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.
Trash piling up in Joburg as protesters stop Pikitup work
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TimesLIVE reports that City of Johannesburg environmental MMC Nico de Jager indicated on Wednesday that ongoing violent protests in the inner city were affecting service delivery in Yeoville, Bellevue and Bellevue East.
Warrant of arrest issued for Free State municipal manager on fraud and corruption charges
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News24 reports that a warrant of arrest has been issued for Simon Mqwathi, municipal manager of the Moqhaka Municipality in the Free State, after he failed to hand himself over to investigators on charges of fraud and corruption.
Keep Gwede Mantashe on as mineral resources minister, Minerals Council urges
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BL Premium reports that the executive leadership of the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) on Wednesday urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to keep Gwede Mantashe, a senior figure in the ruling ANC party and in the government, in his position as mineral resources minister.
Ministerial technical task team finds key Eskom positions are vacant
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BL Premium writes that Eskom is often criticised for having a bloated workforce, but the ministerial technical task team has found that the embattled utility in fact lacks critical skills.
Government’s proposal to hand over municipal responsibility for houses to mining companies slammed
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BL Premium reports that a draft document from the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) is proposing to place housing, health and infrastructure responsibilities squarely on mining companies, setting the stage for fresh conflict.
Compensation Fund making progress in modernizing claims process
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Business Report writes that the Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund (CF) is set to introduce a new electronic Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases (e-COID) claims management solution.
Amcu office bearer tells court of shooting as he was leaving soccer match
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Pretoria News reports that the deputy chairperson of one of the branches of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) in Marikana testified on Tuesday how he was shot at several times as he was about to leave a soccer match in Mooinooi.
Numsa cries foul over labour registrar’s move to enforce compliance with LRA
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BusinessLive reports that the Department of Labour has defended its decision to crack the whip on SA’s largest trade union, the National Union of Metalworkers SA (Numsa), saying its stance on the union’s legal compliance was not politically motivated.
Wage negotiations deadlocked at Grabouw farm at centre of N2 protests
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GroundUp reports that negotiations between Oak Valley Estate and the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers’ Union (Csaawu) have seemingly deadlocked.
Strikers at CAPM mine willing to die underground for a raise
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Business Report writes that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Tuesday that the workers, who numbered at least 69, who since Saturday have been staging an underground strike at the China Precious Metal Company (CAPM) in Orkney, North West, would only resurface once their demand for a salary hike has been met.
Gordhan says mining firms must reverse job cuts to help revive economy
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Bloomberg reports that according to Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, SA’s mining companies must reverse recent decisions to cut jobs to help revive the economy and boost investor confidence.
CPI increase slows to 4.4% in April from 4.5% in March
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The consumer price index (CPI) in April decelerated to 4.4% from a year earlier compared with 4.5% in March, Statistics SA indicated on Wednesday.
Samwu confirms R88m plunder of workers' coffers in three years
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ANA reports that the SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) on Wednesday admitted that the workers' coffers had been plundered almost R88 million in just three years, but dismissed reports that it only had less than R1,000 in the bank currently.
Cosatu approves of new ANC MPs, but they 'will have to pull up their socks'
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EWN reports that African National Congress (ANC) tripartite alliance partner Cosatu said on Tuesday it welcomed the new leadership in Parliament.
Samwu 'notes' allegations of grand-scale looting of workers' strike fund
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ANA reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) said on Tuesday that its leadership would be receiving a report of alleged grand-scale looting of the union's coffers as they were currently holding a scheduled central executive committee meeting.
No injuries or fatalities reported in Germiston train fire on Tuesday
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News24Wire reports that no injuries or fatalities were reported after a train caught fire in Dinwiddie, Germiston, on Tuesday.
Samwu slams appointment of David Tembe as acting JMPD head
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The Star reports that the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) has a new acting executive director of public safety following the appointment of its police chief David Tembe.
Retrenchments constituted biggest share of Liberty’s monthly income claims in 2018
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BusinessLive reports that retrenchments accounted for the biggest share of monthly income claims paid out by Liberty in the 2018 financial year.
Lonmin plans to cut 4,100 workers as it closes platinum mines
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Bloomberg reports that Lonmin plans to cut 4,100 workers at mines that have run out of profitable ore and are being closed.
Public Protector slates SA Weather Service for 'unlawful' appointment of manager with insufficient credentials
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TimesLIVE reports that the SA Weather Service (Saws) must approach the courts within 30 days to have the "unlawful" appointment of a manager with insufficient credentials set aside and take appropriate disciplinary action against suspended CEO Jerry Lengoasa for “his improper conduct” in the matter.
Choppies CEO suspended amid legal and forensic investigations
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Fin24 reports that following a meeting on Monday, the board of grocery retailer Choppies has suspended its CEO Ramachandran Ottapathu with effect from Wednesday, 22 May.
Battle for control of Fawu could eat into the union’s membership
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BusinessLive reports that the bruising battle for control of the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) could spur rival unions to eat into its 126,000-strong membership in the farming, fast food, beverage, fishing, wholesale and retail, and hospitality sectors.
Gas leak at Cape Town recycling company claims four lives on Tuesday
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News24 reports that four people died following a gas leak on Tuesday at a Cape Town plastic recycling company in Birch Road, Beaconvale, Parow.
Well-known Labour Court judge dies after black mamba bite in Zambia
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News24 reports that a Cape Town Labour Court judge has died after he was bitten by a black mamba while on holiday in Zambia.
Employers fuming over UIF’s problem-riddled uFiling website
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BusinessLive reports about frustration at the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s (UIF's) new uFiling website, which is still not working properly since its re-launch on 1 April.
Two metro cops shot dead protecting Durban councillor's house
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TimesLIVE reports that police are on the hunt for suspects who shot and killed two eThekwini metro police officers and stole their firearms on Monday night.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 20 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
Monday, 20 May 2019.
PG Group recruits another 120 young graduates under YES initiative
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ANA reports that the PG Group on Monday said it was adding a further 120 young graduates to its workforce in a bid to create job opportunities across all its business divisions in collaboration with the Youth Employment Service (YES).
IFP joins chorus calling for eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede to resign over corruption charges
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TMG Digital reports that the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has joined the chorus of those calling for embattled eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede to step down pending charges against her relating to the R208m Durban Solid Waste tender scandal.
CAPM mineworkers continue underground protest over wage increases and job grading
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SABC News reported on Sunday that over 100 mineworkers at China Precious Metal Company (CAPM) in Orkney near Klerksdorp in the North West remained underground in a sit-in, demanding a 15 % wage increase.