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.
Unions froth over government plan for wage freeze, threaten protests
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The Citizen reports that Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu may be facing the first major battle in his new deployment to the national Cabinet as public sector unions intend to fight his plan to freeze civil servants’ wages.
Cosatu doesn’t believe Eskom power cuts are ‘manageable’
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BL Premium reports that trade union federation Cosatu does not believe that the rolling electricity blackouts that have hit the country are manageable and has called the situation a crisis.
Talks between KZN health department and unions over impasse at Durban mortuary to resume
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EWN reports that talks were set to resume on Wednesday morning between the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Health, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) and the Public and Allied Workers Union of SA (Pawusa) over the impasse at Durban’s Gale Street mortuary.
Getting unions on mining company boards is the best way to revive SA economy, says Solidarity’s Gideon du Plessis
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Gideon du Plessis, general secretary at trade union Solidarity, writes that at last year’s Mining Charter III negotiations, trade unions campaigned for employee representation on company boards.
Acting CFO at Mooi River municipality on special leave after allegedly attempting to bribe Auditor-General staffer
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The Mercury reports that the acting chief financial officer (CFO) of the Mooi Mpofana Municipality in Mooi River has been placed on special leave following an allegation that she had tried to bribe a staff member from the Office of the Auditor-General (A-G).
Funeral cover fraud a huge challenge for life insurers, with buying and renting of dead bodies a popular practice
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BusinessLive reports that rampant fraud remains a challenge for SA life insurers, which detected 3,708 fraudulent and dishonest claims to the value of R1.06bn in 2018.
New Chief of the Army Lieutenant General Thabiso Mokhosi dies after one month in job
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News24 reports that Lieutenant General Thabiso Mokhosi, Chief of the South African Army, died on Tuesday in a Pretoria hospital following a short illness.
Manpower survey shows weakest hiring intentions in five years
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Business Report writes that the latest survey by the Manpower Group of hiring intentions for the first quarter of 2020 does not provide any relief for job seekers. It shows employers looking to add to their staff to be at their weakest level in five years.
Comair ditches joint-CEO model after criticism at AGM of the arrangement
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BusinessLive reports that Comair, the operator of kulula.com and British Airways in SA, has appointed Wrenelle Stander as group CEO, with immediate effect.
Mines closed for a second day on Tuesday because of safety concerns over load-shedding
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BusinessLive reports that most of SA’s underground mines suspended work for a second shift on Tuesday due to uncertainty about electricity supply from Eskom.
Manufacturing production fell for a fifth consecutive month in October
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BusinessLive reports that manufacturing production declined for a fifth consecutive month in October, figures from Stats SA revealed on Tuesday.
SA employees work some of the longest hours in the world
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BusinessTech reports that data compiled by Oxford University researchers at Our World in Data shows that South African employees work some of the longest hours in the world – but other data published by the group shows that we’re not very productive.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 10 December 2019
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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, 10 December 2019.
Four Kruger Park rangers accused of poaching back on the job
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The Lowvelder reports that four Kruger National Park (KNP) rangers are back at work after they were arrested on poaching-related charges earlier this year.
Eskom power cuts having devastating impact on small businesses, Uasa warns
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ANA reports that according to the United Association of SA (Uasa), rolling blackouts by state-owned electricity utility Eskom were hurting small businesses the most, as many could not afford fuel-powered generators for alternative sources of energy.
Five KZN cops arrested for allegedly colluding with ambulance services and tow truck companies
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News24 reports that five police officials were among eight suspects who appeared before the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court on corruption charges on Monday.
Ramaphosa insists state-owned enterprises can be saved and ‘won’t be sold’
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The Citizen reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has allayed fears that the government is planning to privatise state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and has given the assurance that the state’s ownership would continue.
Sadtu says Mashaba 'should hang his head in shame' over his teacher comments
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Independent News reports that the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has reacted angrily to comments attributed to former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba that the Cosatu affiliate was protecting unqualified and incompetent teachers.
Mchunu wields cost-saving axe on ministers’ perks
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The Star reports that cabinet ministers have been left with no choice but to tighten their belts further as the Department of Public Service and Administration has indicated that it will not be held liable for any costs incurred by executive members.
Unions welcome decision to dissolve board and place Prasa under administration
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Moneyweb reports that trade unions have welcomed the decision by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula to dissolve the board of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) and place it under administration with immediate effect.
BMF challenges appointment of Mango CE Nico Bezuidenhout in court
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Moneyweb reports that the Black Management Forum (BMF) has filed papers in the Johannesburg High Court challenging the appointment of Nico Bezuidenhout as the chief executive of Mango Airlines.
Government mulling extending pay freeze to all public servants
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BusinessLive reports that in a move that could see it clashing with trade unions, the government is considering implementing drastic spending cuts across the public service, including extending a pay freeze to all public servants.
SA Cricketers’ Association calls for entire CSA board to resign
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TimesLIVE reports that the SA Cricketers’ Association (Saca) has again called for the entire board of Cricket SA (CSA) to resign.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 9 December 2019
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Monday, 9 December 2019.
Investigate hiring of thieving Eastern Cape department head, says FF Plus
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The Citizen reports that the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) is to ask Minister of Public Service and Administration Senzo Mchunu to investigate the hiring of a new head of the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Land Reform after she was found guilty of theft by the Department of Agriculture.
Integrity of new CEO of Far East Rand Hospital questioned over overtime payments
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The Sunday Independent reports that the newly appointed chief executive of the Far East Rand Hospital, Dr Zachariah Mathaba, was employed despite facing charges of gross dishonesty for allegedly being paid for two years’ overtime that he “did not fulfil”.
NUM blasts management over rockfall fatalities at Tau Lekoa gold mine
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Business Report writes that the deaths of four mine workers following a rockfall on Saturday at the Tau Lekoa gold mine in Orkney, North West, has sent shock waves across the mining industry.
Metrorail offers R100,000 reward for two rail ‘arsonists’ shown in CCTV footage
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News24 reports that Metrorail has released footage captured on CCTV of two of the men wanted for the fires which recently crippled Cape Town’s rail network.
Road Accident Fund’s accounts attached, can’t pay salaries
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City Press reports that the Road Accident Fund (RAF) has been unable to pay expenses like salaries because its bank accounts have been attached.
EOH blasted by shareholders at AGM over executive remuneration
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Moneyweb reports that EOH Holdings is in the crosshairs over executive pay, with an astonishing 65% of shareholders voting against the group’s remuneration policy and its implementation at last Thursday’s annual general meeting (AGM).