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.
Two-pot pension withdrawals: Retrenched workers could be allowed to dip into retirement portion
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Moneyweb reports that members of retirement funds who lose their jobs may in the future be allowed to access funds from their retirement portion under the two-pot system.
Volvo SA confirms dealership network is 'under review'
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Fin24 reports that Swedish automaker Volvo Cars SA (VCSA) has announced plans to conduct a "review" of its local dealership network, raising concerns about the possibility of permanent dealership closures and potential job losses.
City Power resumes operations in Alexandra on Thursday after community meeting
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SABC News reports that City Power announced on Wednesday that it would be resuming its operations in Alexandra, Johannesburg, on Thursday morning, following a constructive meeting with community leaders.
Postponed budget provided for early retirement plan for 30,000 civil servants aged over 55
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Fin24 reports that the 2025 Budget, which was not tabled in Parliament this week, had allocated R11 billion over the next two years for the early retirement of civil servants.
Metrorail train services in Gauteng affected by rain
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TimesLIVE reports that Gauteng Metrorail train services are facing intermittent disruptions due to the recent torrential rains, with some railway infrastructure, including tunnels and platforms, having flooded.
Rea Vaya feeder bus services suspended over safety concerns
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EWN reports that Rea Vaya passengers will once again have to contend with service disruptions, this time due to safety concerns raised by the rapid bus transit (BRT) company.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 21 February 2025
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Cape Town traffic officers caught on camera allegedly soliciting bribe from e-hailing driver
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News24 reports that the City of Cape Town's traffic service is investigating allegations of corruption involving officials who were caught on camera allegedly soliciting a bribe from an e-hailing driver operating without a permit.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 20 February 2025
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Government signs three-year public sector wage deal, with a 5.5% increase for 2025/2026
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BL Premium reports that the government and unions representing SA’s more than 1.3-million public servants have signed a three-year wage deal that will see teachers, soldiers, nurses and doctors receiving an above-inflation pay hike of 5.5% in 2025/26.
National budget ‘delayed' to 12 March as GNU cracks over VAT increase
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BL Premium reports that parliamentary speaker Thoko Didiza announced on Wednesday afternoon that the 2025 national budget speech had been “delayed” to 12 March, an unprecedented move in post-apartheid SA.
MPs to visit SA Post Office HQ next week for update on business rescue process
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EWN reports that members of Parliament's communications and digital technologies committee will visit the headquarters of the SA Post Office (Sapo) in Johannesburg next week for a first-hand update on the business rescue process.
Basket of tax-exempt essential food items expected to be expanded to shield poor from probable VAT hike
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BL Premium reports that the Treasury is likely to increase social grants by above inflation, freeze the fuel levy and increase the basket of zero-rated goods to shield the poor from a probable VAT hike.
North West principal placed on special leave for allegedly hitting pupil with stick
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News24 reports that the North West education department has placed a principal on special leave "pending precautionary suspension" following a complaint against him of having allegedly hit a pupil with a stick.
Feeder buses in Soweto at the heart Rea Vaya siege, say taxi operators
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City Press reports that with two fatalities and the destruction of 60 buses and 13 minibus taxis in just over two weeks, the public transport sector is in turmoil, with taxi operators blamed for the violence.
Unemployment rate slightly down to 31.9%, but SA still needs almost 8 million jobs
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The Citizen reports that although Statistics SA’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the fourth quarter of 2024 showed an improvement in the unemployment rate, SA still needs to create almost 8 million jobs.
Economists forecast increase in VAT or income tax to balance budget as ‘something has to give’
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TimesLIVE reports that all indications point to greater pressures on the National Treasury to increase various taxes in the upcoming budget. This is the outlook by economists Avias Ngwenya and Marylla Govender ahead of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's tabling of the 2025 budget on Wednesday.
City Power suspends services in Alexandra after technician attacked by angry mob
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The Citizen reports that Joburg’s City Power has suspended services in Alexandra after one of its technicians was assaulted inside the Alexandra Service Delivery Centre (SDC) on Tuesday.
Early retirement plan for state workers in the works
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Bloomberg reports that SA’s government has drafted an early retirement offer for civil servants as part of an effort to reduce its wage bill.
Frightened staff at clinic in Soweto refuse to let patients in after early morning robbery
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SowetanLive reports that staff at Chiawelo clinic in Soweto on Tuesday morning barred patients from getting in, saying they feared for their lives after a robbery at the facility.
Unions, lobby groups rally against possible cuts in Budget 2025 on Wednesday
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News24 reports that on the eve of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's Budget speech on Wednesday, several trade unions and lobby groups cautioned against further spending cuts.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 19 February 2025
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In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Petra Diamonds CEO Richard Duffy quits with immediate effect amid high debt
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TimesLIVE reports that London-listed Petra Diamonds has announced the resignation by mutual agreement and with immediate effect of CEO Richard Duffy.
Sowetan teacher suspended after 11-year-old pupil was allegedly raped
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SowetanLive reports that the Gauteng Department of Basic Education has removed a 45-year-old teacher from a school after allegations were made that he raped an 11-year-old pupil at his house.
Old Mutual CEO opts for surprise early retirement
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BL Premium reports that Old Mutual CEO Iain Williamson has opted to take early retirement, and will vacate the role he has held since 2020 at the end of August, so ending a 32-year association with the group.
SIU strips two former Transnet Property bosses of their pensions, luxury properties
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Fin24 reports that two former Transnet Property bosses have been stripped of their pensions and luxury properties to pay back millions of rands in debts to Transnet.
Two Moorressburg police officers arrested over alleged kidnapping, rape
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Cape Argus reports that two police officers alleged to have kidnapped and raped a woman to whom they offered a lift on a farm in Moorreesburg have been arrested.
It’s all change at the top for SA’s major mining companies
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BL Premium reports that the imminent retirement of Sibanye-Stillwater’s CEO Neal Froneman is the latest change at the top of SA’s largest mining companies, with the bosses of Harmony, African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), Exxaro and Thungela all stepping down in the past year or so.
Richards Bay Minerals ready to expand as community relationships improve
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BL Premium reports that Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), which extracts titanium, iron, zircon and rutile in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), has had a tough time expanding its operations in recent years.
Two arrested in connection with murder of Springs police officer Captain Wynand du Toit
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Springs Advertiser reports that the Springs SA Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed the arrests of two men on Monday morning in connection with the murder of Captain Wynand du Toit.