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.
Investigator Paul O'Sullivan calls for public's help with platinum belt killings
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EWN reports that private investigator Paul O' Sullivan has asked anyone with information on the recent killings in and around Marikana on the platinum belt to come forward.
With death toll at two, AngloGold confirms all other trapped miners rescued at Mponeng
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EWN reports that AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) has confirmed that all mineworkers who were trapped underground at the gold producer’s Mponeng operation near Carletonville on the West Rand have been brought to the surface.
SA could have as many as 50,000 illegal estate agents, says industry body
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TimesLive reports that the Estate Agency Affairs Board revealed on Thursday that about 50,000 estate agents could be operating illegally in SA.
Cabinet approves national minimum wage of R20 an hour from May 2018
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Reuters reports that the Department of Labour said on Thursday that Cabinet had approved draft legislation to introduce a national minimum wage (NMW) of R20 per hour from May next year.
Sibanye-Stillwater confirms 7,000 employees cut at Cooke
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Miningmx reports that Sibanye-Stillwater has completed a restructuring process at its Cooke gold and uranium shafts on the West Rand, cutting a total of 6,976 from its workforce including 1,350 employees who took voluntary separation packages.
SABC staff ready to defend legality of their strike in court
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EWN reports that SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) staff affiliated to the Broadcast, Electronic Media and Allied Workers’ Union (Bemawu) insist that their strike is legal and say that they’re prepared to fight their case in court.
Constitutionality of affirmative action policy iro appointment of liquidators challenged in ConCourt
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News24 reports that the Constitutional Court was on Thursday expected to hear a case brought by trade union Solidarity and the SA Restructuring and Insolvency Practitioners' Association (Saripa) challenging the constitutionality of BEE and affirmative action.
Nehawu and other unions set to clash with government over public sector wage hikes
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Fin24 reports that the National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) was set to embark on a collision course with government on Thursday, as it readied itself to announce public sector wage demands in the double digits.
Shoprite makes about-turn on executive pay
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The Citizen reports that Shoprite Holdings, the continent’s largest retailer, has made a surprising about-turn on executive remuneration.
AG reports that state employees scored contracts worth R165m
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TimesLive reports that contracts worth R165-million were awarded to suppliers in which government employees‚ including political office bearers‚ had an interest.
Samwu ‘disgusted’ over paltry increase for EPWP workers
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TimesLive reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) says it is disgusted by the decision to increase the daily rate of Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers from R83.50 to just R88.00.
Broadcasting union Bemawu forges ahead with strike at SABC
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ANA reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) said on Wednesday that it was concerned by the looming workers’ strike after the Broadcasting, Electronic, Media and Allied Workers’ Union (Bemawu) declined to end the wage impasse.
Inflation shrinks real disposable take-home pay in September
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Fin24 reports that real disposable take-home pay shrank for the first time in seven months on a year-on-year (y/y) basis due to higher inflation in September 2017.
Private security guards demand to work directly for the state
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TimesLive reports that on Monday morning police were called to the offices of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) in the Joburg city centre‚ after protesting security guards blocked the entrance.
Western Cape farm workers join protest against farm murders
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EWN reports that on Monday morning hundreds of vehicles were slowly making their way towards Cape Town en route to Green Point with the aim of bringing attention to farm murders.
Unskilled managers running Durban's failing billing system
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Sunday Tribune reports that residents of eThekwini are experiencing ongoing utility billing bungles and electricity disconnections, because management at the city’s revenue department are allegedly not qualified to do their jobs.
Eastern Cape tea growing industry being revived
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ANA reports that Eastern Cape MEC for Eastern Cape Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, is expected to visit the Magwa Tea Estate in Lusikisiki next month for the first harvest following four years of dormancy.
Satawu-affiliated security guards at Chubb due to down tools on Monday
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TimesLive reports that SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu)-affiliated security guards at Chubb Fire and Security SA were due to embark on a strike from Monday.
Worry that R16bn in public pensions already handed over to politically motivated investments
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Terry Bell writes that it has begun to dawn on public sector trade unionists that a very large sum of money from their pension funds may already have been handed over to politically motivated investments under the guise of promoting Black Economic Empowerment (BEE).
Cosatu disappointed at Gigaba's Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement
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Business Report writes that labour federation Cosatu has expressed its disappointment with Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), saying the mini-budget revealed a “leadership crisis and dearth of ideas in government”.
Amcu man in court on Friday for unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition
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ANA reports that on Friday the bail hearing in the Brits Magistrate’s Court of an Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) member accused of possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition was postponed to 30 October for arguments and judgment.
Opposition by unions to City of Cape Town’s Metrorail plans said to be 'premature'
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Cape Times reports that according to City of Cape Town mayoral committee member for transport and urban development, Brett Herron, the opposition to the City's plans to take over the management of passenger rail service in the province by some trade unions was premature.
Lonmin hits back at calls for its operations to be shut down over social and labour plan non-compliance
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Fin24 reports that platinum producer Lonmin has hit back at calls by the Mining Forum of SA (MFSA) and Bapo ba Mogale Investments (BBMI) to have its operating licence removed over non-compliance with its social and labour plan (SLP).
Bail hearing postponed of NUM member accused of attempted murder of Amcu branch leader
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ANA reports that the bail hearing on Friday in the Brits Magistrates’ Court of a National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) member accused of attempted murder was postponed to 31 October for arguments and judgment.
Nearly 1,000 direct and indirect job losses so far as a result of GMSA’s exit
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City Press reports that according to the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), the effect of the pull-out by General Motors SA (GMSA) from South Africa was much more devastating than earlier expected, with close to a thousand workers affected.
Name of SA soldier killed by a colleague in DRC made known
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News24 reports that the name of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier who was shot and killed by a colleague in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was Private Nomathemba Ngeleka, a mother of one.
Twenty-nine people arrested during meter taxi and bus strike on OR Tambo routes
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TimesLive reports that Gauteng police have arrested 29 people for public violence during a meter taxi and truck strike on routes to OR Tambo International Airport on Friday.
‘Unsympathetic’ Labour Court backs Sun City’s axing of workers over illegal Gupta-related strike
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BusinessLive reports that the dismissal of three shop stewards who participated in an unprotected strike following the notorious Gupta wedding at Sun City in 2013 has been held to be substantively fair by the Labour Court.
Uber driver-partners to receive some perks to offset operating costs
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BusinessLive reports that Uber driver-partners will start to receive perks in the form of fuel rebates and cellphone deals‚ which will help reduce their operating costs. Other benefits will include car maintenance support and health insurance.
Royal Bafokeng Platinum ordered on Thursday to suspend mining at entire North shaft
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Bloomberg reports that Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBM) was ordered on Thursday by mining inspectors to suspend operations at its North shaft.