and other charges
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The Star reports that Johannesburg MMC for public safety Mally Mokoena wants the city council to approve an investigation into Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) chief David Tembe on allegations of intimidation, abuse of power and nepotism, among other charges.
Ramaphosa makes case in his weekly newsletter for containing public wage bill
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Reuters reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa indicated on Monday that “focused discussions” would be needed between the government and trade unions on ways to slow the rate at which public sector wages were growing.
'You killed my sister,' patients heard as female gynaecologist was beaten to pulp
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TimesLIVE reports that patients of a well-known Durban gynaecologist, who was attacked at a private hospital, feared for their lives as a savage assault played out in the reception area.
No system problems at Compensation Fund, commissioner tells MPs
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BL Premium reports that the computer system of the body that is supposed to compensate workers who get injured at work is not broken and is working properly, although new registration procedures are more demanding, claims its CEO.
Roundup on Monday, 2 March 2020 of weekend labour reports
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In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 28 February 2020.
Tito Mboweni’s fiscal targets in doubt as unions refuse to revisit public sector pay deal
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BL Premium reports that Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s fiscal targets looked in jeopardy as trade unions said on Sunday that they flatly refused to agree to revisit 2020 wage increases.
Eskom cuts power at Optimum Coal and leans towards liquidation of the Gupta-owned mine
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City Press reports that Eskom has cut the power at Gupta-owned Optimum Coal and wants it liquidated. It blames the mine’s business rescue practitioners (BRPs) for failing to bring it back to profitability.
Female doctor attacked at Durban hospital after patient died following surgical procedure
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Sunday Tribune reports that a female doctor was assaulted after a patient she had operated on died shortly after the medical procedure.
Pretoria police detective killed after suspect grabbed his firearm and shot him during arrest
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News24 reports that a detective attached to the Garsfontein SA Police Service (SAPS) in Pretoria was killed by a suspect whom he and two other colleagues were arresting on Saturday morning.
Will Cyril Ramaphosa blink on public sector wage bill after pressure from Cosatu?
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City Press reports that with unions having slammed the state’s intention to renege on a three-year public sector wage agreement reached at the National Bargaining Council, a showdown is set for this week that may force President Cyril Ramaphosa’s hand.
SAA business rescuers practitioners get extra month to come up with turnaround plan
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Bloomberg reports that the South African Airways (SAA) business rescue practitioners (BRPs) have been given an extra month to complete a turnaround plan for the loss-making state airline.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 25 February 2020
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In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 25 February 2020.
Labour department announces that national minimum wage will be R20.76 per hour from 1 March
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The Citizen reports that the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) announced on Monday that the new rate for the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for an hour worked would be R20.76.
Gauteng will spend R60bn in next five years to create jobs, premier promises
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BusinessLive reports that Gauteng premier David Makhura said on Tuesday that billions of rand would be spent by his administration to build infrastructure and create more than 350,000 jobs in the next five years.
Ramaphosa assures Cosatu that government ‘determined’ to deal with declining economy
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EWN reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) that government is determined to deal with the declining economy.
Campaigners launch ‘The Real Jobs Summit’ ahead of Wednesday’s national budget speech
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GroundUp reports that about 150 protesters marched to Parliament on Monday to mark the first day of the two-day Real Jobs Summit, part of the Cry of the Xcluded campaign over unemployment.
Ramaphosa promises that government will not be reckless in implementing NHI
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Independent News reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised that the government will not be reckless when implementing the National Health Insurance (NHI) in the next five years.
SAPS ordered to pay R150k to six humiliated and illegally demoted major-generals
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The Star reports that last month at the Safety and Security Sectoral Bargaining Council (SSSBC), the SA Police Service (SAPS) was found to have “humiliated” six Pretoria major-generals by removing them as cluster commanders of several police stations to become mere “overseers” of individual stations.
Numsa and Sacca demand that SAA business rescue respects workers’ rights
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Engineering News reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) have jointly accused the SAA business rescue practitioners (BRPs) of violating the rights of their members working at the airline.
Action group launched to tackle ‘technological collapse’ of Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund
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Engineering News reports that a council of concerned industry leaders, the Injured Workers Action Group (IWAG), was launched on Monday over concerns about the “technological collapse” of the R60-billion Compensation Fund.
Mining industry stakeholders join hands to improve occupational lung disease compensation system
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Mining Weekly reports that to further improve the administration of the state-owned administered compensation system of occupational lung diseases, the Minerals Council SA (MCSA - previously called the Chamber of Mines) has entered into a three-year partnership with the Medical Bureau for Occupation Disease (MBOD) and the Compensation Commissioner for Occupational Diseases (CCOD).
Harmony Gold confirms fatality at its Kusasalethu mine
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Mining Weekly reports that Harmony Gold Mining on Monday confirmed that an employee had lost his life on Friday evening, following a scraper winch-related incident at the Kusasalethu mine, near Carletonville.
Spar owner must pay R12m to staff for ‘unlawful deductions’ and noncompliance with minimum wage
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BusinessLive reports that a Spar owner has been ordered to pay almost R12m to his staff for making “unlawful” deductions and not complying with national minimum wage laws, amongst other infractions.
PSA board had no powers to suspend us, union’s deputy general manager provincial manager tell court
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Business Report writes that according to court papers filed by the Public Servants Association’s (PSA’s) deputy general manager Tahir Maepa and provincial manager Thami Makuzeni, the board of directors of the trade union had no powers to suspend them.
Massive spike in cash-in-transit attacks as 'cat-and-mouse' game between cops and robbers intensifies
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News24 reports that according to Dr Johan Burger of the Institute for Security Studies, a massive spike in cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies since the beginning of 2020 showed that the cat-and-mouse game between the police and robbers was picking up again.
Bid by cleaning firm to attach Prasa trains on Friday over R22m debt thwarted
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The Star reports that a last-gasp court bid by the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) contesting that it owed R22-million to a service provider staved off the sheriff from attaching the assets of the agency.
Roundup on Monday, 24 February 2020 of weekend labour reports
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In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 21 February 2020.
Mboweni’s plans to pare back public sector pay packet to be revealed in budget this week
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Business Times writes that this week finance minister Tito Mboweni is expected to unveil plans to trim the burgeoning public sector wage bill, which accounts for more than a third of the government's expenditure.