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.
Mass exodus of executives at Alexander Forbes Heats up with another departure
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Business Report writes that the mass exodus of senior management at Alexander Forbes is heating up with the group expected on Wednesday to announce the departure of Tony Powis, chief executive of corporate and employee benefits.
Head of Joburg’s anti-corruption unit fingered in jobs-for-pals scandal
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SowetanLive reports that the head of the City of Johannesburg's anti-corruption unit, General Shadrack Sibiya, allegedly accepted iPhones, VIP tickets and Louis Vuitton bags in a jobs-for-pals scandal.
Shareholders finally find their voices on executive pay, particularly incentive schemes
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Moneyweb writes that shareholders at an unprecedented number of JSE Top 40 companies have, in the past year, voted against executive remuneration policies and/or their implementation.
Cosatu angered by R1.6bn annual subsidy for Gautrain
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ANA reports that labour federation Cosatu in Gauteng said on Tuesday that it was dismayed by the news that the provincial department of transport would be subsidizing Gautrain operating expenses with R1.6-billion this year.
Project Halo denies impropriety in bid to acquire Optimum, Koornfontein mines, as workers march over unpaid salaries
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Mining Weekly reports that consortium Project Halo on Tuesday rejected allegations of impropriety in the way it secured the bid to acquire Optimum Coal Mine, Koornfontein Mine, and Optimum Coal Terminal in Mpumalanga.
Nehawu concerned by calls to ban use of cellphones for home affairs front-desk staff
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ANA reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) on Tuesday said it was concerned by the remarks made by the parliamentary portfolio committee on home affairs about the use of cellphones by front desk staff during working hours.
DA wants all teachers to be required to have a police clearance certificate
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News24 reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the decision by the SA Council for Educators (SACE) to make it a requirement for teachers applying for registration to produce a valid police clearance certificate.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 15 January 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, 15 January 2019.
PSA rejects call to ban cellphones at Department of Home Affairs front desks
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EWN reports that the Public Servants Association of SA (PSA) has condemned a suggestion by Parliament's home affairs portfolio committee to ban cellphone use during working hours at the front desks at the Department of Home Affairs.
Forcing pension fund to invest in bankrupt SOEs could lead to court challenge
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BL Premium reports that one of SA’s largest fixed-income lenders says any attempt by the government to force pension funds to invest in bankrupt state-owned companies (SOEs) is likely to spark a Constitutional Court (ConCourt) challenge.
‘Opportunists’ used the picture to ‘spread hate’, says suspended Schweizer-Reneke teacher
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The Citizen reports that at a press conference held by trade union Solidarity, suspended Schweizer-Reneke teacher Elana Barkhuizen was in tears as she read out a statement in Afrikaans.
Sibanye, Lonmin extend merger longstop date to 30 June following appeal by Amcu
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Mining Weekly reports that precious metals miner Sibanye-Stillwater and platinum group metals miner Lonmin have agreed to extend the longstop date for the transaction in which Sibanye will acquire all of Lonmin’s issued share capital.
Government considers shortening internship periods for doctors to alleviate bottlenecks
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TimesLIVE reports that shortening doctors’ internships from two years to one year is being mooted to alleviate the strain in the training of doctors.
Sibanye banks on US mines, high palladium price as Amcu strike at gold mines spreads
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Mining Weekly reports that Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman on Tuesday responded to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union’s (Amcu’s) announcement of secondary strike action.
Joburg metro cop arrested in Soweto for taking R10 bribe
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TimesLive reports that a Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer was arrested on Monday after he allegedly took a R10 bribe from a taxi driver in Soweto.
Success of national minimum wage threatened by exemption clause allowing only 10% reduction
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Claire Bisseker writes that the new national minimum wage (NMW) of R20 an hour came into effect on 1 January and, though it’s too early to tell how well the exemption process is working, there are already allegations from business of bad faith.
SANDF warrant officer arrested in alleged cash-for-jobs scam
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News24 reports that a warrant officer in the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) was due to appear in the Thaba Tshwane military court on Tuesday following his arrest for alleged involvement in a cash-for-jobs scam.
Smelters won’t survive 15% Eskom tariff hike and thousands of jobs will be at risk, ferroalloys industry warns
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BusinessLive reports that as hearings into Eskom’s proposed tariff increase kicked off on Monday, the ferroalloy industry warned it would not survive a double-digit increase in electricity prices.
BMF to meet Denel over appointment of white Group CEO, before considering legal action
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Fin24 reports that the Black Management Forum (BMF) will first meet with state-owned arms manufacturer Denel before considering legal action over its concerns that a white male, Daniel du Toit, was recently appointed group CEO.
Suspended Schweizer-Reneke teacher to speak out at Solidarity press conference on Tuesday
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News24 reports that Solidarity is expected to announce legal action on Tuesday to have what it described as the "unlawful suspension" of Laerskool Schweizer-Reneke teacher Elana Barkhuizen lifted.
Amcu to conduct secondary strike at Sibanye’s platinum mines from 22 January in support of ongoing gold strike
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Mining Weekly reports that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) on Monday confirmed it would be embarking on secondary strike action at Sibanye-Stillwater’s platinum operations in SA from 22 January.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 14 January 2019
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Monday, 14 January 2019.
Nzimande condemns blocking of N3 on Sunday night by protesting truck drivers
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ANA reports that Transport Minister Blade Nzimande on Monday condemned the blocking of the N3 highway in Van Reenen and Tugela Plaza by protesting truck drivers.
Security beefed up at Schweizer-Reneke school, but government objects
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TimesLIVE reports that the North West education department on Monday clarified that armed security was not permitted on any of its school premises.
Amcu wage strike at Sibanye-Stillwater gold operations enters week nine
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Business Report writes that Joseph Mathunjwa, president of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), was due on Monday to address a mass meeting of members in the ninth week of a wage strike at Sibanye-Stillwater's gold operations in SA.
Guidelines on balloting for strikes or lockouts issued in December by labour minister
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In December, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant issued guidelines on balloting for strikes in line with recent amendments to the Labour Relations Act (LRA).
Agri-hub seen as key post-mining-economy jobs driver in Gauteng’s West Rand
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Mining Weekly reports that an ambitious plan to develop Gauteng’s West Rand into an agri-industrial hub, primarily producing high-value crops for domestic and export markets, is starting to take shape.
Home Affairs portfolio committee chair proposes cell phone ban for front-line health department staff
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Engineering News reports that Hlomani Chauke, chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, called on Monday on the Department of Home Affairs (DoH) to consider an outright ban on cell phone usage by front line staff during working hours at all branches.
New policy requires teachers registering with Sace to produce police clearance certificates
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SowetanLive reports that all teachers registering from the first time with the SA Council of Educators (Sace) will have to produce police clearance certificates. This policy was implemented from the first of this month.
‘Blacks not interested in SOEs’ says Denel chair in defence of appointment of white CEO
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City Press reports that Denel looked at almost 100 corporate executives in its bid to fill the position of CEO, preferably with a black person.