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.
Fears for safety of Numsa members after assassination of recruiter outside Rustenburg CCMA offices
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The Star reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) says its members at Implats mine in Rustenburg are under threat, following the assassination of a union recruiter Malibongwe Mdazo last week.
Finance committee proceeds to consider DA-proposed pension fund bill to permit loans to members
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BusinessLive reports that on Tuesday parliament’s finance committee proceeded with consideration of a DA-proposed bill, notwithstanding Treasury’s undertaking that a pension fund reform bill would be released for public comment later in 2021.
Denel operating without a tax clearance certificate, given a week by Sars to pay PAYE and VAT
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BL Premium reports that Denel is operating without a tax clearance certificate and can be held criminally liable for breaking tax law.
ConCourt told that state’s reneging on 2018 wage agreement undermined collective bargaining
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BL Premium reports that public sector unions told the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) on Tuesday that the government’s reneging on aspects of the 2018 wage agreement damaged the trust between it and employees.
Slain Gauteng health official was witness in SIU’s investigation into PPE purchase irregularities
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TimesLIVE reports that senior Gauteng health department finance officer Babita Deokaran, who was gunned down outside her Johannesburg South home on Monday, was a witness in the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) investigation into PPE purchase irregularities.
SA’s record 34.4% jobless rate in second quarter likely to worsen due to impact of unrest
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BL Premium reports that SA’s official unemployment rate, which reached a record 34.4% in the second quarter of 2021, is likely to worsen once the impact of the unrest that swept across parts of the country in July is reflected in future data.
Richards Bay Minerals restarts operations after weeks of engagement to stabilise security situation
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BL Premium reports that Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) has restarted operations after stabilising the security situation around the mine.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 24 August 2021
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In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Anti-vaxxer protest highlights debate around mandatory jabs, with labour law professor noting that the public interest can limit individual rights
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EWN reports that with SA’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout now in full swing, there are mixed views and questions about whether vaccinations will eventually become mandatory.
Numsa starts nationwide demonstrations over wage negotiations
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Engineering News reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has started with nationwide demonstrations, even while wage negotiations with the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) are ongoing.
Four Durban metro policemen and a retired officer succumb to Covid-19 in a week
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Independent Media reports that four Durban Metro police officers and a retired officer died from Covid-19 complications in a week.
UIF to open online applications for unrest relief scheme on 25 August
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Engineering News reports that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) will start accepting applications for the Workers Affected by Unrest (WABU): Temporary Financial Relief Scheme from 25 August.
Gauteng education department official loses job for sending unsolicited porn videos to client
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The Star reports that a Gauteng Department of Basic Education official has paid the price for sexually harassing a client of the department by sending her unsolicited pornographic videos.
Technical problems put brakes on Metrorail’s train services in parts of Gauteng
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Independent Media reported on Monday on Metrorail’s temporary suspension of some services in Gauteng due to technical problems relating to diesel locomotives.
Naptosa concerned at increase in Covid infections at schools
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EWN reports that the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of SA (Naptosa) has expressed concern at the increase in Covid-19 infections at schools.
Woolworths to do away with SA CEO position as Zyda Rylands steps down
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Fin24 reports that Woolworths will no longer have a CEO for its SA operations, with the current person in the role, Zyda Rylands, stepping down after leading the division for six years.
Minister Thoko Didiza calls on all workers in the agricultural sector to get vaccinated
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News24 reports that Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza has called on workers in the agricultural and agro-processing sectors to go out in their numbers to get vaccinated.
City of Johannesburg hoping for more arrests over fake negative Covid test certificates
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EWN reports that the City of Johannesburg indicated on Monday that it was hoping to track down more suspects who colluded with a health worker stationed at the Parkhurst clinic who allegedly sold fake Covid-19 negative test certificates to travellers.
Western Cape health department hits out at anti-vaxxers after protest at Groote Schuur Hospital
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EWN reports that Western Cape Health authorities have slammed anti-vaxxers for fuelling vaccine hesitancy. A group of demonstrators gathered outside Groote Schuur Hospital on Saturday to protest against Covid-19 vaccines.
Senior Gauteng health official shot multiple times outside complex in Joburg in apparent assassination hit
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TimesLIVE reports that a woman, believed to be a senior official in the department of health in Gauteng, was shot several times outside her complex in Mondeor, south of Johannesburg, on Monday morning.
Military says 'drunk soldier' in viral video has been missing since July
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TimesLIVE reports that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed that an allegedly heavily intoxicated man in military uniform seen in a viral video was one of their own. He has been missing since 27 July.
‘Kite-flying' of controversial state pension plan highlights deep divisions within ANC
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Fin24 reports that the Department of Social Development's Comprehensive Social Security and Retirement Reform Green Paper, which was gazetted last Wednesday, caused a lot of uproar.
Marikana gripped by fear after new killing on Thursday at CCMA offices
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Saturday Citizen reports that fear has once again gripped the platinum belt in Marikana, North West, following the murder on Thursday of a volunteer recruiter for the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa).
Healthcare worker at City of Joburg’s Parkhurst Clinic nabbed for allegedly selling fake negative Covid-19 test certificates
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News24 reports that 28-year-old City of Johannesburg healthcare worker is expected to appear in the Booysens Magistrate's Court after he was arrested for allegedly selling fake negative Covid-19 test certificates for R500 a pop.
Former Gauteng Hawks boss found guilty of serious misconduct for failing to put a subordinate through a disciplinary hearing
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News24 reports that the former Gauteng head of the Hawks, Major-General Prince Mokotedi, has been found guilty of serious misconduct for ignoring a directive to put a subordinate through a disciplinary hearing.
Checkers' cashierless concept store 'doomed to fail', says retail union Saccawu
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Fin24 reports that Shoprite has unveiled plans to test an automated Checkers concept store with no cashiers or till points, but the idea has not been welcomed by labour, with union representatives saying it was doomed to fail.
Metair’s new Ford-linked project to create 3,000 new jobs in SA this year
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Moneyweb reports that automotive components and energy storage solutions manufacturer Metair Investments is to create more than 3,000 new jobs in SA this year through a major investment in a new project for Ford SA.
SA to remain on adjusted Level 3 of Covid-19 lockdown
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News24 reports that Cabinet has approved the decision to leave the country on adjusted Level 3 of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Notwithstanding a commitment, Mango staff wary about receiving July salaries
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EWN reports that there was a sigh of relief on Thursday from Mango employees with a commitment that last month's full salaries would be paid.
Department of Public Enterprises aims at strict vetting of appointments at SOEs
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BL Premium reports that the government is planning to intensify the vetting of non-executive directors and other employees at state-owned entities (SOEs) to improve the quality of appointments.