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.
Five gold mining groups ask court to approve R5 billion silicosis settlement
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GroundUp reports that lawyers for thousands of gold miners afflicted by silicosis or tuberculosis lined up beside five mining groups this week to ask the Gauteng High Court to approve a R5 billion settlement agreement.
Medscheme facing Nehawu strike on Thursday
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ANA reports on a strike by members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) planned for Thursday at health risk management services provider Medscheme.
SANDF honours the 55 soldiers who died during UN peacekeeping operations
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ANA reports that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) on Wednesday honoured soldiers who had died during worldwide United Nations peacekeeping operations since 2003.
Cosatu lauds Ramaphosa's consultation on new Cabinet as 'breath of fresh air'
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Fin24 reports that according to Cosatu, the willingness of President Cyril Ramaphosa to consult labour and other key stakeholders in the appointment of his Cabinet has been a "breath of fresh air."
Third train carriage on fire in less than a day at Cape Town station
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TimesLIVE reports that yet another train carriage was engulfed in flames at Cape Town station, this time after lunch on Wednesday.
Satawu strike at SA's ports interdicted, work must go ahead
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TimesLIVE reports that the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has interdicted a strike which had been set to start at 6am on Thursday at the country's ports.
PSA’s Ivan Fredericks, Sadtu’s Mugwena Maluleke and a Nehawu rep to be appointed to PIC’s interim board
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Bloomberg reports that Ivan Fredericks, general manager of the Public Servants Association, and Mugwena Maluleke, general secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers Union, are set to be appointed to the interim board of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) as early as this week.
Labour issues at Amplats’ Mototolo platinum mine resolved, dismissed employees reinstated
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Mining Weekly reports that Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) said on Thursday that the labour issues at its Mototolo platinum mine in Limpopo have been resolved.
State attorney's staff walk through raw sewage 'to work in unsafe building' in Joburg CBD
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TimesLIVE reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) wants the Department of Labour to urgently investigate unhealthy and hazardous conditions at a building occupied by the state attorney in the Johannesburg CBD where staff are greeted by raw sewage.
Sanef takes legal action as journalists continue to come under fire
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The Citizen reports that the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) announced on Wednesday that progress was being made in its legal case in the Equality Court initiated to protect journalists against harassment and abuse.
Peaceful Krugersdorp neighbourhood turning into war zone as illegal mining continues
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“There is at least one new body here every day,” said John Barnard, a resident from the West Village in Krugersdorp. He was telling Krugersdorp News of the ongoing war between the illegal miners (zama zamas) in West Village.
Threat of new wage strike at Robertson Winery
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GroundUp reports that workers are frustrated with negotiations over wages and labour conditions at Robertson Winery and a strike is on the table.
Strike looms after wage talks deadlock at Breëriviervallei Bottling Company in Worcester
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GroundUp reports that more than 80 workers at the Breëriviervallei Bottling Company in Worcester are set to down tools next Wednesday. The workers are asking for an 18% wage hike among other demands.
SA seafarers given reprieve, for now, after scare of being axed from jobs 'white list'
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Fin24 reports that thousands of South African seafarers who faced being axed from the International Maritime Organisation’s "white list", can breathe easy again after the organisation agreed to shelve changes to the list for the next two years.
Zizi Kodwa appears before ANC's integrity committee over withdrawn sexual assault allegation
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News24 reports that one of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s key lieutenants, Zizi Kodwa, spent parts of Monday evening telling the ANC’s integrity committee why he deserved to serve in the National Assembly.
Water-supply problem at ‘collapsing Lekwa municipality’ costs Astral Foods R85m, threatens jobs
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BL Premium reports that Astral Foods, SA’s largest poultry producer, on Tuesday flagged how collapsing municipalities were hurting business and the economy.
Hulamin Extrusions initiates consultations over lay-offs
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BusinessLive reports that Hulamin Extrusions, a division of aluminium group Hulamin Ltd, on Tuesday sent out retrenchment notifications to a number of its workforce.
Tongaat Hulett corporate governance director leaves beleaguered group
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BusinessLive reports that sugar producer Tongaat Hulett has announced that the director responsible for overseeing its corporate governance has left the board.
Strikes at ports on Thursday will bring SA economy ‘to a standstill’, says Satawu
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BusinessLive reports that activity at SA’s busiest ports could grind to a halt with a planned protest by members of the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) on Thursday.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 28 May 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, 28 May 2019.
Domestic workers to be eligible to claim from the Compensation Fund
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The Citizen reports that following a case in which a domestic worker died at her employer’s home during the course of her employment and her daughter could not claim compensation due to the fact that domestic workers are not considered employees under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA), the Pretoria High Court last week found that the exclusion of domestic workers under the Act was unconstitutional.
Lonmin investors back Sibanye takeover deal to create platinum giant
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Bloomberg reports that Lonmin investors have backed the platinum producer’s takeover by Sibanye Gold, bringing to an end a company that was once part of a business empire synonymous with British capitalism in Africa.
KZN mother wants justice for eight year-old son, punched in face allegedly by teacher
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Daily News reports that the mother of an eight year-old boy who was allegedly punched in the face by his teacher in Gingindlovu in northern KwaZulu-Natal wants justice for her son.
Eskom insiders provide 'very limited' choices to replace CEO “to fix the mess”
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Bloomberg writes that Eskom’s 96-year history is replete with former CEOs who rose from within the debt-laden state-owned power utility to run the company, but there are few obvious choices for the next CEO to come from those same ranks.
‘Drunk’ KZN cop who had called in sick killed his superior after being caught out socialising
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Daily News reports that the police constable who was arrested on Friday after allegedly shooting dead his superior inside the Ekhombe Police Station in Nkandla, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, had been under the influence of alcohol.
MyCiTi driver traumatised after being sexually terrorised by two commuters
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Cape Argus reports that the MyCiTi vehicle-operating company Kidrogen is facing a “new type of threat and act of hooliganism”, namely that of its drivers being sexually assaulted by commuters.
SAHRC finds that labour department in Mitchells Plain committed human rights violation against coloured applicants for jobs
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Cape Argus reports that the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in the Western Cape has found that discrimination against coloured applicants at the Labour Department's offices in Mitchells Plain constituted a human rights violation that must be further investigated by its national office.
‘Work bully victim’ details her ordeal in Twitter meltdown
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The Star reports that a Gauteng woman has taken to Twitter to describe how bulling and intimidation at work have left her depressed and suicidal.
Disgruntled pupil who fatally stabbed teacher after failing grade 7 gets 12 years in jail
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TimesLIVE reports that a 17-year-old school pupil who stabbed a Northern Cape teacher to death was sentenced on Monday to 12 years' imprisonment by the Khathu High Court.
Tongaat Hulett not following due process in retrenchments, claims Fawu
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East Coast Radio reports that the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) has been taken aback by Tongaat Hulett's announcement that it could retrench up to 5,000 workers.