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.
Military union gives SANDF deadline to reinstate 'AWOL' students in Cuba
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TimesLIVE reports that the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) on Tuesday offered a different version to that of military top brass as to why 35 soldiers studying medicine in Cuba could not continue with their studies abroad.
Samwu confirms it's struggling to pay the salaries of staff
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TimesLIVE reports that the SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) has confirmed that it is insolvent and has been struggling to pay staff salaries since August last year.
Sibanye-Stillwater prepares for the worst ahead of platinum wage talks with R1.8bn share sale
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Miningmx reports that Sibanye-Stillwater will be placing shares worth R1.8bn in an effort to minimise the impact on its balance sheet of the ongoing strike at its gold mines and to head-off possible disruptions flowing from the upcoming platinum sector wage negotiations.
Hawks close down Limpopo vehicle testing station, arrest seven officials
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News24 reports that a sting operation by the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation unit, in collaboration with Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and Special Investigating Unit, culminated in the closing down of a private vehicle testing station in Lephalale on Monday.
Decriminalising sex work should be on the general election agenda, says activist
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Kholi Buthelezi, national co-ordinator of the Sisonke National Sex Workers Movement in SA, writes that for decades her sisters and brothers in the sex industry have been battling to get their rights recognised and make the decriminalisation of sex work a reality.
Ramaphosa to chair fourth industrial revolution commission
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BusinessLive reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed members of a Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) to recommend policies, strategies and plans to position SA as a competitive player in the digital space.
Musicians’ union vows to continue fight against Copyright Amendment Bill
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EWN reports that the Trade Union for Musicians of SA (Tumsa) says it won't give up its fight for the rights of musicians and other creatives in the industry.
Strikes, weak demand putting 90,000 platinum industry jobs at risk, Minerals Council warns
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Fin24 reports that the Minerals Council SA (previously called the Chamber of Mines) has warned that 90,000 jobs in the local platinum mining sector are at risk due to a combination of strikes, weak demand, declining productivity, growth in recycling and the rising cost of electricity.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 9 April 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, 9 April 2019.
Durban bus driver shot multiple times in alleged taxi conflict
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Daily News reports that an alleged route dispute between mini-bus and bus associations in the Newlands West area in Durban claimed the life of a bus driver on Monday night.
Unions point to contributing factors leading to high levels of teacher absenteeism
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The Citizen reports that although teacher unions don’t condone the shocking figures of absenteeism among their members, they say there are a number of contributing factors that lead to absences.
Shoprite in Mbombela sacks 36 for protesting over dismissal of colleagues for ‘accepting tips’
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SowetanLive reports that at least 36 Shoprite Checkers workers in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, have been fired after they protested against the dismissal of four of their colleagues for "accepting tips from customers".
Sibanye says gold production has plummeted due to prolonged Amcu strike
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BusinessLive reports that precious metals producer Sibanye-Stillwater said on Tuesday its first-quarter gold production in SA would fall by nearly two-thirds because of a protracted wage strike.
Mpumalanga MEC welcomes life sentence for man who killed traffic officer
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TimesLIVE reports that Mpumalanga community safety, security and liaison MEC Pat Ngomane on Monday said a life sentence imposed on a man who shot dead an on-duty traffic officer would serve as a deterrent to those who intimidated and assaulted traffic officers.
Solidarity slams Mthethwa over Jan van Riebeeck remarks
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Pretoria News reports that trade union Solidarity says that comments by Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa that Dutch navigator Jan van Riebeeck killed Solomon Mahlangu is a disappointing electioneering rhetoric keeping the country torn asunder.
KZN education MEC to visit school after principal allegedly threatened to kill staff
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Daily News reports that the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) MEC for education, Mthandeni Dlungwana, was scheduled to visit a primary school in Durban on Tuesday morning following allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation levelled against the principal.
Teacher absenteeism remains a concern for Minister Angie Motshekga
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ANA reports that Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga on Monday said the trend of teacher absenteeism from classrooms across the country was marginally growing and remained a cause for concern.
Durban bus driver killed in apparent ambush on Monday evening
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News24 reports that a Durban bus driver was killed after being shot in the chest on Monday night in what paramedics have described as "an ambush".
Rustenburg municipal manager quits over ‘continuous sexist attacks’
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The Citizen reports that outgoing Rustenburg Local Municipality manager Nqobile Sithole says she quit her job because she had to defend herself against continuous sexist attacks which affected her ability to do her work.
Thirty-two top cops have criminal records
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News24 reports that a parliamentary reply has revealed that thirty-two members of the police's top management have criminal records, but the police have declined to reveal their identities as disclosure would constitute an unreasonable violation of the privacy.
Female Harmony Gold mineworker dies in 'fall of ground' incident
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Fin24 reports that a 38-year-old mineworker died on Monday at Harmony Gold’s Doornkop mine, outside Johannesburg.
Amcu on ropes as Sibanye-Stillwater pursues ruling declaring gold strike unprotected
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BL Premium reports that Sibanye-Stillwater will be asking the Labour Court to declare a protracted wage strike at its gold mines unprotected after claiming a major victory in a union membership verification process.
Gender equality gap in the workplace inhibits innovation
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Sunday Independent reports that the gender equality gap in the workplace still prevails because most organisations are not promoting a culture of equality, according to a new report produced by global management consulting and services firm Accenture.
Pule Mabe’s sexual harassment accuser to receive R50,000 backpay in terms of CCMA settlement
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City Press reports that Pule Mabe’s sexual harassment accuser is set to get R50,000 in back pay after the ANC settled with her before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
Group of women at State Security Agency band together to accuse top spy of sexual harassment
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City Press reports that a top official in the State Security Agency (SSA) is facing a range of sexual harassment allegations laid by a group of women in the agency calling themselves the ‘Women of SSA’.
Mixed reactions as Lotus FM boss returns to work after being cleared of sexual harassment
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Sunday Tribune reports that Lotus FM boss Alvin Pillay returned to the helm as station manager on Wednesday. SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) spokesperson Vuyo Mthembu confirmed that Pillay had been reinstated following his suspension in December.
SARS yet to count cost of wage strike
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Mail & Guardian reports that the SA Revenue Service (SARS) has yet to count the cost of the national wage strike that hit the tax agency the week before last.
Cape Flats to get new 10,000-student TVET college campus
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TimesLIVE reports that Higher Education and Training Minister Naledi Pandor announced on Saturday that a new college campus that will eventually accommodate up to 10,000 students is to be built in Cape Town.
Officers rescue Sunnyside constable attacked by community
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TimesLIVE reports that a suspect is under police guard in hospital after an assault on a police officer in Sunnyside in Pretoria on Friday. The suspect was shot in the leg.
Roundup on Monday, 8 April 2019 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, 5 April 2019.