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.
High Court halts Nzimande’s move to place Unisa under administration
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TimesLIVE Premium reports that the North Gauteng High Court has ordered Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande not to act on the recommendations of an independent assessor’s report into the affairs of the University of SA (Unisa) until two separate applications challenging the report are finalised.
UIF partners with IDC to establish R5bn jobs fund
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BL Premium reports that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has partnered with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to establish a R5bn fund to provide finance to firms that support job creation and retention.
Construction worker who caused Pretoria school explosion that killed two colleagues to plead not guilty
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News24 reports that a construction worker is accused of burning two colleagues to death and injuring three others after allegedly causing an explosion by throwing an open gas cylinder into a mobile classroom and setting it on fire last Wednesday.
eThekwini was putting right a wrong by bumping up metro head's salary to almost R4m, says mayor
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News24 reports that eThekwini ANC Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda has defended municipal manager Musa Mbhele's salary increase as well as the controversial R1.7 million spent on an awards event for municipal employees.
Tshwane’s application for exemption from pay increases to be considered on Wednesday after objections by Samwu dismissed
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Pretoria News reports that in limine arguments raised by the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) to dismiss the City of Tshwane’s application for an exemption from pay increases were rejected by the local government bargaining council on Thursday.
Medical schemes regulator urges action on allegations of manipulation of billing codes at Mediclinic
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BL Premium reports that the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has called for a swift, thorough investigation of allegations of billing fraud that an anonymous whistleblower made against private hospital group Mediclinic.
Labour department cracks whip on minimum wage compliance
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Sunday World reports that the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) warned last week that there would be no place to hide for companies and employers who paid their employees less than the set national minimum wage (NMW).
Man who could have identified masterminds behind whistleblower Babita Deokaran's murder died two years ago
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Sunday Times reports that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it's hunting for three men who can help identify the person or persons who ordered the killing of whistleblower Babita Deokaran two years ago – but one of them is dead.
Roundup on Monday, 28 August 2023 of weekend labour reports
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In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 25 August 2023.
Eastern Cape head of department still in office despite arrest for not reporting fraud
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City Press reports that Eastern Cape department of rural development and agrarian reforms head Siphokazi Ndudane remains in her position days after she was arrested for not reporting fraud and corruption.
Next Western Cape Metrorail manager ‘must have the skills to get the job done’
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Cape Times reports that a union and lobby groups have urged that the next Western Cape Metrorail regional manager must be a person not only of integrity but also with the drive to get the train service back on track for the working class.
Cosatu livid at 3.8% salary hike for municipal bosses and councillors
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SowetanLive reports that municipal bosses and councillors in more than half of the country’s municipalities where service delivery is at risk of collapse are set to receive salary hikes of up to 3.8%.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 25 August 2023
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Six Eastern Cape paramedics arrested for securing work with false matric certificates granted bail of R5,000 each
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News24 reports that the Eastern Cape Department of Health has welcomed the arrest of six paramedics for alleged academic fraud, describing the arrests as an effort to promote clean and good governance.
UIF scammer in Limpopo fraudulently promises quicker processing time
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The Citizen reports that an individual using the alias ‘Mr Ledwaba’ has been exposed for duping Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) payout seekers in Limpopo.
Popcru says crime statistics don’t reflect crime in SA because of serious flaws in data collection
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TimesLIVE reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) does not believe police quarterly crime statistics provide an accurate account of crime trends.
Northern Cape health department head Dion Theys served with warrant of arrest for irregular PPE procurement
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TimesLIVE reports that the head of the department of health in the Northern Cape, Dr Dion Theys, is among nine suspects on whom the Hawks have served warrants of arrest in relation to the irregular procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the Covid-19 panic.
Average take-home pay recovered in July despite interest rates and ongoing rolling blackouts
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The Citizen reports that according to the BankservAfrica Take-home Pay Index (BPTI), there was a welcome recovery in salaries in July for the second month in a row.
Metrorail Western Cape manager Richard Walker confirmed to have been fired in June
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Cape Times reports that Metrorail Western Cape regional manager, Richard Walker, is the latest official to have been shown the door by the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa).
Sexual harassment complaints against manager at Home Affairs in Alberton allegedly go back for over 10 years
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The Citizen reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) has condemned an alleged failure by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to act on sexual harassment claims at its Alberton office.
Massive petrol and diesel price hikes still on the cards for September
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Earlier this month it was reported that early monthly data was pointing to huge fuel price increases for September 2023, affecting both petrol and diesel. Unfortunately, the outlook has since deteriorated even further.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 24 August 2023
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Consumer inflation slows in July to two-year low of 4.7%
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BL Premium reports that consumer inflation fell even more in July, reaching the lowest level in two years and moving further within the Reserve Bank’s 3%-6% target range.
Western Cape NPA head declines to prosecute anyone for deadly 2018 Denel explosion
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News24 reports that the Director for Public Prosecutions (DPP) in the Western Cape has decided not to criminally prosecute anyone for the deadly 2018 explosion at the Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) factory in Somerset West.
Two contract workers killed, four others injured in explosion at Tshwane school on Wednesday
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The Citizen reports that two contact workers were killed in a gas explosion at the Zodwa Special School in Pretoria on Wednesday. Four others were also injured in the blast in Atteridgeville.
Six men plead guilty to murder of Tembisa hospital whistleblower Babita Deokaran, but mastermind still at large
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News24 reports that six men accused of murdering whistleblower Babita Deokaran pleaded guilty to her murder in the South Gauteng High Court on Tuesday, which was the second anniversary of her murder.
Oudtshoorn family wants answers after mysterious disappearance of SANDF trainee
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Cape Times reports that the Oudtshoorn community is demanding answers from the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) following the disappearance of army trainee Izak Thompson.
Tshwane’s service delivery continues to be hampered by ongoing Samwu strike over salary increases
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The Citizen reports that service delivery in the City of Tshwane remains at a go-slow as the illegal strike by SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) continued into the fourth week, while they awaited the ruling of the salary and wage increase exemption application at the SA Local Government Bargaining Council.
Two Kimberley flying squad officers shot dead after car chase
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News24 reports that two on-duty members of the Kimberley Flying Squad were shot and killed on Tuesday.
Gauteng health MEC warns against unqualified CEOs who run hospitals 'like spaza shops'
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City Press reports that Gauteng MEC for health and wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko visited the Far East Rand Hospital on Monday after allegations were made of dysfunctional morgue fridges and the mishandling of deceased bodies.