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.
Numsa counters with charge of ‘psychological violence’ after plastics industry fingers union for strike violence
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BusinessLive reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has turned the tables on employers in the strike-hit plastics sector, claiming they were responsible for “psychological violence” inflicted on workers.
SAPS investigating MyCiTi bus attacks separately
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EWN reports that police have said that each MyCiTi bus attack is being investigated as a separate incident and that no link has been determined.
Sacked Limpopo mayors implicated in VBS scandal to be charged
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SowetanLive reports that Limpopo ANC deputy chairperson Florence Radzilani jumped before she could be pushed by resigning as the mayor of the Vhembe district on Tuesday.
Right to strike being weakened by unions through protracted strikes marked by unfettered violence and intimidation
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BL PREMIUM writes that while SA trade unions have been crying foul over the workers’ right to strike being attacked by the bosses, they might have done a better job at undermining this fundamental constitutional right on their own.
People are the critical factor for mining, Mantashe stresses
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Mining Weekly reports that Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe stressed on Wednesday that the key factor in the future of SA mining was the human element.
Five Sassa officials in KZN sentenced to jail time for social grant fraud of R750,000
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TimesLive reports that the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) in KwaZulu-Natal has welcomed the sentencing of five of its officials to a total of 37 years behind bars for processing fraudulent social grants amounting to R750,000.
With unions under pressure to deliver, is the violent plastics strike a portend of strikes going forward?
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Ciaran Ryan writes that the plastic converters industry strike by 33 000 workers, now in its ninth week, is turning out to be one of the most violent in years.
Moyane going back to ConCourt over Sars dismissal, challenges judge's 'abominable' remarks
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Fin24 reports that axed SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Tom Moyane will again turn to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) and will appeal the North Gauteng High Court’s dismissal of his application to overturn his sacking.
Slight rebound in growth in mining and manufacturing in fourth quarter belied by job losses
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BusinessLive reports that as mining and manufacturing kicked off the fourth quarter with stronger-than-expected growth, data from Statistics SA showed that both sectors bled jobs in the third quarter.
Ramaphosa calls for local government officials 'with their hands in our cookie jar' to be arrested
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News24 reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the arrest of local government officials who "put personal greed ahead of the interest of our people". He was addressing the SA Local Government Association's (Salga’s) national members’ assembly in Durban.
Sibanye-Stillwater condemns violent protest at its Beatrix gold operations
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Mining Weekly reports that precious metals producer Sibanye-Stillwater on Tuesday said the situation at its Beatrix gold operations, in the Free State, were tense.
Consumer inflation ticked up slightly in November to 5.2%
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BusinessLive reports that consumer inflation accelerated slightly to 5.2% in November from 5.1% in October due to higher food prices and a spike in the price of diesel.
Employment in SA down 0.2% in third quarter against second quarter
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ANA reports that employment in SA’s formal non-agricultural sector fell by 0.2%, or 16,000 jobs, to 9.733 million in the third quarter compared with the previous three months.
Over a hundred alleged Dis-Chem strikers on bus arrested for public violence, malicious damage to property
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News24 reports that a bus was escorted to the Sandton police station on Monday after the 105 occupants, alleged to be striking workers, were arrested on charges of public violence and malicious damage to property.
Court dismisses bid by Tom Moyane to have his sacking from Sars overturned
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BusinessLive reports that the High Court in Pretoria has dismissed Tom Moyane’s application to have his axing as SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner overturned.
Cars set alight at bottling plant in Germiston amid plastics wage strike
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ANA reports that plastics bottle manufacturing company, Mpact, said on Monday that its Wadeville Plastics Preform Plant in Germiston, Ekurhuleni, was damaged after several unidentified individuals entered the premises and damaged employees' cars and set some alight.
Gender commission chairperson is a human ‘wrecking ball’, say scared staff
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City Press writes that the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) is under siege – by its own chairperson Lulama Nare, who has been described by staff as “a human wrecking ball”.
Municipal CFO could be forced to pay back salary after misrepresenting qualifications
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City Press reports that Gauteng’s Lesedi local municipality has been advised to consider reclaiming money paid to a chief financial officer (CFO) and former municipal manager because he allegedly misrepresented his qualifications.
Paramedics robbed again in Cape Town, in the 56th incident this year
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News24 reports that two paramedics were robbed in Seawinds, near Muizenberg, on Sunday morning, making it the 56th such attack in the Cape Town area this year.
Pietermaritzburg mortuary employees arrested for defying court order to end go-slow
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GroundUp reports that 17 employees of the Fort Napier mortuary in Pietermaritzburg were arrested on Monday afternoon. They have been on a go-slow since November demanding better working conditions, wage increases and backpay.
MyCiTi bus driver seriously burnt in petrol bomb attack in Cape Town
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News24 reports that a bus driver sustained serious burn wounds while a passenger was also injured after a MyCiTi bus was petrol bombed in Woodstock on Monday night.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 10 December 2018
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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, 10 December 2018.
Transnet goods train derails on Monday, blocks major commuter line in Cape Town
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News24Wire reports that a Transnet goods train derailed between Tygerberg and Bellville railway stations in Cape Town on Monday, severely delaying commuter services.
Crunch time for ex-Sars boss Tom Moyane as judgment expected on Tuesday
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BusinessLive reports that the Pretoria High Court is expected to hand down judgment on Tuesday in axed SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Tom Moyane's bid to get his job back.
N3 mobile clinic assists truck drivers who spend strenuous and dangerous hours on the road
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The Star writes that truck drivers spend long strenuous hours on the road to the detriment of their health, which could account for the high accident numbers they are involved in. For this reason, the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) has a mobile clinic at the Mooi River toll plaza.
Printing of driving licence cards to resume after employees’ dispute referred to bargaining council
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The Star reports that following thousands of complaints by motorists being unable to get new driving licence cards, the Department of Transport has finally admitted to the problem. It has advised that employees have agreed to resume their duties pending the finalisation of a dispute at the bargaining council.
Ex-Aurora mines headed for liquidation, again
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Mail & Guardian reports that the Aurora gold mines, looted by former president Jacob Zuma’s nephew Khulubuse Zuma and his partners, are heading for liquidation again.
Government Integrated Resource Plan blocking jobs for thousands in Northern Cape
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Business Report writes that close to 2,000 construction jobs, over a period of five to 10 years, could be created for communities in the Northern Cape should the wholly black-owned firm Emvelo proceed to the next five planned stages of its 1,000 megawatt solar power station project.
Dawn cut 700 employees in six months to September
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Business Report writes that the financially troubled Distribution and Warehousing Network (Dawn) retrenched and terminated the employment of more than 700 employees and labour-broker staff across the group in the six months to September.
Bemawu blames government for parlous state of SABC
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EWN reports that the Broadcasting, Electronic, Media & Allied Workers’ Union (Bemawu) says that, while it understands the decision by four SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board members to resign, this had left the organisation in a difficult position.