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.
Ramaphosa vows no more poorly-qualified people in key state posts - even if they're politically connected
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News24 reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa wrote in his weekly newsletter on Monday on the topic of "a capable state" that such a state started with the people who worked in it.
City of Cape Town denies having footage’ of law enforcement officer shooting undercover cop dead
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Cape Argus reports that according to Cape Town mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith, the City has no CCTV footage of the actual incident that claimed the life of police undercover officer Thando Sigcu at the Foreshore.
Stranded Cape Town rail commuters fuming at six-month wait for Central line to reopen
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Weekend Argus reports that Cape Town commuters have slammed the six months they have been told by the management of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) to wait before Metrorail reinstates its Central line.
Old Mutual a step closer to seeing off axed CEO Peter Moyo and moving on
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Business Times writes that the marathon litigation between dismissed Old Mutual CEO Peter Moyo and the Old Mutual board headed by former finance minister Trevor Manuel is nearing the finish line.
Durban mom who claims she was fired because she is black, intends bringing R100m claim against Frame Leisure Group
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Sunday Tribune reports that dismissed from her job because she was black, a Durban single mother is now preparing a R10-million damages claim against the Frame Leisure Trading Group for her resulting pain and suffering.
Glencore, Merafe to retrench employees at Rustenburg Smelter joint venture
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Mining Weekly reports that Glencore Alloys and Merafe Resources have started a Section 189A retrenchment process at their joint venture (JV), the Rustenburg Smelter, in the North West.
Roundup on Monday, 20 January 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, 17 January 2020.
Sale of SAA aircraft ‘demonstration of rampant looting’, say Numsa and Sacca
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EWN reports that the National Union for Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the South African Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) have raised suspicion over the sale of aircraft at South African Airways (SAA).
Defence department briefed about Military Ombud’s mandate to investigate sexual abuse cases in SANDF
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News24 reports that the Department of Defence and Military Veterans' ministerial task team has briefed the department about its mandate to investigate cases of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual offences within the SA National Defence Force (SANDF).
Domestic workers fight for national minimum wage through ‘One Wage Campaign’
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GroundUp writes that Pinky Mashilane, founder of United Domestic Workers of SA, points out that domestic workers buy in the same shops and pay the same transport costs, “so we must be treated like all workers and get the same minimum wage."
Government still looking for R2bn to save SAA, but flights remain operational
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Moneyweb reports that government has yet to find the remaining R2 billion needed for the South African Airways (SAA) business rescue plan, but has reaffirmed its commitment to seeing the business process to its successful conclusion.
CWU angered by Telkom’s proposed job cuts
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Reuters reports that the Communication Workers Union (CWU) is angered by Telkom’s plan to cut up to 3,000 workers and on Sunday called for an urgent meeting with the ruling ANC and the minister of communication.
Only two weeks into 2020 and already almost 6,000 jobs are on the line
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Columnist Mamokgethi Molopyane writes that barely a month into 2020, retrenchments, the trimming of workforces and restructuring talks are dominating the news.
Transnet declines to comment on conflicting reports about CEO appointment
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BusinessLive reports that Transnet has declined to comment on the appointment of a new group CEO after conflicting reports at the weekend that Portia Derby, former wife of one-time Transnet CEO Brian Molefe, was in line for the top job.
Bill to reserve jobs for South Africans and to establish integrity commission on IFP's 2020 parliamentary agenda
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News24 reports that passing a private member's bill that will preserve jobs for South Africans and establishing an integrity commission as a Chapter 9 institution are two of the IFP's goals for the 2020 parliamentary year.
Sibanye-Stillwater cuts fewer jobs than expected at its Marikana operations
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BL Premium reports that Sibanye-Stillwater has cut its Marikana workforce by 4,775 jobs, fewer than it flagged when it started the restructuring process late in 2019.
Sixth alleged cop killer 'who forced officer into police van with his dead colleague' arrested
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News24 reports that a sixth suspect wanted for the murder of a constable in Coffee Bay in the Eastern Cape, appeared in the Mqanduli Magistrate's Court on Friday.
Prasa closes Booysens and Knights stations in Gauteng indefinitely after mass vandalism
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GroundUp reports that the Passenger Railway Agency of SA (Prasa) has released footage of two Gauteng train stations that have been closed, with services suspended due to vandalism in December 2019.
Amcu laments deadly start to 2020 for mineworkers
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News24 reports that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) said it was saddened by a "tragic start to 2020" as three mine workers died while on duty last week.
Mboweni says endless demands of SOEs and public sector wage bill are biggest threats to fiscal sustainability
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BL Premium reports that finance minister Tito Mboweni said on Thursday that the "never-ending demands" of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), the public sector wage bill and corruption and general mismanagement were the major threats to SA’s fiscal sustainability.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Thursday, 16 January 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
Thursday, 16 January 2020.
Cash-strapped SAA to sell off nine of its Airbus planes
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Reuters reports that South African Airways (SAA) has put up for sale nine of its Airbus aircraft, according to a tender document seeking proposals from interested buyers, as seen on Thursday.
Unions threaten drastic action at Telkom to fight job cuts
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BL Premium reports that unions representing most of Telkom's workers have threatened drastic action, including calling for the entire board to be declared delinquent and camping outside the ANC's headquarters, in their fight against the fixed-line operator's plan to cut up to a fifth of its staff.
Eskom appoints Prof William Makgoba as interim chairperson
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Fin24 reports that the Department of Public Enterprises announced on Wednesday that Professor Malegapuru William Makgoba had been appointed interim chairperson of Eskom, following the shock resignation of Jabu Mabuza last week.
Solidarity blasts Telkom’s job cut plans as ‘reckless, merciless’, requests moratorium
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TechCentral reports that trade union Solidarity has slammed Telkom over its plan to cut up to 3,000 jobs, or 20% of its 15,000-strong workforce.
Without R2bn from government, SAA flights at risk and salaries could be delayed, union warns
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Reuters reports that a trade union official said on Wednesday that South African Airways (SAA) might have to suspend some flights and delay salary payments if the government cannot not come up with a plan soon to provide the R2 billion it promised the airline last month.
Mbalula admits that Prasa’s a ‘broken entity’, ditches ‘war room’
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Fin24 reports that Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula announced on Wednesday that the "war room" he set up in August 2019 to turn around the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) would be wound down as many of its functions were being transferred to the state-owned entity's administrator.
With funding held up, SAA faces suspension of flights by 19 January
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BL Premium reports that South African Airways (SAA) is again in a perilous situation after the R2bn it was promised by the Treasury to fund the business-rescue process failed to materialise.
Bail for immigration official accused of extorting R100,000 to ensure foreign businessman not deported
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News24 reports that an immigration official was granted R5,000 bail in the Kempton Park Regional Court in Gauteng on Wednesday when he appeared on charges of corruption, extortion and defeating the ends of justice.
Cape Town municipal cop accused of killing undercover constable who was arresting a robbery suspect
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TimesLIVE reports that a Cape Town law enforcement officer fingered in a shooting that left undercover policeman Const Thando Sigcu dead was scheduled to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Thursday on a murder charge.