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.
SAPS received over 530, 000 applications for only 7,000 positions
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Cape Argus reports that the SA Police Service (SAPS) has received more than 530,000 applications for a mere 7,000 vacancies. National police spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo said the process was still unfolding, with the screening and selection for the Basic Police Learning Development Programme for the 2019/20 financial year still underway.
KZN's Dube TradePort looking for interns
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Business Report writes that in a statement on Tuesday, the Dube TradePort said that unemployed graduates had the opportunity to gain work experience through Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone’s (SEZ’s) Internship and In-Service Training Programme, which opened this month.
Global auditor Mazars cautions about bail-out of Eskom via pension fund savings
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Business Report writes that analysts at Mazars, a global audit, accounting and consulting group cautioned on Tuesday that fiscal prudence would be needed in using government employees’ pension savings to bail out Eskom’s R454 billion debt.
SA’s mining industry making strides in health and safety, says Minerals Council
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Mining Weekly reports that the Minerals Council SA (MCSA – previously called the Chamber of Mines) says the SA mining industry is making strides in improving its health and safety performance, but more needed to be done on site, as well as off-site, to keep employees safe.
Public sector unions vow to fight state’s proposals to freeze salary increases this year
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BusinessLive reports that with the government battling to contain its huge wage bill, public sector unions have warned the government that they will fight its attempts to freeze increases this year.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 4 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, 4 February 2020.
Prasa boss responsible for R5.5m in irregular spending fails in labour court bid to get job back
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TimesLIVE reports that a railway finance manager who was fired after approving R5.5m in irregular expenditure on hire cars has failed in a court bid to get his job back.
‘Drunk’ off-duty JMPD cop rolls van, injuring himself and three passengers
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TimesLIVE reports that an off-duty Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer is suspected of having been the influence of alcohol when he rolled a metro van while transporting three people at the weekend.
Cop killed and colleague seriously injured while responding to robbery at Pilgrims Rest tavern
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Independent News reports that Mpumalanga police appealed for help in catching gunmen who shot and killed one of their members and left another officer as well as four other people seriously injured.
Prasa scratching in salvage bins to replace worn brake blocks with used ones, claims DA
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The Citizen reports that in a statement on Tuesday, Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Chris Hunsinger said the party would be writing to the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) and the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) to request that “they make public plans on how the regulator intends to address the lack of replacement brake blocks at its maintenance facilities”.
Business Unity SA welcomes Cosatu’s proposals on Eskom
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Bloomberg reports that SA’s main business lobby group, Business Unity SA (Busa), has welcomed proposals by the nation’s biggest trade union federation to rescue debt-stricken power utility Eskom.
City of Cape Town mum over reports on dismissal of metro police superintendent over sexual assault
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Cape Times reports that the City of Cape Town has remained tight-lipped about reports that a metro police superintendent found guilty of sexual assault has been dismissed.
Nzimande’s move to put Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta) into administration heads to court
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Moneyweb reports that the Labour Court in Johannesburg will on Thursday hear an urgent application to review and set aside a decision by Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande to place the Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta) under administration.
Police hunt for suspects after murder of Port Elizabeth metro traffic official
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Cape Argus reports that the SA Police Service (SAPS) has implemented its '72-hour activation plan' as officers track down the suspects responsible for the killing of a metro traffic official in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday morning.
Woolworths in culture clash over wearing of isiphandla (sacred wristband)
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The Star reports that Woolworths is embroiled in a cultural storm after the retail giant suspended an employee for wearing isiphandla, a traditional animal skin wristband.
Justice minister orders one-day shutdown of all Master’s Offices for probe by SIU into corruption
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BusinessLive reports that justice & correctional services minister Ronald Lamola ordered the closure of the all Master’s Offices around the country for a day on Tuesday to facilitate an investigation underway by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
Irked ordinary shareholders vote overwhelmingly against Rebosis Property Fund’s executive pay policy
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BusinessLive reports that in an unprecedented move in the listed real estate sector, 80% of Rebosis Property Fund’s ordinary shareholders voted against implementing the company’s remuneration policy.
Nzimande places Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta) under administration
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ANA reports that Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande has placed the Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta) under administration.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 3 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
Monday, 3 February 2020.
Eastern Cape premier condemns killing of municipal officials
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The Citizen reports Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane, who is also the African National Congress (ANC) provincial chair, on Monday spoke out against the killing of municipal officials and urged the governing party to deal decisively with corruption.
Numsa and Sacca praise latest R3.5bn SAA bailout, warn of thousands of jobs lost if airline should fold
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Fin24 reports that two of the key unions at South African Airways (SAA) have welcomed that the struggling state-owned airline has secured R3.5bn in funding from the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
Magistrates furious that salaries promised in April still haven’t come through
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City Press reports that magistrates across the country are furious about the fact that they are still waiting for the salary increases they were promised in April last year.
Emalahleni municipality in Mpumalanga dismisses claim of jobs-for-relatives
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City Press reports that the council of the Emalahleni Local Municipality has played down the fact that seven of 20 traffic officer graduates have been found to be related to a former mayor, councillors and regional ANC leaders.
High liability claims 'driving SA's obstetricians' out of the profession in SA
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Business Times reports that according to an organisation representing obstetrician-gynaecologists (ob-gyns), skyrocketing liability claims were among the factors behind an exodus from SA.
First tranche of 500 learner law enforcement officers appointed to fight crime in violence Cape Town hotspots
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ANA reports that on Friday the Western Cape government and the City of Cape Town took the first crucial steps in implementing the Western Cape safety plan when the first 500 learner law enforcement officers (LLEOs) signed their employment contracts with the city.
Killing of nine zama zamas spreads fear in West Rand township
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SowetanLive reports that fear and panic has gripped the community of Matholeville near Roodepoort after nine zama zamas (illegal miners) were killed in a deadly attack in the West Rand township in an alleged turf war over control of disused mine shafts.
Durban man with knife in stomach shoots paramedics with paintball gun using solid ammunition
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Daily News reports that two ER24 paramedics were forced to duck for cover and flee behind their ambulance on Thursday when a patient, who had had a knife stuck in his stomach, turned on them and began firing solid ammunition rounds at them with a paintball gun.
Using pension fund money to boost Eskom is our red line, says trade union Solidarity
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ANA reports that trade union Solidarity said on Friday that its mandate was to protect pension money and it would "strongly oppose" any attempts to finance state owned enterprises (SOEs) with the funds. This could include court action.
Roundup on Monday, 3 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, 31 January 2020.
In the addressing of public sector wage bill, Cosatu wants audit of public service to determine where shortages and surpluses exist
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Financial Mail reports that labour federation Cosatu has proposed that, as part of attempts to address the public sector wage bill, the government conduct an audit of the public service, to determine where shortages and surpluses exist.