Today's Labour News

newsThis 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.

MPs call for immediate government intervention in embattled sugar industry

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parliamentBusinessLive reports that Parliament’s trade and industry portfolio committee has called on trade and industry minister Rob Davies and other cabinet ministers to immediately intervene in whatever way possible to address the crisis in the sugar industry.  

North West health department suspends four managers over expired medication

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northwestprovinceTimesLIVE reports that at least four managers have been suspended by the North West health department for allegedly mismanaging expired medication.  

South Africans to go to polls on 8 May, which has been declared a public holiday

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ramaphosa2The Star reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially proclaimed Wednesday, 8 May 2019 as the day on which the general elections will be held.  

With just hours left before secondary strike, ten mining companies take on Amcu in labour court

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labourcourtsBusinessLive reports that 10 mining companies are due to argue in the Labour Court on Wednesday for an urgent interdict to prevent a secondary strike at their operations by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).  

Assore may move last SA manganese smelting at Cato Ridge offshore as Eskom risk grows

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newsMiningmx reports that Assore is considering shifting its remaining ferroalloys production from SA to its Malaysian facilities which it holds in joint venture with African Rainbow Minerals (ARM).  

Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 26 February 2019

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news shutterstockIn our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 26 February 2019.

CCMA conciliation of PSA’s wage dispute with Sars to take place on 8 March

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psaFin24 reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) said on Monday that it would be putting forward its case in its wage dispute with the SA Revenue Service (Sars) at a Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) meeting on 8 March.  

Pregnant Witbank teacher who locked up pupil overnight in strongroom granted bail

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gavel thumb100 TimesLIVE reports that the 30-year-old Witbank teacher alleged to have locked a grade 1 learner in a strongroom at Blackhill Primary School and forgetting him there overnight is four months pregnant.  

Police meet with family of metro cop killed on Monday in deadly Durban mass shooting

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gunANA reports that a police delegation met on Tuesday with the family of the metro police officer who was killed in a mass shooting in Durban on Monday.  

Workers protest at Cell C headquarters over bonus payments

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cell cBusiness Report writes that mobile network operator Cell C was in the spotlight after its head office in Johannesburg was shut down on Tuesday morning when staff protested over bonuses that were not paid.  

Murder case stonewalls teacher’s bid for police clearance certificate

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saceSowetanLive reports that a school teacher with a criminal record for murder was among those whose applications for a police clearance certificate was turned down.  

Family ordered by Equality Court to pay R200,000 to worker who was force-fed faeces

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sahrc thumb medium90 90TimesLIVE reports that the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has welcomed a decision by the Equality Court ordering a Springs family to pay a former worker R200,000 in damages after force-feeding him faeces.  

Ball has begun rolling on plans to cut public service wage bill

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southafricalogoCity Press reports that the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) has begun mooted plans to cut the public service wage bill starting in the new financial year in April.  

Gauteng community health care workers reject contracts of R3,500 a month

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earningsGroundUp reported on Friday that community health care workers across Gauteng had, since the day before, been involved in shutting down contract signing centres.  

Mara Group’s new smartphone factory at Dube TradePort SEZ to create 500 jobs

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employment thumb100 Moneyweb reports that SA’s first fully-fledged smartphone factory is to open at Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone (SEZ) north of Durban.  Pan-African investment conglomerate Mara Group plans to invest R1.5 billion into the project.  

ANC tells Zizi Kodwa and Pule Mabe to 'step aside' amid sex harassment allegations

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ancNews24 reports that the ANC's national working committee (NWC) has decided that its spokesperson Pule Mabe and its acting spokesperson Zizi Kodwa should "step aside".  

Wage strike at Premier’s Blue Ribbon bread in Salt River enters fourth month

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strike thumb medium85 85GroundUp reports that Premier employees at Blue Ribbon bread in Salt River have been on a protected strike since 28 November over wages and working conditions.  

Cosatu braced for tense CEC meeting as more affiliates want to withdraw election support for ANC

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cosatuBL Premium reports that Cosatu affiliates are bracing themselves for a tense central executive committee (CEC) meeting as more unions want to withdraw their support of the ANC in the upcoming general elections.  

Up to 500 jobs on the chopping block to keep South32’s Hillside aluminium smelter afloat

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south32BL Premium reports that a high wage bill and low productivity at South32’s Hillside aluminium smelter have led the diversified miner to start a retrenchment process that could affect up to 500 jobs.  

Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 25 February 2019

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news shutterstockIn our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Monday, 25 February 2019.

Blame SA’s financial woes on corruption, not the public wage bill, says PSA

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psaANA reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) on Monday slammed what it called government attempts to blame the country’s financial woes on the public wage bill despite revelations during various inquiries of corrupt activities by senior officials.  

SACP to ‘mobilise’ if jobs are lost through Eskom unbundling

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sacpIndependent News reports that the SA Communist Party (SACP) has vowed to mobilise trade unions, especially Cosatu, to ensure that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s intended unbundling of Eskom does not lead to job losses.  

Radebe denies Eskom losses through IPP deals

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jeffradebeANA writes that Energy Minister Jeff Radebe said on Sunday that the assertion that Eskom was incurring losses as a result of the Independent Power Producer (IPP) programme was without foundation, misleading, and false.  

Popcru calls on correctional services department to absorb Bosasa employees

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popcruNews24 reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has called for Bosasa employees working at Department of Correctional Services (DCS) facilities to be absorbed by the department.  

SA Canegrowers Association to brief parliamentary portfolio committee on sugar industry crisis

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CanegrowersANA reports that the South African Canegrowers Association said on Monday it would be briefing Parliament's trade and industry portfolio committee on the crisis facing the sugar industry due to drought, falling prices and the impact of cheap imports.  

North West mom arrested for 'assaulting' son's teacher with umbrella to 'teach a lesson'

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handcuffsNews24 reports that a North West mother was due to appear in the Mogwase Magistrate's Court on Monday for allegedly assaulting her son's teacher with an umbrella.  

Staff push-back against changes at Parliament's Financial and Fiscal Commission

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parliamentBusinessLive reports that the drive by the Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) to change the systems, culture and productivity of the parliamentary research body has allegedly met with strong resistance by some staff members.  

Police arrest Witbank teacher who 'forgot' about grade 1 boy locked in strongroom overnight

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handcuffsTimesLIVE reports that Mpumalanga's education department confirmed on Sunday that a Witbank teacher who was suspended for allegedly locking a grade 1 learner in a strongroom overnight had been arrested.  

Bosasa liquidator 'can't answer' whether employees will be paid next month

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AGOTimesLIVE reports that the liquidator of controversial state contractor Bosasa (now known as African Global Operations - AGO) said on Friday he was unsure whether workers would be paid until the end of March, as claimed by a union representative.  

Security officers attacked on Saturday at Gupta-owned Gloria mine in Mpumalanga

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newsTimesLIVE reports that on Saturday unidentified men stormed into the Gupta-owned Gloria mine in Mpumalanga and attacked security officers on duty.