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.
Police launch manhunt for suspects after three trucks torched in Limpopo on Monday morning
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TimesLIVE reports that Limpopo police have launched a manhunt for six suspects linked to armed robbery and malicious damage to property after three trucks were burnt in Sekhukhune on the R547 Lydenburg road on Monday morning.
Bell Equipment CEO Leon Goosen quits after five years at helm
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BL Premium reports that Bell Equipment announced on Monday that its CEO Leon Goosen had resigned after five years in the top job to pursue other interests.
Police confirm suspension of eight officers involved in N1 assault
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TimesLIVE reports that police on Monday confirmed the suspension of eight officers who were involved in the notorious N1 assault on motorists. They had been part of Deputy President Paul Mashatile's VIP protection unit.
Trade union Untu worried about job losses if Transnet pursues private sector participation
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EWN reports that the United National Transport Union (Untu) claims that the jobs of 45,000 Transnet workers will be at risk should the railway company forge ahead with its private sector participation process.
Former TBVC pensioners threaten legal action if Ramaphosa doesn’t take action
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Business Report writes that SATBVC, an association of pensioners from Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda, and Ciskei (known as TBVC states), has given President Cyril Ramaphosa seven days to effect his instruction to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to investigate issues regarding the pensions of the former civil servants or face legal action.
Mineral Resources Department considering specialised unit to deal with illegal mining
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EWN reports that a specialised unit dealing with illegal mining is on the cards following a number of incidents recorded in the last month.
'I was fired for not handing over work laptop, but I did so,' says Unisa registrar
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City Press reports that according to fired University of SA (Unisa) registrar Professor Steward Mothata, the university acted against him for not submitting his work laptop and access card.
With banks set for changing of the guard, succession planning is crucial
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Business Times reports that as the CEOs of two of SA’s biggest financial institutions prepare to step down and other long-serving banking CEOs near their likely retirement age, there is an opportunity for a new guard of banking leaders to step up.
If people aren't moved, 'we will never recover Cape Town’s Central Line', bemoans Prasa
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News24 reports that bosses at the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) and the City of Cape Town are at their wits end over endless delays in moving people who have erected shacks on railway tracks, making it impossible for the city's crucial Central Line to be operational.
VIP protection officers involved in N1 assault should have been immediately charged, say security experts
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BusinessLive reports that a convoy of Presidential Protection Services (PPS) vehicles without a VIP principal on board does not enjoy any privileges above that of any motorist and should have been immediately charged, say security and training experts.
Numsa and Bell Equipment agree to make 100 workers permanent employees
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BL Premium reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has inked an agreement with Bell Equipment to convert 100 contract workers into permanent employees, days after the union threatened to strike and shut the group’s Richards Bay plant and its Boksburg head office.
Victory in sight for SA’s women in sport as draft of equal pay legislation nears finalisation
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City Press reports that Banyana Banyana and other women’s national teams’ long battle for equal pay, is headed for victory.
Van Reenen's Pass reopened after six trucks set alight on Sunday; no injuries reported
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News24 reports that the N3 Toll Route at Van Reenen's Pass has been re-opened to traffic after six trucks were set alight by a group of armed gunmen in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Roundup on Monday, 10 July 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, 7 July 2023.
Fire breaks out at Vodacom headquarters in Cape Town on Sunday, no injuries reported
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News24 reports that City of Cape Town firefighters attended to a blaze that broke out at the Vodacom Western Cape headquarters in Century City on Sunday.
VIP blue-light unit victim sues for R1m, no-one yet charged for N1 assault
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Sunday Times reports that attorney Daniel Eloff, who is representing L’vaughn Fisher, the 25-year-old infantryman assaulted by members of the police’s VIP protection unit two weekends ago, says he is suing the police service for a million rand.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Health slashes 178 jobs as it automates manufacturing in Cape Town
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City Press reports that the consumer health division of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), recently renamed Haleon, is slashing approximately 178 jobs at its Cape Town site due to the modernisation and automation of manufacturing processes that are to be implemented in the company.
Analysts give their views on effectiveness of Cosatu’s national protest
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Ernest Mabusa writes that it is unlikely government will be galvanised to immediately respond to the Congress of South African Trade Unions’ (Cosatu’s) demands made during its national day of action on Thursday.
Pros and cons of Artificial Intelligence on recruitment and hiring
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The Citizen reports that advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have revolutionised the world of work and AI programmes like ChatGPT have proved their worth, not just in the actual work processes, but also in recruitment and hiring.
Limpopo Shoprite manager killed by robbers, suspects flee with two braai packs, three cellphones and R650
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IOL reports that police in Letsitele, Limpopo, have launched a manhunt for four suspects who robbed a popular retailer and killed the manager.
Cosatu members demand serious action by government
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News24 reports that Cosatu and its affiliates embarked on a nationwide strike on Thursday, demanding that the government should take action on the state of the economy, load shedding, poor governance and the bad living standards of workers.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 7 July 2023
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
EU warns that unemployment crisis could spark a ‘revolution’ in SA
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BL Premium reports that the EU has implored SA to address its unemployment scourge, which is among the highest in the world, to realise much-needed economic growth and create jobs.
German firms warn SA visa gridlock threatens 100,000 jobs
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Bloomberg News reports that the gridlock affecting work-permit applications in SA was limiting expansion by German companies in the country and threatening operations that supported 100,000 jobs, an industry association warned.
One in 10 SA doctors being investigated by HPCSA consider suicide, survey shows
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TimesLIVE reports that a survey of 204 doctors has shown that one in 10 have suicidal thoughts during Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) investigations into allegations against them of unprofessional conduct.
Postbank appoints ooba executive as new CEO
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Fin24 reports that Cabinet advised in a statement on Thursday that Ntomboxolo Nikki Mbengashe has been appointed as CEO of Postbank SA for a period of five years.
'We are under siege': Illegal mining led to fatal Boksburg gas leak, says Gauteng premier
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News24 reports that according to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, the gas leak that caused 17 people to die in Angelo informal settlement in Boksburg was caused by illegal mining activity.
Limpopo cop accused of stealing bail and fine money granted R3,000 bail
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TimesLIVE reports that a Limpopo warrant officer, Matshidiso Virginia Sealetsa, who was arrested on Wednesday for alleged theft, was granted R3,000 bail in the Bela-Bela Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
Vrede traffic officer and driving school owner arrested for alleged learner licence corruption
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News24 reports that a traffic official and a driving school owner have been arrested for corruption after they allegedly ensured that learners' licence candidates passed their tests – for a fee.
VIP cops learn contempt from the politicians they guard and rarely face consequences, policing experts say
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News24 reports that according to policing experts, the firestorm surrounding Deputy President Paul Mashatile's VIP security team is just one example of a broader problem with police and politicians.