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.
Slain UniZulu professor testified against lecturer accused of being his murderer in CCMA case
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Mail & Guardian reports that the murder of University of Zululand (UniZulu) professor Gregory Kamwendo was at first thought to be due to his uncovering of a syndicate at the institution issuing fraudulent PhD degrees.
NPA to prosecute Marius Fransman over alleged sexual harassment of personal assistant
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Mail & Guardian reports that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) announced over the weekend that it would be prosecuting former Western Cape ANC leader Marius Fransman for alleged sexual assault.
Ramaphosa’s salary freeze for senior office bearers shows he’s serious about reducing public spending
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The Citizen writes that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s freeze on the salaries of executive, parliamentary and provincial office-bearer is a welcome announcement.
Over 5,300 health department posts across all provinces to be filled in massive recruitment drive
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ANA reports that Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Sunday announced that more than 5,300 health worker posts – clinical professionals and support staff needed throughout the country – were to be filled.
Roundup on Monday, 10 December 2018 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, 7 December 2018.
Twelve KZN and Limpopo licensing department officials to appear in court on Monday for fraud
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ANA reports that twelve officials arrested in a pre-festive season anti-corruption crackdown on fraud related to vehicle and drivers licenses were due to appear in court in two provinces for bail applications on Monday.
Bosses at Lotus FM suspended as more women start to speak out about sexual harassment
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City Press writes that the culture of toxic masculinity that has infected Lotus FM over the past two decades is finally being exposed and dealt with. At noon on Friday, Alvin Pillay, station manager at Lotus FM, left his office at the SA Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC’s) Durban headquarters.
Nehawu members block the N3 on Thursday, call for two KZN MECs to be axed
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The Witness reports that members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) went on a rampage on Thursday as they called for two KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) MECs to be fired.
KZN MEC does post-mortem at strike-hit mortuary to spare grieving Durban family
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Sunday Tribune reports that KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo went the extra mile on Saturday so that the funeral of a Chatsworth mother and son could go ahead as planned.
SABC suspends 'sex-for-jobs' pests identified in commission of inquiry report
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News24 reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has suspended alleged perpetrators who were identified in the report of its commission of inquiry into sexual harassment.
SA’s 'dysfunctional' commuter rail system root of many transport problems
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Engineering News reports that speaking at a Transport Forum event in Pretoria last week, Professor Stephan Krygsman of Stellenbosch University’s Department of Logistics (Transport Economics) said SA had a “completely dysfunctional" passenger rail system.
Outrage by creditors at proposal that Optimum Coal be sold for a pittance to unknown shelf company
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Miningmx reports that Optimum Coal Mine’s creditors have objected to a proposed sale of the mine to an unknown entity, Halo Projects, which they claim is a shelf company.
National minimum wage to come into effect on 1 January 2019
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BusinessLive reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the national minimum wage (NMW) will come into effect from 1 January 2019.
No pay rise for cabinet ministers and others, as Ramaphosa rejects blanket 4% recommendation
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BusinessLive reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s cabinet will not see a salary increase after he rejected a recommendation that there should be a 4% increase in respect of all public office bearers.
Cosatu angered by latest delay with NHI Bill
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BusinessLive reports that the slow pace at which the government is moving on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill has drawn the ire of labour federation Cosatu.
Labour Court issues temporary ban on union pickets and protests in Dis-Chem strike
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BusinessLive reports that the Labour Court in Johannesburg has made an unprecedented ruling barring Dis-Chem workers from picketing and protesting.
Echoes of Marikana as Amcu’s wage strike at Sibanye-Stillwater drags on
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Business Times reports on the wage strike by Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) members at Sibanye-Stillwater’s SA gold operations, which commenced on 21 November 2018.
Cape Town's MyCiTi bus service to get new workers as strike rages on
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News24 reports that the City of Cape Town’s outsourced bus service contractors have moved to replace the MyCiTi workers who have been on an unprotected strike since October.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Thursday, 6 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
Thursday, 6 December 2018.
SAPS to promote 28,000 officers effective from 1 November
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EWN reports that national police management and trade unions have struck a deal that will see 28,000 police officers promoted. They have agreed to a promotions strategy that will be implemented over the next three years.
Jeff Radebe in court on Thursday for racial discrimination case brought by Solidarity
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The Citizen reports that energy minister Jeff Radebe appeared before the Equality Court on Thursday in respect of a racial discrimination case brought by trade union Solidarity.
Strikers barred from picketing at Dis-Chem, four workers arrested
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GroundUp reports that four men were arrested when 200 workers demonstrated on Wednesday in front of the Dis-Chem store in Canal Walk, Cape Town.
Springs guard dies from burn wounds after alleged assault by strikers in plastic sector
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The Star reports that the ongoing violent strike in the plastic sector has claimed its first fatality, after a security guard succumbed to burn wounds on Tuesday.
Attacks on EMS staff causing reduction in ambulances services in Western Cape
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Cape Argus writes trauma experienced by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel attacked while on the job, is an indication of larger socio-economic challenges facing SA, according to Deputy Minister of Health Mathume Phaahla.
Seven Anglo American employees make global list of top 100 women in mining
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Mining Weekly reports that seven female Anglo American employees made it onto the Women in Mining’s annual 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining list.
President Ramaphosa to announce effective date for national minimum wage on Friday
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ANA reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday proclaim the effective date for the recently approved national minimum wage (NMW).
Horseracing industry ordered by MPs to improve living conditions of grooms
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TimesLive reports that the horseracing industry has been told by MPs to clean up its act when it comes to the living conditions of grooms employed at facilities in the sector.
Another worker injured at FNB Stadium, following upon rigger who fell to his death at gig
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SowetanLive reports that following the tragic death of a rigger at FNB Stadium, another person got injured at the same venue on Monday.
Ex-lecturer appears in court for murder of UniZulu academic who uncovered fake PhD syndicate
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News24 reports that a former lecturer at the University of Zululand (UniZulu) appeared in court on Tuesday for his alleged part in the murder of prominent academic Professor Gregory Kamwendo.
Minister's 'meddling' in SABC over retrenchments might be unlawful, says civil group
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Fin24 reports that the Save Our SABC Coalition has warned newly appointed Minister of Communications Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams that she might have acted unlawfully by "meddling" in the affairs of the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).