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.
Northam asks Zondereinde mine employees to return to work
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Mining Weekly reports that Northam Platinum on Tuesday called on employees at its Zondereinde mine to return to work now that calm has been restored.
Roundup of labour news on 7 June 2016
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In our Tuesday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Monday, 6 June 2016.
Non-politically aligned trade union is the solution, says Vavi
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SABC News reports that former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi says a non-politically aligned trade union could be a solution to adequately deal with workers' issues.
Lily Mine managers agree with employees on new pay date
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EWN reports that, after a meeting with mineworkers on Monday, managers at Vantage Goldfields’ Lily Mine in Barberton gave an assurance that salaries would be paid between Wednesday and Friday.
Vavi lashes out at ANC and alliance partners, labelling them as thieves
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TimesLive reports that former Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has lashed out at leaders of the ruling ANC and its alliance partners‚ labour federation Cosatu and the SA Communist party (SACP).
Hawks prioritising investigation into Northam Platinum mine murders
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News24 reports that the Hawks are investigating the murders of two rival union members employed at Northam Platinum, the platinum producer said on Tuesday.
Telkom, union deal sees performance-based pay, layoffs paused, outsourcing limited
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Business Report writes that fixed-line operator Telkom says it has inked a new two-year deal with unions that will allow it to introduce widespread performance-based remuneration for both individuals and teams.
World's first Apple Training Centre for the blind opens in Western Cape
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EWN reports that the world's first Apple Training Centre for the blind has opened its doors in the Western Cape. The facility, launched in Worcester on Monday, aims to empower visually-impaired people with technological and IT skills by transfering text into audio.
Northam Platinum mine remains closed after deadly violence
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Reuters reports that members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) will not return to work at Northam Platinum's Zondereinde mine until their safety is assured after a spate of murders, a spokesman for the union said on Tuesday.
Cape Town city council fails on employment equity
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Cape Times reports that the DA-run Cape Town municipality is struggling with employment equity as white men continue to dominate mid-level to senior positions.
Cosatu welcomes S&P rating decision, but warns austerity would be death spiral
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Business Report writes that Cosatu has welcomed the decision by rating agency Standard and Poor to uphold South Africa’s credit rating, but the labour federation believes further austerity measures will send the country on a death spiral.
Free State farmworker killed after falling from truck
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The New Age reports that a Free State farmworker died and seven others sustained moderate to minor injuries after falling from a truck on Monday morning.
Union tension boils over at Northam Platinum mine
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BDLive reports that the weekend killing of a senior member of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in the town of Northam triggered a wave of violence that prompted Northam Platinum to shut its mine.
ANC MP mum on domestic worker’s claims that labour laws were flouted
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eNCA reports that Parliament’s Labour Portfolio Committee chairperson, Lumka Yengeni, has yet to respond to weekend reports that she breached several labour laws.
Web links to selected labour news reports posted on 6 June 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, 6 June 2016
Roundup of labour news on 6 June 2016
- Details
In our Monday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Friday, 3 June 2016.
Claassen inquiry mulling Phiyega’s fate after hearings conclude on Friday
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The Citizen reports that public hearings by the Claassen board of inquiry appointed by President Jacob Zuma to probe suspended national police commissioner Riah Phiyega’s fitness for office were concluded on Friday.
Second person is killed in Northam violence
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Bloomberg reports that a second person was killed near Northam Platinum’s Zondereinde mine in clashes between rival unions after an employee was gunned down near the operation on Sunday.
Amcu requests mines minster’s intervention over plight of ex Aquarius miners
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SABC News reports that Joseph Mathunjwa, president of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), has written to the Mineral Resources Minister, Mosebenzi Zwane, requesting him to intervene over the plight of ex-employees of Aquarius Resources.
Report on labour committee chair Lumka Yengeni 'without substance', says ANC
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News24 reports that the office of the ANC Chief Whip on Sunday dismissed a newspaper report alleging that parliamentary labour portfolio committee chairperson Lumka Yengeni violated labour laws.
Gold producers appeal many aspects of silicosis class action certification ruling
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BDLive reports that gold mining companies have applied to appeal against almost all aspects of last month’s landmark silicosis class action certification ruling by the high court.
Another teacher set to sue authorities and Sadtu in relation to jobs-for-cash scam
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City Press reports that education authorities and the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) are set to face a series of court challenges from aggrieved teachers and principals who believe they are victims of a jobs-for-cash scam run by corrupt department officials in cahoots with their union counterparts.
Northam Platinum suspends Zondereinde mine operations amid violence
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Mining Weekly reports that Northam Platinum has temporarily suspended operations at its Zondereinde mine, in Limpopo, following acts of violence and intimidation.
Parliament's labour committee chair said to be the ‘madam from hell’
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Sunday Times writes that Yumka Yengeni, the ANC MP who chairs parliament's portfolio committee on labour, has been found to be in breach of the laws she is supposed to oversee.
Mineworkers’ bank Ubank needs R152m to keep licence
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BDLive reports that Ubank, a small retail bank primarily focused on providing financial services for mine workers, will require R152m for recapitalisation within two years to keep its banking licence.
Paramedic killed after being knocked down at scene of Midrand accident
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News24 reports that a paramedic died and several people were injured in a multiple car pile-up in Midrand, Gauteng, on Sunday.
Fawu to fight AB InBev, SABMiller merger over timing of BEE payout
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City Press reports that the Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) has promised to challenge the Competition Commission’s (CC’s) conditional approval of the merger between Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) and SABMiller.
NUM member shot dead at Northam in Limpopo
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ANA reports that an active National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) member working for Northam Platinum mine in Limpopo was shot dead on Sunday.
Web links to selected labour news reports posted on 4 & 5 June 2016
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Our links page provides references to South African labour news reports we have come across on the Internet on Saturday, 4 June and Sunday, 5 June 2016
Mine safety a ‘red flag’ for DMR as number of fatalities rises
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Mining Weekly reports that Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) Minister Mosebenzi Zwane said on Friday that the number of fatalities at mines in South Africa this year was at risk of surpassing the 77 mineworkers' deaths recorded in 2015.