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.
Answers demanded from Joburg mayor over why, eight months later, there is still no city manager
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News24 reports that tensions are rising within the Johannesburg council’s ruling coalition after queries surrounding the appointment of a city manager were sent to the mayor.
Senior official at Construction Education and Training Authority caught in bribery scandal
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City Press reports that a forensic investigation has exposed a sophisticated bribery and fraud scheme at the Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta), where a senior official systematically extorted money from skills providers desperate to get student certificates processed.
Passenger rail service gets back on track, but slowly
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GroundUp and The Outlier report that by 2021, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) had collapsed. With corruption and mismanagement having taken hold over the previous ten years, the rail service became increasingly unreliable and unsafe.
Codeta’s interdict application against Western Cape’s taxi route closures postponed to Tuesday
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Cape Argus reports that the urgent interdict application by the Congress Organisation of the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) against the Western Cape Government's decision to close 10 taxi routes for a period of 30 days, was to have been heard in the Western Cape High Court on Friday.
Staff at government building have to carry buckets of water to flush toilets
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GroundUp reports that a government building housing several departments, including the Louis Trichardt Clinic, has been without a consistent water supply for two years.
Roundup on Monday, 29 September 2025 of weekend labour reports
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In our roundup of weekend and recent reports,
see the following summaries of our selection of
South African labour-related articles.
Acting head of Ekurhuleni metro cops takes special leave amid Madlanga Commission allegations
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News24 reports that the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) acting head, Julius Mkhwanazi, has applied for and been granted special leave. A metro spokesperson confirmed this on Thursday, but did not divulge why the top cop would be absent from work.
Nehawu’s parliamentary branch is unravelling by way of resignations
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BL Premium reports that the National Education, Health & Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) is in upheaval in parliament. Disciplinary proceedings and the precautionary suspension of the union’s branch secretary on union work-related charges have triggered a wave of resignations.
Auto industry fails workers as pension fund arrear contributions hit record billions
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Daily Maverick reports that in a startling revelation for workers in the automotive industry, this sector emerged as the worst offender in the Financial Sector Conduct Authority round-up of employers who were not paying over employee pension fund contributions.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 26 September 2025
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Former bank employee allegedly used personal information of clients to apply for loans
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The Citizen reports that on Tuesday the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court granted former bank employee Rachel Tsakani Bloko bail of R5,000 for alleged fraud.
Ekurhuleni faces claims of institutional cover-up over EMPD chief’s alleged misconduct
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The Star reports that the City of Ekurhuleni faces fresh allegations of institutional cover-up following claims that senior municipal officials refused to take disciplinary action against Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Acting Chief Julius Mkhwanazi.
New external probe into sex abuse at Eastern Cape school after earlier reports were not adequately addressed
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News24 reports that an investigative team has been appointed from outside the district of JS Skenjana Senior Secondary School in Dutywa, Eastern Cape to probe allegations of sexual abuse of female pupils.
Shoprite executives, directors in R110m share award
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Moneyweb reports that Shoprite Holdings has granted directors and executives of the group, as well as its main subsidiary Shoprite Checkers (Pty) Ltd, forfeitable share awards totalling R110 million.
Cable theft, gunshot battles and underground blasting force Primrose residents to petition MPs for help
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TimesLIVE Premium reports that frustrated residents of Primrose in Germiston, Ekurhuleni, have approached parliament to develop an urgent action plan to tackle illegal mining in the area, which they say is the cause of the high crime levels and the frequent power outages they experience.
Can a remote worker get fired for refusing to return to office?
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Jan Truter of Labourwise notes that remote and hybrid work arrangements have become a normal feature of modern employment. But, what happens when an employer decides to end such an arrangement and instructs the employee to return to the office?
Social Development quietly removes inexperienced 22-year-old Chief of Staff
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Daily Maverick reports that following its report earlier this month on the questionable credentials of Department of Social Development (DSD) Minister Sisisi Tolashe’s new Chief of Staff, Lesedi Mabiletja, she has been quietly replaced in her position.
Unrest in Ventersdorp over allegations that ANC councillors excluded residents from jobs at local mine
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Maroela Media reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has expressed deep concern over unrest in Ventersdorp, where police clashed with residents during protest action on Monday.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 25 September 2025
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Bonitas announces medical aid price hikes for 2026 averaging 8.8%
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BusinessTech reports that medical aid scheme Bonitas has announced price increases for 2026, averaging 8.8% across its plans. According to Lee Callakoppen, principal officer of Bonitas Medical Fund, certain “strategic options” will see increases below this level to improve accessibility.
Exodus of pathologists leave NHLS for private sector
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EWN reports that according to the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), higher pay in the private sector has been the core reason why many pathologists have left the public health sector.
Samwu strike in Buffalo City Metro over outsourcing and other grievances called off
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GroundUp reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) has called off its week-long strike and instructed members to return to work.
Players’ union slams Siwelele FC for ‘disrespecting player contracts’
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TimesLIVE reports that the SA South African Football Players' Union (Safpu) has warned the new Betway Premiership club Siwelele FC against reckless governance and disrespect for players' contracts.
Gender equality commission holds the Department of Water and Sanitation accountable for handling of sexual harassment issues
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IOL News reports that on Monday the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) gave the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) a stern talking to when it came to addressing concerns of sexual harassment and their sexual harassment policy.
Six months on, disciplinary action over EMPD overtime protest that paralysed major highways remains unclear
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Bedfordview Edenvale News reports that six months after the unlawful protest by Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officers brought major transport routes to a standstill, questions remain unanswered regarding disciplinary action against those involved.
Farmworker finds live grenade in a sugar cane plantation in KwaZulu-Natal
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IOL News reports that a live grenade was safely secured by the SAPS Explosives Unit after having been discovered by a farm worker at a sugar cane plantation in Blackburn, near Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal on Monday morning.
BUSA takes government to court over ‘unworkable’ employment equity sectoral targets
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News24 reports that employer lobby group Business Unity SA (BUSA) has instituted legal action against employment equity targets implemented by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL).
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 23 September 2025
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In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
SANDF troops still awaiting payment of DRC deployment allowances as union battles ‘stonewalling’
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News24 reports that the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) is demanding payment of outstanding allowances for soldiers who were deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Surge in over-50s tapping into two-pot retirement system
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Business Times reports that the Momentum Group has flagged a high rate of two-pot system withdrawals among members older than 50. The two-pot system allows people to dip into their savings before they reach retirement age or qualify for early retirement benefits.