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.
Pikitup could sue ousted Nair to recoup losses on unauthorised bonuses
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The Star reports that axed Pikitup boss Amanda Nair's troubles could get worse after the entity threatened to take legal action against her to recover excessive acting allowances paid to employees without due authorisation.
Home Affairs Minister tries to allay fears about Border Management Authority
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BDLive reports that, speaking to the portfolio committee on home affairs on Tuesday, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba sought to allay concerns about the Border Management Authority (BMA) Bill and its implications.
Little recourse for mining communities, SAHRC hears
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Business Report writes that according to human rights lawyers, there are little avenues available for mining communities to hold mining companies to account.
NUM supports striking employees at Northern Cape mine
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Mining Weekly reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Tuesday said it supported employees who were striking at manganese and iron-ore producer Diro Resources’ operation, in Kathu, in the Northern Cape.
National minimum wage ‘not a silver bullet’, but it will dent poverty levels
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Business Report writes that Wits researcher Gilad Isaacs maintains that, while a national minimum wage will not lead to massive economic growth in SA, it will dent the country’s soaring poverty rates.
Two more bodies recovered from Langlaagte mine
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ANA reports that two more bodies were recovered from the disused mine in Langlaagte on Tuesday by a group of illegal miners who entered the mine, despite pleas from Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane to not send “untrained” people underground.
Survey shows few employers intend to increase staff in festive quarter
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BDLive reports that only a few of the South African employers who participated in the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey intend to employ more people in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Monday saw end to strike by George bus drivers
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Netwerk24 reports that the strike by bus drivers of the integrated transport network Go George is over. According to the George municipality, all of the drivers undertook to be back at work on Monday and all routes were served.
SABC 8 press on with ConCourt application
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News24 reports that the eight SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) journalists who were fired - seven of whom were later reinstated - for their opposition to the broadcaster’s policy to censor coverage of protests will continue with their Constitutional Court application.
Mining communities’ grievances ‘becoming intense’, SAHRC hearing told
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TMG Digital/Sowetan reports that panellists at a SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) investigation of the socioeconomic challenges faced by mining-affected communities said that the burning issues affecting people living in mining areas have been simmering for years and discontent was growing.
ConCourt significantly amends Magistrates’ Act iro of ‘garnishee orders’
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BDLive reports that the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) has changed certain sections of the Magistrates’ Court Act (MC Act) dealing with emoluments attachment orders (EAOs) — commonly known as garnishee orders — to bring them in line with the Constitution.
Illegal miners in Kimberley may threaten Petra Diamonds’ viability
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Brendan Ryan reports that an invasion of more than one thousand illegal diamond miners – zama-zamas – in Kimberley in the Northern Cape is threatening the viability of London-listed Petra Diamonds (Petra) operations.
‘On top of our minds’ to sort out provident fund tax loophole, says Treasury
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Inge Lamprecht writes that provident fund members have best of both worlds – saving for retirement in a tax shelter then being able to take 100% of savings as a cash lump sum on retirement.
Gupta-owned Sahara Computers shelves retrenchments
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ITWeb reports that Gupta family-owned Sahara Computers has put on hold job retrenchments that hit the company in June. This comes after the ICT distributor last week reported revenue of R1.1 billion for the year ended 29 February.
Malmesbury worker drowns while knee-deep in vat of wine
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News24 reports that police are investigating the death of a worker who drowned in a wine vat in Malmesbury on Sunday.
Labour productivity falls while labour costs rise, says Reserve Bank
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BDLive reports that SA Reserve Bank data showed on Tuesday that labour productivity in SA’s formal sector, which is the biggest employer with 9.3-million people, is falling while unit labour costs are rising.
Regulate artisanal and illegal mining, says Cosatu
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Business Report writes that trade union federation Cosatu has called for the legalising and regulation of artisanal and illegal miners.
Web links to selected labour news reports posted on 12 September 2016
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Our links page provides references to South African labour news reports we have come across on the Internet on Monday, 12 September 2016
Roundup of labour news on Monday, 12 September 2016
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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 September 2016.
Langlaagte mine rescuers accused of being unwilling to save zama zamas
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TMG Digital reports that friends and family members of illegal miners trapped underground in a disused Langlaagte mine have accused rescuers of reluctance to save their lives.
Cosatu affiliates want Zuma out, but will take soft stance in calling for his resignation
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BDLive writes that affiliates of labour federation Cosatu in the main agree that President Jacob Zuma should step down, but believe this message must be communicated to the ANC in a way that is less confrontational than the approach adopted by its former general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi.
Fire and deadly gases hinder rescue at disused Langlaagte mine
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TimesLive reports that an underground fire and deadly gases are preventing rescue teams from recovering the bodies of illegal miners trapped in Johannesburg's oldest gold mine in Langlaagte.
Diepsloot taxi drivers strike on Monday demanding protection after shootings
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ANA reports that thousands of commuters were left stranded in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, on Monday after minibus taxi drivers downed tools over the alleged shooting of drivers in the area.
South Deep employee killed on Saturday in fall of ground incident
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Mining Weekly reports that an employee was killed in a fall-of-ground incident at Gold Fields’ South Deep mine following a seismic event on Saturday.
With motor manufacturing wages settled, focus now on dispute in retail motor sector
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Business Report writes that the focus of wage negotiations in the automotive industry shifts to the retail motor sector this week when the sector faces “make-or-break” discussions with trade unions about a new agreement.
Nehawu strike at Parliament suspended pending outcome of CCMA meeting
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News24 reports that parliamentary employees affiliated to the National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) suspended their strike on Monday.
Satawu sued for defamation over allegations that white SAA pilots ‘sabotaged’ planes
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Netwerk24 reports that allegations that white pilots “sabotaged” SAA planes and that arrangements for an international flight were altered to suit a pilot’s family have led to the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) being sued for libel.
Brace for 2017 surge in cost of medical fund membership, say actuaries
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BDLive reports that medical scheme members are likely to face higher-than-usual contribution increases in 2017, along with greater restrictions in their choice of health-care providers, according to Insight Actuaries.
Slew of Aurora sequestration applications set to be filed on Monday
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City Press reports that Zondwa Mandela, Thulani Ngubane and the Bhana family are the next targets for liquidators of collapsed mining company Aurora Empowerment Systems.
Natu wants free varsity education for teachers’ children and Gems to be dissolved
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ANA reports that the National Teachers’ Union (Natu) has called for free university education for teachers’ children and for the Government Employees Medical Scheme (Gems) to be dissolved.