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.
Ekurhuleni metro employee fired for racist ‘baboons’ remark in e-mail
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TimesLive reports that the City of Ekurhuleni Council on Thursday endorsed the decision to fire an employee for making a racist remark to her colleagues.
Prasa to employ 1,500 at its train manufacturing plant at Dunnottar Park
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Business Report writes that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has announced that about 1,500 people will be permanently employed at its R1 billion local train manufacturing plant at Dunnottar Park, in the City of Ekurhuleni.
Nedbank shed almost 500 retail banking staff over past year
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Moneyweb reports that Nedbank reduced the number of staff employed in its retail and business banking (RBB) segment by nearly 500 over the past year, with most of this reduction happening in the first six months of 2016.
10111 emergency call-centre strike resumes
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BusinessLive reports that workers at the 10111 emergency call-centre are going ahead with their strike after not reaching an agreement with management.
DMR withdraws plan for moratorium on mining rights
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Bloomberg reports that the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has withdrawn plans to impose a moratorium on granting, renewing and transfering mining rights and says it will explore other measures to ensure companies are compliant with the Mining Charter.
Web links to selected labour news reports posted on 3 August 2017
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Our links page provides references to South African labour news reports we have come across on the Internet on Thursday, 3 August 2017.
SAA faces a wage increase protest on Friday, even as it officially runs out of cash
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Fin24 reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) will march to South African Airways (SAA) on Friday over a request for pay increases.
Merger talks a ray of hope that Lily Mine will be reopened
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Business Report writes that Australian mining company Vantage Goldfields is involved in merger talks with the Canadian-listed Galane Gold in a bid to reopen the Lily Mine in Barberton, Mpumalanga
Experts decry plan to consolidate or dissolve medical schemes with under 6,000 members
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BusinessLive reports that the plan by the Council for Medical Scheme (CSM) to consolidate or dissolve small medical schemes posed huge risks to the people who belonged to them and might force some to drop their cover entirely, industry sources warned this week.
Damaged overhead wires delay Joburg commuter trains on Thursday
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ANA reports that Metrorail said on Thursday that morning commuter train services operating in Johannesburg were experiencing delays of up one hour following infrastructural challenges.
Sibanye Gold job cuts plans could affect 7,400 employees
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Reuters reports that Sibanye Gold will be restructuring operations in its home market, a move that could affect 7,400 of its employees, the gold and platinum miner said on Thursday.
Zwane’s activation of mining licence moratorium shows disregard for mining crisis, says Chamber
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Miningmx reports that according to the Chamber of Mines SA (COM), the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has implemented a moratorium on the granting of new prospecting and mining licences.
Hospersa strike at SANParks strike called off
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Traveller24 reports that SANParks stated on Thursday that "all their employees who embarked on a strike action and are members of Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (Hospersa) are back at their posts".
CPUT agrees to insource workers following protests by students and workers
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GroundUp reports that following a week of student-worker protests that resulted in a two-day shutdown, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) agreed to insource security guards and cleaning staff.
Annuitisation of provident fund benefits postponed again, this time to March 2019
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Moneyweb reports that changes to the tax treatment of provident funds, introduced as part of broader retirement reforms in 2015 by National Treasury, have once again been postponed for further consultation.
Relief in sight as strike in metals and engineering sector may be averted
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BusinessLive reports that a potential strike in the metal and engineering industries sector seems to have been averted, with trade unions and employers said to be edging closer to a deal.
SAA staff salaries may not be paid as broke airline teeters
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BusinessLive reports that with South African Airways (SAA) having run out of cash and being effectively bankrupt, it is feared it may not be able to pay salaries.
Amcu’s Mathunjwa calls on Zwane to stop ‘useless, senseless decisions’
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In a telephonic interview with Moneyweb’s Warren Thompson, Joseph Mathunjwa, president of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), was asked about a number of the most important issues currently affecting the mining industry.
Nehawu and NHLS reach deal to end strike
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The New Age reports that the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) and the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) brokered a truce last night following an acrimonious two-week strike that put the health of millions at risk.
Lawyer for Marikana murder accused granted time for review application
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EWN reports that the lawyer representing 18 Marikana miners facing charges of murder have until the end of September to file a review application. The miners are accused of killing police, security guards and non-striking workers in the days leading up to the Marikana massacre in August 2012.
NUM to march in North West on Thursday against job cuts
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Business Report writes that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is planning to march to AngloGold Ashanti’s (AGA’s) Vaal Reefs offices, near Orkney in the North West, on Thursday to fight against the retrenchments in the mining industry.
Chamber, NUM round on Zwane fearing 100,000 direct jobs at risk
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Miningmx reports that the Chamber of Mines of SA said on Monday that as many as 100,000 direct and 200,000 indirect jobs could be at risk in the short to medium-term in the local mining sector owing to a deterioration in regulatory and operating conditions.
Unions want Faith Muthambi to pay back wasted expenditure
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The Star reports that the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has called for action against Public Service and Administration Minister Faith Muthambi, saying she must explain the R300,000 she spent to fly 30 of her friends and relatives to her department’s budget vote in Parliament.
Eastern Cape Hawks boss to face sex pest disciplinary inquiry
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DispatchLive reports that the head of the Hawks in the Eastern Cape, Major-General Nyameko Nogwanya, has been stripped of all his powers and authority and is to face a disciplinary hearing for allegedly twice sexually harassing a female staff member.
Marikana lawyers, government working on compensation
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ANA reports that discussions to compensate Marikana mineworkers were continuing with the State, their lawyer indicated on Monday.
RBPlat closure of unprofitable BRPM shaft means more mining job loses
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Miningmx reports that Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat) is to close an unprofitable shaft at its Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine (BRPM) which it shares in joint venture with Anglo American Platinum (Amplats).
ANC slaps Zwane down on Mining Charter, extends olive branch to mining sector
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BusinessLive reports that the ANC has extended an olive branch to the mining sector, cutting Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) Minister Mosebenzi Zwane down to size as the battle over the contentious reviewed Mining Charter continues to simmer.
Month left before strike at printer hits SA's supply of money
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Cape Times reports that, while the ongoing strike at the South African Bank Note Company, which produces notes for the SA Reserve Bank (SARB), will not be felt immediately, the economy will not be sustained if it goes on for a month.
ANC wants government to consider quotas on employment of foreign nationals
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EWN reports that that the African National Congress (ANC) wants government to consider imposing quotas of the number of foreign nationals that companies in different sectors can employ.
NHLS acting chief executive condemns Nehawu strike
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The Star reports that Professor Shabir Madhi, acting CE of the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), on Monday condemned an indication by the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) that it would be intensifying its strike action.