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.
Prasa acting CEO says media onslaught is behind claim of a 350% pay rise
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ANA reports that acting CE of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), Collins Letsoalo, at a media briefing on Monday refuted allegations that he had demanded a massive pay hike, as well that he receive benefits he was allegedly not entitled to.
Saptu and Fedusa appeal to the state to stop wanton farm murders
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ANA reports that SA Parastatal and Tertiary Institutions Union (Saptu), which is an affiliate in the agricultural sector of labour federation Fedusa, has called on government to act decisively to stop ruthless farm murders.
Solidarity to launch campaign to support the local steel industry
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Engineering News reports that trade union Solidarity has set its sights on the expansion and sustainability of SA’s domestic steel industry for the year ahead and will soon launch a Support Our Steel (SOS) campaign.
Wage deadlock reached in passenger rail sector
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ANA reported last week that negotiations between two transport unions and the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) have deadlocked.
Western Cape's Northlink TVET college wins big at skills awards
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Weekend Argus reports that the Western Cape’s largest technical vocational education and training (TVET) college produced four gold, one silver and a bronze medal at the National WorldSkills competition held in Durban last week.
‘Dead domestic worker’ scam resurfaces in Pretoria
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Caxton News Service reports that a scammer spinning a tale about a dead domestic worker has resurfaced, having this time targeted a woman in Lyttelton, Pretoria out of R3,000 on the weekend.
East Rand employee shot dead, R6m worth of nickel stolen in foundry robbery
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Caxton News Service reports that employees of Lauds Foundry Equipment in Wadeville, East Rand, were subjected to a nightmarish time on Wednesday when the company was invaded by 15 men.
Prasa’s ‘Mr Fix-It’ a disgrace and must be fired with immediate effect, says Untu
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ANA reports that Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) acting CEO Collins Letsoalo, who was supposed to use his “so-called ‘Mr Fix-It’ skills” to get the passenger railway service back on track, must be fired with immediate effect, the United National Transport Union (Untu) said on Sunday.
Cosatu introspects this week, prepares to make call on national minimum wage
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BusinessLive reports that Cosatu is expected this week to consider its position on the proposed national minimum wage (NMW) and on the state of the governing alliance.
Survey shows that SA office workers want more natural light
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TimesLive reports that a survey of office workers across SA has revealed the five things employees most want from their office space and 42% said more natural light was the most important element.
Evander gold mine plans to shed 2,000 miners' jobs, says NUM
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Business Report writes that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Friday that it had received a section 189 notice (i.e. possible retrenchment notice) from Pan African Resources (PAR), which intends to lay off about 2,000 workers at its Evander Gold Mine.
Hunter who shot farmworker dead released on bail
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Netwerk24 reports that the man who shot a farmworker dead while he was hunting warthogs has been released on R15,000 bail.
State expected to cut over 100,000 posts in next two years
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Netwerk24 reports that the number of state officials in national departments will be cut in the next two years by about 4.27% as a result of savings announced by the minister of finance, Pravin Gordhan, on Wednesday.
Man killed on Saturday after falling off roof at Durban harbour
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News24 reports that a man was killed after falling off a roof in Durban’s harbour precinct, paramedics said on Sunday.
Acting Prasa boss pays himself 350% increase and demands chauffeur-driven car
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Based on a Sunday Times report, BusinessLive writes that Collins Letsoalo, who was seconded to the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) by the Transport Minister in July last year as acting CEO, has spent considerable energy securing himself a pay cheque four times his agreed salary.
Web links to selected labour news reports posted on 14 February 2017
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Our links page provides references to South African labour news reports we have come across on the Internet on Tuesday, 14 February 2017
Companies have to hire 60% South Africans, says Home Affairs Minister Gigiba
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Cape Argus reports that Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has clarified that all businesses - not just those in the hospitality or construction sectors - were required to have a workforce of at least 60% South African citizens in their employ.
Case against Athol Trollip over alleged abuse of farmworkers postponed
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Netwerk24 reports that eight former farmworkers employed by Athol Trollip, executive mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, were ready on Monday to testify in Grahamstown in the civil case against Trollip brought by Lawrence Troon, former ANC councillor.
Zwane and Mabuza visit families of Lily Mine workers
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News24 reports that Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane and Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza on Monday met families of the three trapped Lily Mine workers.
One out of three TVET graduates jobless‚ says Stats SA boss
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TimesLive reports that, while the unemployment rate among South Africans with a tertiary qualification stood at 7%‚ it was a staggering 33% among TVET graduates‚ according to figures released by Statistician-General Pali Lehohla.
Management crisis continues at UKZN with suspension of five top executives
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The Mercury reports that the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has been plunged into a fresh management crisis amid its suspension of five of its top executives on Monday. This has left staff unsettled and there have been calls for the vice-chancellor to be suspended instead.
Jobless rate reduces to 26.5% as social services sector hires 73,000 more people
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BusinessLive reports that the unemployment rate reduced to 26.5% in the fourth quarter from 27.1% in the third quarter, Statistics SA reported on Tuesday.
Public Protector to probe jobs fiddle at teacher council
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TimesLive reports that the SA Council for Educators (SACE) is being investigated by the Public Protector (PP) because some of the members of the body's top management might not be qualified to do their jobs.
Cash-leaking Lonmin desperately ‘pulling every last lever’
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David McKay writes that red flags are being raised over platinum producer Lonmin’s ability to avoid leaking cash notwithstanding a restructuring in which 6,000 jobs were shed last year, and hundreds of millions in rands cut in capital expenditure.
Workers protest in front of Blue Ribbon bakery in PE over lay-offs
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Netwerk24 reports that up to 40 employees of the Blue Ribbon bakery in Port Elizabeth on Monday made known their dissatisfaction over the company’s decision to workers with placards and burning tyres.
‘Warthog hunter’ who killed farmworker appeared in court on Monday
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TimesLive reports that a hunter accused of killing a farmworker in Limpopo made his first appearance in the Modimolle Magistrate's Court on Monday.
Twelve Tshwane licensing officials suspended for alleged ‘dumping’ fraud
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News24 reports that the City of Tshwane has suspended 12 vehicle licensing department officials who allegedly defrauded the city of millions of rands through their involvement in a “dumping” syndicate.
Web links to selected labour news reports posted on 13 February 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, 13 February 2017