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.
Cosatu may withdraw support for ANC before elections over failure to consult about Eskom unbundling
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BusinessLive reports that Cosatu could at its next central executive committee revisit its decision to support the ANC in the May national elections.
Disciplinary action to be taken against Treasury DG for lying about his criminal record
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ANA reports that in line with a recommendation by the Public Protector, disciplinary action is to be instituted against National Treasury director-general Dondo Mohajane for lying about his criminal record.
Gauteng’s head of roads and transport placed on leave over illegal award of William Nicol construction tender
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Independent News reports that Gauteng Premier David Makhura has placed his provincial head of roads and transport Ronald Swartz on special leave following the illegal award of a road construction tender.
Cyril’s ‘extreme changes’ to cut state wage bill include merging ministries, cutting staff, reducing number of provinces
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City Press reports that merging of ministries, cutting staff and reducing the number of provinces are part of ‘extreme changes’ mooted to reconfigure the state and drive efficiency.
Absence at Absa of a CEO succession plan nothing less than a failure of the board
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Hilton Tarrant writes that to describe the succession plan at Absa Group as ‘botched’ would be kind because in truth there wasn’t one.
Lonmin delays 12,600 job losses as shafts are kept open longer
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Business Report writes that platinum producer Lonmin said on Friday that it had greater leeway to delay 12,600 job losses because of improved metal prices in the three months to December.
PSA gives thumbs up to Ramaphosa’s plans to combat corruption
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ANA reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) said on Monday it welcomed steps announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his state of the nation address last week to combat corruption.
Disgruntled unpaid miners allegedly hampering efforts to rescue 22 copper thieves at Gloria mine
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News24 writes that the fate of approximately 22 alleged copper thieves trapped underground hangs in the balance as rescue efforts are allegedly being hampered by disgruntled unpaid mineworkers.
Nehawu announces national strike at TVET colleges to commence on 14 February
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ANA reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) on Monday announced a national strike set to affect “all the technical and vocational education and training and community education (TVET) and training colleges” across South Africa.
Sibanye CEO Froneman says standoff with Amcu is a chance to 'reset' labour relationships
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Business Times writes that according to Neal Froneman, CEO of gold and platinum miner Sibanye-Stillwater, the outcome of its three-month standoff with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) at its three gold mines will have significant consequences for the local mining industry.
Roundup on Monday, 11 February 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, 8 February 2019.
Government to engage with labour and stakeholders over Eskom unbundling, says Gordhan
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Fin24 reports that Public Enterprise Minister Pravin Gordhan will meet with Eskom's board as a priority to map a way forward for the entity, following President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement that the power utility would be unbundled.
Motsoaledi disappointed and distressed over non-payment of intern doctors' salaries
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EWN reports that Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says he is disappointed and highly distressed that some interns and doctors who started work last month have still not received their January salaries.
Medical Schemes Council suspends its top compliance officer following tip-offs about alleged corruption
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ANA reports that the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has suspended its general manager of compliance and investigations, Stephen Mmatli, “following tip-offs related to his conduct in the affairs of the regulator”.
Eskom split not about ‘privatising’, claims Ramaphosa, as Numsa vows to take to the streets
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The Citizen reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has denied that splitting Eskom up into three state-owned entities was about “privatising” the struggling power utility.
Remaining batch of unpaid Gauteng intern doctors to be paid on Monday
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News24 reports that according to the Gauteng Department of Health, it will on Monday pay the last batch of medical interns who failed to receive their January salaries on time.
Naked body of DUT employee found in his room at campus residence
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News24 reports that the naked body of a Durban University of Technology *DUT) employee was found in his room in a campus residence on Sunday morning.
Parys police officer killed on Friday in suspected accidental shooting by fellow officer
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News24 reports that a police officer was shot and killed in the early hours of Friday, allegedly by his colleague, in an apparent accidental shooting.
Workers at the Gupta Gloria coal mine not paid for four months
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ANA reports that a number of people who claimed to be workers of the Gloria coal mine near Middelburg in Mpumalanga said on Friday they had not been paid their salaries for four months.
Notwithstanding overwhelming interest, less than 10 candidates to be interviewed for top Sars job
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BusinessLive reports that while there was an overwhelming interest in the post of SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner, fewer than 10 candidates will be interviewed for the post.
Growing need for skilled people in agricultural sector
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The Mercury writes that experts predict that advances in science and technology will keep farmers and agriculture professionals on their toes.
Drones could be the next frontier in mine safety
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Miningmx writes that when a mine disaster strikes, sending in rescue teams can be fraught with danger. One solution that the Wits Mining Institute (WMI) has been working on is the development of a drone to check whether or not it is safe to send humans to the scene.
Labour Court rejects Sibanye-Stillwater’s repeat application to halt Amcu gold strike
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Mining Weekly reports that Sibanye-Stillwater on Friday indicated that the Labour Court had rejected its second application to stop the ongoing wage strike which the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) commenced upon at its gold operations in November 2018.
NHI Bill will soon be ready to go to parliament, says Cyril Ramaphosa
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BusinessLive reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa promised in his state of the nation address (Sona) on Thursday that the long-awaited National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill will soon be submitted to parliament.
Analyst says government must do more to boost SA mining, while headcount costs were a burden
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ANA reports that mining analyst Rene Hochreiter said on Thursday that the government needed to do more to attract new investment into the industry, adding that attention needed to be given to the high expense and low productivity of labour.
Probe into official’s ‘protest suicide’ highlights lack of accountability of parliament’s administration
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Karyn Maughan writes that the suicide of parliamentary official Lennox Garane and the investigation into what led to it has become a rallying point for civil society and former parliamentary staff, who believe it highlights how parliament’s administration remains almost entirely unaccountable for its conduct.
Hope dies for workers at Guptas’ Optimum mine as business rescue process drags on
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Financial Mail reports that the destitute workers of Optimum Coal last received a pay cheque in October, and it’s thanks to charity workers and other community members, who recently formed a nonprofit organisation called Feed the Miner, that they are able to get by.
DA slams ‘inexcusable treatment' of Gauteng junior doctors with some yet to be paid
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ANA reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Thursday that, despite promises that all interns and community service doctors at Gauteng hospitals would be paid their January salaries by that day at the latest, some doctors had been told that this would not happen.
Lack of ventilation delays rescue operation at Gloria mine in Mpumalanga
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ANA reports that the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) said on Thursday the search and rescue operation for more than 20 people trapped underground at the Koornfontein Gloria coal mine in Mpumalanga was being delayed by lack of ventilation inside the shaft.
Ex-University of Johannesburg executives fight judgment ordering them to pay back R14m
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The Star reports that two former University of Johannesburg (UJ) executives have launched a court battle to have a summary judgment that ordered them to pay back the R14 million rescinded.