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.
Tshwane provides buses for unemployed youth to seek opportunities
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The Citizen reports that young job seekers in Tshwane filled three buses to capacity on Monday when the city launched a free bus ride project to transport unemployed youth from townships to town to look for work.
Shock removal of Eskom chief comes under fire from NUM and BBC
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Business Report writes that opposition to Eskom’s shocking decision to remove interim chief executive Johnny Dladla intensified on Monday, with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Black Business Council (BBC) calling for his immediate reinstatement.
Strike looms at Road Accident Fund, Numsa granted certificate
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ANA reports that a strike looms at the cash-strapped Road Accident Fund (RAF), where workers have lodged several complaints including malfunctioning air conditioning units, poor sanitation and assets such as computers being attached to pay creditors.
Paramedics robbed in Alexandra in Johannesburg after picking up a patient
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News24 reports that two paramedics were robbed at gunpoint in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, on Tuesday morning.
Threat of revolt at Gupta mines by workers who face late payments and lay-offs
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TimesLive reports that while the Gupta family fights for a court order that would stop the Bank of Baroda from closing their accounts, they also face the threat of revolt by thousands of mineworkers whom they employ.
Road traffic infringement boss gets 93% salary hike even as fines issued drop from 5.5m to 2m
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The Citizen reports that the basic pay of the registrar of the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), Japh Chuwe, increased by 93% from R1.8 million to R3.49 million in 2016-17.
Zwane faces rebellion as regional managers fight ‘politically motivated’ reshuffle
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BusinessLive reports that Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane is facing a rebellion from officials within his department, amid allegations that a far-reaching redeployment of regional managers is politically motivated.
ANC has forgotten the Marikana massacre, says DA’s Maimane
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ANA reports that Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane on Monday accused the government of having consigned the Marikana tragedy to history after President Jacob Zuma said he would not declare 16 August a commemorative day to mark the mass shooting of 34 miners five years ago.
Senior Limpopo cop killed, another seriously injured by gunmen
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News24 reports that a senior policeman was shot dead outside his home in Vuwani, Thohoyandou, on Sunday night by unknown suspects, who then robbed him of the police vehicle he was travelling in.
Web links to selected labour news reports posted on Monday, 9 October 2017
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Our links page provides references to South African labour news reports we have come across on the Internet on Monday, 9 October 2017.
Fedusa wants to review PIC investments mandate iro GEPF
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Reuters reports that the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) said on Saturday it would consult rival federations over possibly withdrawing an investment mandate the state workers' pension fund has with the Public Investment Corporation (PIC).
DA seeks changes to PIC law amid graft concerns
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BusinessLive reports that moves are afoot to propose far-reaching amendments to the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) Act to enhance transparency and strengthen the asset manager’s board.
Satawu official in court on charge of obtaining SA ID document fraudulently
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Pretoria News reports that the Gauteng provincial secretary of the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), Gift Ndwandwe, has vowed to appeal against his imminent deportation by the Home Affairs Department.
Improving miners’ lives best way of honouring Marikana victims, says Zuma
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ANA reports that President Jacob Zuma has said he would not declare a commemorative day to mark the killing of miners at Marikana five years ago, as the most effective way of honouring the victims was to take practical steps to improve the lives of mining communities.
NUM declares wage dispute at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Kroondal operation
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Miningmx reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has declared a wage dispute at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Kroondaal operation after wage negotiations there deadlocked.
‘Dr Joe’, GEMS 'bogus' online doctor, to be investigated
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TimesLive reports that the Government Employee Medical Scheme (GEMS) has launched an investigation into claims it allowed staff at public relations firm Martina Nicholson Associates to give medical advice on its online column titled ‘Dr Joe’.
Eskom’s delay in signing power purchase agreements killing green jobs
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City Press reports that hundreds of jobs in the renewable energy sector are set to be axed following delays by power utility Eskom in signing power purchase agreements (PPAs).
Win for Guptas as court interdicts Bank of Baroda from closing Gupta-linked accounts
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BusinessLive reports that in a victory for the Gupta family, the High Court in Pretoria has temporarily interdicted the Bank of Baroda from closing 20 Gupta-linked bank accounts pending the final outcome of their main application.
Gauteng premier slams delays in labour department’s Grayston bridge collapse inquiry
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TimesLive reports that Gauteng Premier David Makhura has condemned the series of delays in the inquiry into the collapse of the Grayston bridge in Sandton, northern Johannesburg.
Oakbay’s former pay agent Terbium Financial Services not registered
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BusinessLive reports that Terbium Financial Services, which until recently acted as a paying agent for the Oakbay group, is not registered with the Payments Association of SA (Pasa).
Medical aid schemes in poor health, Council of Medical Schemes warns
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BusinessLive reports that worsening claims ratios and climbing healthcare costs have resulted in SA’s medical aid schemes facing a multimillion-rand deficit, the Council of Medical Schemes (CMS) 2016 annual report showed last week.
Sadtu wants teachers to be incentivised to work in rural areas
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BusinessLive reports that the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has called on the government to incentivise teachers better so that large numbers opt to teach in rural areas.
Unions warn Gigaba to back off on civil servants’ pensions
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City Press reports that unions have warned Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba and his deputy Sfiso Buthelezi to keep their hands off civil servants’ pensions.
Wage strike averted at SAA Technical
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Fin24 reports that South African Airways (SAA) announced on Friday afternoon that the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) had formally withdrawn a notice of strike served on its maintenance subsidiary, SAA Technical (SAAT).
Protests test tribal authority on SA's platinum belt
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Reuters reports that a new power struggle is unfolding in SA’s old homelands between global mining giants, traditional leaders and an impoverished rural populace.
Depression in the workplace costs South Africa R232bn in lost productivity
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Fin24 writes that depression costs SA more than R232bn or 5.7% of the country’s GDP due to lost productivity - either due to absence from work or attending work while unwell.
Marikana assassinations a portent of a looming platinum belt war
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City Press writes that at least five miners on the Rustenburg platinum belt have been killed by “hired guns” in the past two months, all of them members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu).
Lawyer issues warning about offering services in respect of NHI scheme
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City Press writes that private medical aids and hospital groups should be cautious when offering services to government as part of the proposed national health insurance (NHI) scheme because there are still too many uncertainties surrounding the system.
Gigaba to meet labour to discuss representation on PIC board
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City Press Business reports that Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba said on Friday that he had heard the request of unions to have a labour representative on the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) board and would arrange a meeting to discuss the matter.
Numsa calls for independent probe into all Eskom’s ‘shady dealings’
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ANA reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) on Sunday called for an independent investigation into all “shady dealings” at electricity parastatal Eskom and the suspension of certain officials pending the outcome of a disciplinary process.