Today's Labour News

newsThis 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.

Sibanye-Stillwater’s gold operations achieve significant safety milestone

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Sibanye StillwaterMining Weekly reports that Sibanye-Stillwater’s South African gold operations achieved ten-million fatality-free shifts on Sunday.  

PSA, the majority union at the Public Protector’s office, hails motion to remove Busisiwe Mkhwebane

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psaANA reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) said on Monday that it welcomed the approval of a motion to initiate proceedings for the removal of the country's Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane.  

DA wants probe into Health Minister Zweli Mkhize's appointment of his niece as his chief of staff

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daNews24 reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) wants a probe into Health Minister Zweli Mkhize's appointment of his niece as his chief of staff.  

Numsa mourns death of worker at Tau Lekoa gold mine

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numsaANA reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) indicated on Sunday that it was mourning the death of a worker who was killed during a seismic incident that caused a rock fall at Tau Lekoa gold mine in North West province.  

Marikana mineworkers wounded in 2012 fear Sibanye wants to renege on their agreement with Lonmin

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Sibanye StillwaterMail & Guardian reports that a number former Lonmin mineworkers who were shot and injured on 16 August 2012 claim that Sibanye-Stillwater wants to renege on the long-standing agreement they had with Lonmin to continue to pay workers who had been injured and debilitated at Marikana without them needing to work.  

Security guard 'impostor' helps gang of 17, all dressed as guards, to steal 12 Ford vehicles in single haul on Sunday

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gunTimesLIVE reports that a person impersonating a security guard pulled out a gun and set in motion a brazen daylight robbery in which 12 Ford vehicles were stolen in one swoop on Sunday.  

Tshwane metro cop arrested for allegedly demanding R400 bribes for violations of traffic regulations

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handcuffsNews24Wire reports that a Tshwane Metro Police Departmental traffic officer was scheduled to appear in the Pretoria Regional Court on Monday morning on charges related to corruption.  

Municipal Workers Retirement Fund ‘loses’ R60m in banks scam

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newsMail & Guardian reports that R60-million of South Africa’s Municipal Workers Retirement Fund contributions has been “lost” in the collapse of Namibia’s SME Bank, sparking a rift between the fund’s board of trustees.  

Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 27 January 2020

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news shutterstockIn our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Monday, 27 January 2020.

Health department head office a health hazard, so employees work only three hours a day

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southafricalogoThe Citizen reports that the Department of Health has forced employees to only work three hours a day because, ironically, its headquarters are still a health hazard.  

Two top Amcu officials suspended, allegedly in move by Mathunjwa to retain power

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amcu thumb medium80 81Sunday Independent reports that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has suspended its deputy president, Mosibo Joni, and its national organiser, Neo Mankge, as the battle for the soul of the powerful union rages.  

Numsa condemns Autopax for not paying employees their full January salaries

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autopaxlogoTimesLIVE reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) on Monday condemned Autopax for paying workers only half their January salaries.  

Eskom's new CEO warns against hasty unbundling of power utility

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eskomReuters reports that the new Eskom chief executive said on Sunday that a plan to split the loss-making state-owned power utility should not be rushed, because risks associated with the process needed to be assessed and managed properly.  

Just 32 commuter trains left in Cape Town after latest fire on Saturday destroyed carriages, locomotive

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prasaTimesLIVE reports that Cape Town's depleted fleet of trains went from 33 to 32 on Saturday when six carriages and a motor coach went up in flames.  

Roundup on Monday, 27 January 2020 of weekend labour reports

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news shutterstockIn our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 24 January 2020.

Alleged killer of Durban constable arrested while boarding bus to Joburg

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handcuffsNews24 reports that a suspect in the murder of a police constable in Durban last week was arrested when he attempted to board a bus from Pietermaritzburg to Johannesburg.  

Tembisa Hospital still short staffed, with 103 extra posts unfilled because of lack of funds

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healthcareNews24 reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng says that while 103 extra staff posts were approved at Tembisa Hospital a year ago, there are no funds to fill them.  

Moratorium for now on closure of SAA’s overnight base for pilots in Cape Town

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saa thumb medium95 76Fin24 reports that business rescue practitioners have, at least for the moment, put a moratorium on any plans to close the Cape Town pilot base of South African Airways (SAA).  

Absa expects a VAT hike to 16% in next month's national budget

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AbsaFin24 reports that as SA struggles with SOEs on the brink of collapse, below-target revenue collection and reluctance to cut the public sector payroll, Absa believes that government is likely to announce a VAT increase to 16% during the national budget speech next month.  

Numsa vows to defend jobs as Samancor Chrome joins list of companies seeking to retrench

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numsaFin24 reports that, with yet another company invoking section 189 of the Labour Relations Act, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has warned that it would "do everything possible” to fight Samancor Chrome’s plans to cut 595 jobs at its smelting operations.  

Government and Prasa working on a plan, says Autopax about partial salary payments in January

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autopaxlogoFin24 reports that Autopax says government is "working on a plan" following an announcement that staff would only be paid half their salaries for January, but in the meantime management would be in regular contact with staff to "explain the situation”.  

Fisheries department to challenge disciplinary hearing finding clearing high-ranking official of multimillion-rand abalone theft

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southafricalogoNews24 reports that the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) has instructed its legal team to launch an application in the Labour Court to review and set aside the findings of a disciplinary hearing which cleared a high-ranking official accused of being involved in the multimillion-rand theft of abalone.  

Gauteng education MEC suspends Parktown Boys’ principal, teachers to be charged over drowning of pupil

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gautengTimesLIVE reports that Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has suspended Parktown Boys' High School principal Malcolm Williams following the death of grade 8 pupil Enoch Mpianzi while on a school camp.  

SA mining deaths fell in 2019 to record low of 51, but rise in platinum sector fatalities a concern

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implatsheadgear smlBusinessLive reports that SA’s mines deaths fell to a record low of 51 during 2019, marking the success of increased focused on safety in the mineral sector, which has some of the world’s deepest mines.  

SAA has cash to pay January salaries, say business recue practitioners

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saa thumb medium95 76Reuters reports that the business rescue practitioners appointed to try to turn around struggling South African Airways (SAA) said on Friday that the national airline had saved enough cash to pay January salaries.  

ArcelorMittal SA has shed more than 1,000 jobs

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arcelormittalBL Premium reports that while warning of big financial losses in respect of the 2019 financial year, ArcelorMittal SA (Amsa) said on Thursday that it had cut more than 1,000 jobs as part of steps to reduce costs.  

Amcu fails to get extension of retrenchment agreements to non-signatory minority unions declared unconstitutional

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amcu thumb medium80 81BusinessLive reports that the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) has dismissed an application by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) for leave to appeal against a judgment on retrenchments at Royal Bafokeng platinum mine five years ago.  

Aspen Pharmacare joins long list of firms cutting jobs

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AspenBusinessLive reports that pharmaceutical manufacturer Aspen Pharmacare has joined a growing list of SA companies retrenching staff, with plans to shed up to 219 jobs at its Port Elizabeth and East London plants as it seeks to remain globally competitive.  

Afternoon roundup of labour news on Thursday, 23 January 2020

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news shutterstockIn our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Thursday, 23 January 2020.

Alleged bogus doctor arrested in the Eastern Cape, denied bail

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medicaldoctorThe Post reports that a Congolese national doctor was arrested in the Eastern Cape this week for allegedly practising without proper documentation.