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.
Cape Town Metrorail staff thwart attempted train arson attack on Tuesday
- Details
Cape Times reports that Cape Town Metrorail staffers managed to stop an attempted arson attack in its tracks on Tuesday.
South African scientists, academics, and technology experts targeted under new UK visa
- Details
BusinessTech reports that the recent slowdown in migration to the UK from the EU, together with new relaxed visa measures, are expected to create opportunities for non-EU nationals to live and work in the UK.
Cops swoop on KZN nurse who tried to smuggle two AK47s into Montebello Hospital
- Details
Daily News reports that the KwaZulu-Natal Tactical Response Team (TRT), the K9 Unit and Nsuze police officers swooped on the residence of a Montebello Hospital male nurse on Monday and found two AK47 automatic assault rifles.
Eskom to meet with unions on Friday to discuss bonus payouts
- Details
Business Report writes that Eskom has agreed to meet with unions on Friday, 3 August to discuss the issue of bonus payments for employees.
Salary index shows South Africans continue to grow poorer
- Details
BusinessLive reports that after taking inflation into account, the average South African salary declined by 2.4% in June from the same month in 2017.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 31 July 2018
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 31 July 2018.
Prof Mayosi twice tried to resign before he took his life, says UCT vice-chancellor
- Details
The Citizen reports that University of Cape Town (UCT) cardiologist Professor Bongani Mayosi, who committed suicide on Friday, tried twice in the period since 2016 to resign, but was not released by the institution.
Arson attacks, train crime weigh on Metrorail passenger figures in Cape Town
- Details
EWN reports that Metrorail’s passenger numbers have dropped drastically over the past 18 months due to arson attacks and general criminality affecting trains.
Disruptions hit Eskom's Arnot power station amid wage protests
- Details
Reuters reports that power utility Eskom said on Tuesday that one of the coal-fired units at its Arnot power station was not working. It, however, denied claims by two union sources that five of the units were down because of low coal supplies and wage protests.
Santaco announces taxi fares increases from Wednesday
- Details
ANA reports that the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) on Tuesday said taxi fares for local and long distance operations would increase on Wednesday, with a further review due in June 2019.
Unemployment rate rises to 27.2%, as manufacturing sector sheds 105,000 jobs
- Details
BusinessLive reports that SA’s unemployment rate worsened to 27.2% in the second quarter, from 26.7% in the first quarter, Statistics SA reported on Tuesday in its quarterly labour force survey.
Two female deputy principals in a violent fight at Duduza school
- Details
SowetanLive reports that a disagreement between two female deputy principals at a Gauteng school escalated into a bloody altercation when one allegedly assaulted the other using office equipment.
State calls on former public servants to claim unpaid and unclaimed pension benefits
- Details
BusinessLive reports that the government has called on retired public servants and their beneficiaries to apply for unclaimed and unpaid pension benefits, which amount to more than R1.6bn.
Parliament petitioned to introduce ‘elder care leave’
- Details
Timeslive reports that Hendri Terblanche‚ who successful petitioned Parliament to allow men to get more days off to take care of their newborns‚ now wants the roles reversed for adult children and their elderly parents.
Striking Gautrain workers insist of seeing Bombela financials
- Details
Moneyweb reports that striking United National Transport Union (Untu) members are adamant that the Bombela Operating Company (BOC), which operates the Gautrain, should open its books and show, among other things, the bonuses paid to executives over the last few years.
Eskom warns of load shedding this week, amid sporadic industrial action on Monday
- Details
BusinessLive reports that Eskom has warned of load shedding this week amid sporadic industrial action by workers who staged pickets at its facilities across the country on Monday.
Pick n Pay created 14,000 net new jobs in three years, despite voluntary severance programme
- Details
BusinessLive reports that despite its recent voluntary severance programme, Pick n Pay created almost 14,000 net new jobs over the past three years and intends creating 15,000 more in the next three years.
Gautrain takes legal steps to prevent intimidation during wage strike
- Details
Fin24 reports that Gautrain said on Monday evening that it had taken legal steps to ensure that striking workers protested peacefully and had implemented additional safety measures following the first day of an indefinite wage strike.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 30 July 2018
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Monday, 30 July 2018.
Prof Bongani Mayosi’s death highlights prevalence of mental health issues among doctors
- Details
The Citizen reports that the reported suicide of Dr Bongani Mayosi has prompted the SA Medical Association (Sama) to set up a support structure to address the underlying problems of a heavy workload and long hours that lead to doctors suffering from stress and depression.
It’s a 'train smash' for commuters as Gautrain strike set to continue
- Details
Fin24 reports that the United National Transport Union (Untu) vowed on Monday that Gautrain strike action would continue until the workers' demands were taken seriously.
#FeesMustFall protests might have contributed to suicide of UCT health sciences dean
- Details
Cape Argus reports that #FeesMustFall protests might have contributed to the death of University of Cape Town (UCT) health dean and world-class cardiology researcher Professor Bongani Mayosi, 51, who committed suicide on Friday.
Eskom workers down tools on Monday at some power stations
- Details
Reuters reports that Khulu Phasiwe, spokesperson for Eskom, said that workers at some of the power utility’s power stations downed tools on Monday morning after an impasse over wages, but supply had not been disrupted.
Transport union Untu denies reports of intimidation of non-striking Gautrain bus drivers
- Details
EWN reports that the United National Transport Union (Untu) has denied allegations that its striking members were intimidating non-striking Gautrain bus drivers and preventing them from leaving the depots.
Cosatu says Samwu leaders are ‘unco-operative, unaccountable’
- Details
The Star reports that according to Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali, leaders of the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) were running away from members and not accounting for the use of its money.
Environmental Affairs Minister pays tribute to KNP ranger killed in shoot-out with rhino poachers
- Details
ANA reports that Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa said on Saturday that the murder of a Kruger National Park (KNP) game ranger by alleged rhino poachers showed the severity of the threat rangers faced on a daily basis.
Great difficulty for junior doctors to access registration portal for community service jobs
- Details
The Citizen reports that the Department of Health’s (DOH’s) application portal for doctors hoping to apply for community service positions next year is such a mess that hundreds of doctors are currently still unable to register and verify their details.
Drawn-out Eskom wage negotiations snag on bonuses deal breaker
- Details
BusinessLive reports that the drawn-out Eskom wage negotiations are set to continue this week after trade unions refused to budge on their demand for bonuses.
Gautrain accuses striking workers of blocking buses at depot
- Details
EWN reports that Gautrain has accused its striking workers of preventing buses from exiting the depot, causing delays to services in Centurion, Sandton and Park Station.
New regulations may stop unwanted marketing calls, but many are set to lose their jobs
- Details
BusinessTech reports that according to the Direct Marketing Association of SA (DMASA), the current draft regulations relating to the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPI) could significantly harm jobs in direct marketing.