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.
As Ben Ngubane resigns as chair, no word yet on interim Eskom CEO
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Mining Weekly reports that Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown announced on Monday that Dr Ben Ngubane has resigned as nonexecutive director and chairperson of the Eskom board with immediate effect.
Plunge in platinum price ignites social unrest as villagers turn on mines
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Bloomberg writes that as platinum prices have fallen and industry costs have risen over the past decade, dividends paid to local community trusts have dried up and many pledges to improve living conditions have gone unfulfilled.
I was 'left in the dark' over my axing, Motsoeneng claims
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News24 reports that, while the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is adamant that its former COO was duly informed of his axing, Hlaudi Motsoeneng claims he has been "left in the dark".
More Metrorail delays on Tuesday after torching of Cape Town trains
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News24 reports that train commuters were on Tuesday stuck with further delays on all routes after eight train carriages were set alight at Cape Town station.
Court orders MEIBC to be placed under administration
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Engineering News reports that trade union Solidarity has succeeded in its application to have the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC) placed under administration.
Following chairman Ngubane’s resignation, NUM calls on entire Eskom board to resign
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Fin24 reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has called for the entire board of Eskom to follow suit after chairperson Ben Ngubane's decision to resign.
Solidarity’s Labour Market Index improves in Q1, but remains below 50
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Engineering News reports that the Solidarity-ETM Labour Market Index (LMI) improved strongly to 47.8 index points in the first quarter of this year, compared with the fourth quarter of 2016’s revised 42.2 index points.
Private sector doctors rescue KZN cancer patients
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Daily News reports that oncologists and radiotherapists from the private sector will provide oncology services at public health facilities, while the Department of Health is recruiting replacements to treat cancer patients.
Uber confirms driver attacked and burnt at Loftus on Saturday
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The Citizen reports that a photo and video circulated among Uber drivers over the weekend of a taxi driver who was attacked and burnt near Loftus on Saturday night at the Springbok rugby march in Pretoria has been confirmed as authentic by the firm.
Sibanye’s Cooke operation closed for rest of week as security situation assessed
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Reuters reports that Sibanye Gold said on Monday that 202 illegal miners had now been arrested at its Cooke operations southwest of Johannesburg since the start of a violent wildcat strike last Tuesday.
Angry commuters torch trains, loot, at Cape Town station over lengthy delays
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News24 reports that two trains were set alight and shops looted at Cape Town station on Monday night, when commuters went on the rampage in reaction to lengthy delays. No injuries were reported.
Hlaudi hanged by his own tongue with his bizarre press conference
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TimesLive writes that former SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng dodged damning findings by the public protector and a R10-million bonus scandal, but it was a bizarre press conference that eventually brought him down.
Cosatu delays bilateral meeting with ANC at eleventh hour
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BusinessLive writes that the ANC-led tripartite alliance is no closer to reaching a solution to its many problems after labour federation Cosatu on Monday postponed a bilateral meeting with the party at the eleventh hour.
SABC gives Hlaudi Motsoeneng the boot
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BusinessLive reports that Hlaudi Motsoeneng, former COO at the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), has been fired after being found guilty of misconduct.
Roundup of labour news on Monday, 12 June 2017
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In our Monday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Friday, 9 June 2017.
Agriculture the best performer in a struggling economy, with positive jobs potential
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Nehru Pillay, general manager for Research and Intelligence at the Land Bank, writes that, even though SA has slipped into a technical recession, last week’s announcement by Statistics SA showed positive GDP growth in two sectors, namely agriculture and mining.
Satawu members at AARTO embark on strike over work hours
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ANA reports that members of the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) at Gauteng’s Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), responsible for managing the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO), on Monday downed tools over work hours.
Numsa strike threat in metal and engineering industries
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Business Report writes that the jury is out on whether the metal and engineering industries can avert labour unrest after the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) blamed employers for provoking its members to strike.
Sibanye says 178 illegal miners now arrested at strike-hit Cooke operations
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Reuters reports that Sibanye Gold said on Monday that 178 illegal miners have now been arrested at its Cooke operations since the start of a violent wildcat strike last Tuesday.
Hlaudi Motsoeneng reportedly found guilty by SABC disciplinary hearing
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News24 reports that it has been told by a reliable source that former SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng has been found guilty in an internal disciplinary hearing.
No new teachers screened by national education department for sexual offences
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TimesLive reports that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has not screened a single new teacher, principal or official against the National Sexual Offenders' Register to see if they have been convicted of sexually harming a child.
Nehawu gears up for wage strike from Monday at Dube TradePort
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TMG Digital/TimesLive report that the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) in KwaZulu-Natal is preparing for a strike at the Dube TradePort, which is located 30km north of Durban, after wage negotiations deadlocked.
Numsa rejects 5.3% wage offer in metal and engineering sector
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ANA reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has rejected an offer by employers in the metal and engineering industries for a 5.3% wage increase.
Plettenberg Bay firefighter died trying to outrun blaze
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News24 reports that the volunteer firefighter who died on Friday morning after helping to put out wildfires in Plettenberg Bay had been trying to outrun the blaze.
Last Durban public health oncologist leaves, cancer victim dies
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Sunday Tribune reports that a 69-year-old Stanger man who had been waiting to receive urgent cancer treatment at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital died this week amid an oncology crisis in Durban.
Mpumalanga teachers on ‘go-slow’ are working only two hours a day
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TimesLive reports that the education of thousands of Mpumalanga schoolchildren has ground to a near halt and exams have been postponed because of a teachers' go-slow.
Cosatu won’t be attending bilateral meeting with ANC planned for Monday
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EWN reports that that Cosatu will apparently not be attending a planned bilateral meeting with the African National Congress (ANC) on Monday.
Wildcat strike over zama zamas at Sibanye’s Cooke operations continued on Sunday
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Reuters reports that a wildcat strike at Sibanye Gold’s Cooke operations west of Johannesburg continued on Sunday and 138 illegal miners there have been arrested since the stoppage began on Tuesday.
Web links to selected labour news reports posted from 9 June to 11 June 2017
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Our links page provides references to South African labour news reports we have come across on the Internet from Friday, 9 June to Sunday, 11 June 2017.
Roundup of labour news on Friday, 9 June 2017
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In our Friday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Thursday, 8 June 2017.