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.
Family of car guard slain by unprovoked street punch 'shocked and distressed'
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SowetanLive writes that the family member of an Ekurhuleni car guard who was reportedly killed by a motorist have expressed shock and distress at his death.
Tuition at colleges must aim to close gap between education and workplace, says Pandor
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The Citizen reports that Higher Education and Training Minister Naledi Pandor said on Monday that colleges should equip students with skills required by industry through changing the nature of tuition programmes offered so as to close the gap between education and workplace.
Nedlac approves Solidarity strike action over ‘race exclusion’ from employee share ownerships schemes
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Engineering News reports that trade union Solidarity on Tuesday announced that the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) had approved its application to undertake a lawful strike against the exclusion of white employees from employee share ownership plans.
Unemployment rate rises to 27.5% in third quarter
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Engineering News reports that the official unemployment rate increased to 27.5% during the third quarter, compared with 27.2% in the second quarter and 26.7% in the first quarter. This translated to 6.2m unemployed people.
KZN Sharks Board employee suffers heart attack out at sea, airlifted to hospital
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Daily News reports that a KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Sharks Board employee had to be airlifted to hospital after he began experiencing chest pains whilst out at sea on Monday.
Moyane meets Ramaphosa’s deadline for submission on why he shouldn’t be axed from Sars
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BusinessLive reports that suspended SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Tom Moyane has made a submission to President Cyril Ramaphosa on why he should not be removed from his post.
Cape Town's new Rail Enforcement Unit hits the ground running, makes first arrest
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News24 reports that one hundred members of the new Rail Enforcement Unit began their maiden voyage at Cape Town train station on Monday.
Another government building, in Pretoria, declared unsafe
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eNCA reports that members of the Public Servants Association (PSA) and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) on Tuesday gathered outside the Civitas building in Pretoria, refusing to enter for work.
SABC restructuring puts almost 1,000 jobs at risk
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Fin24 reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and labour unions have agreed to appoint a facilitator from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in respect of its restructuring exercise, which could affect 981 jobs.
Society of Black Engineers and Black Business Council concerned about coal sector job losses
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Engineering News reports that the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the Black Business Council (BBC) have called for amendments to the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2018.
Rail sector plagued by theft, vandalism
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Engineering News reports that train collisions accounted for the highest number of safety incidents in the rail sector during 2017/18, the Railway Safety Regulator’s (RSR’s) annual safety report showed.
Lonmin says it is a victim of vexatious litigation over non-compliance with its social and labour plan
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GroundUp reports on the application of the Mining Forum of SA (MFSA) to the North West High Court to have the mining licences suspended of Lonmin, as well as Eastern Platinum and Western Platinum (both controlled by Lonmin).
Top EU official urges SA education system to focus on skills required for the job market
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BusinessLive reports that a top European Union (EU) official has expressed great concern about the mismatch between SA’s education system and the skills required for the job market.
Eskom senior officials, ex-executives and former board members might face long arm of the law
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IOL News reports that senior Eskom officials, former executives and former board members might face criminal prosecution after Parliament approved recommendations that they be prosecuted for corruption.
Angry EPWP workers storm Durban city hall on Monday over nonpayment
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Daily News reports that angry Expanded Public Works Programme (EPW) workers stormed the Durban City Hall offices on Monday, demanding to talk to city treasurer Krish Kumar.
Economists expect SA’s unemployment data to remain stubbornly high
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Business Report writes that economists believe this week’s unemployment data will remain stubbornly high amidst weak economic growth.
City Rail Enforcement Unit finally deployed in Cape Town on Monday
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EWN reports that the long-awaited City Rail Enforcement Unit was finally deployed on Cape Town’s rail network on Monday morning following a number of delays.
Jobs summit failed to tackle the hard issues, says academic commentator
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Rhodes University academic Professor Owen Skae writes that the recent Jobs Summit, anchored by President Cyril Ramaphosa, promised a lot but delivered very little substance.
Perils facing SA’s pension system detailed in Mercer’s 2018 pension index
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BusinessLive reports that according to the 2018 Mercer Melbourne Global Pension Index, SA’s pensioners on average received the lowest income of all countries that have a functioning pension system.
Cosatu Gauteng to embark on stayaway on Friday to protest against e-tolls
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TimesLive reports that Cosatu in Gauteng will embark on a stayaway on Friday to protest against e-tolls and will deliver a memorandum to President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria.
Roundup on Monday, 29 October 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, 26 October 2018.
Transnet to sue axed CEO Gama for R166m
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BusinessLive reports that Transnet will be suing its axed CEO Siyabonga Gama for R166m, which the state-owned utility says was an overpayment made to Gupta-linked Regiments Capital.
Unions call for cabinet downsizing, but don’t want any jobs to be cut
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Sunday Independent writes that Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s position on the hefty public sector wage bill straining the fiscus has sparked debate about cutting government expenditure.
North West villagers win ‘milestone’ judgment against eviction by Pilanesberg Platinum Mines
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The Citizen reports that the organisation ‘Lawyers for Human Rights’ has welcomed a Constitutional Court (ConCourt) ruling that a mining right does not supersede the rights of land occupiers as exactly the milestone that mining communities need.
High Court reserves judgment in case over Lonmin’s non-compliance with social and labour plans
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ANA reports that the North West High Court on Friday reserved judgment in a case involving Lonmin’s mining licence.
Transnet’s disciplinary action against ex-treasurer Ramosebudi to continue notwithstanding his resignation
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Fin24 reports that Transnet is continuing with its disciplinary action against former Group Treasurer Phetolo Ramosebudi, despite his resignation.
Fresh bid by creditors to liquidate ill-fated Lily and Barbrook mines
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City Press reports that creditors of Mpumalanga’s Lily and Barbrook mines have started a fresh bid to liquidate the mines, after doubts that a R22m promised loan payment would materialise.
Independent Media mum on number of jobs at risk in restructuring
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BusinessLive reports that the Independent Media group has confirmed that it is restructuring, but has not said how many jobs would be affected.
Vandalism on trains 'beyond our call of duty', claims Prasa
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News24 reports that addressing vandalism on trains was "beyond our call of duty", Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) spokesperson Nana Zenani said on Thursday.
SAPS pilot allegedly lands helicopter in Queenstown parking lot to buy KFC
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News24 reports that the SA Police Service (SAPS) is investigating one of its police pilots who on Tuesday last week allegedly made an emergency landing in a parking lot in Queenstown, Eastern Cape, seemingly to buy a KFC meal.