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.
Free State cop arrested for allegedly helping awaiting trail prisoner escape from court
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News24 reports that a Free State police officer has been arrested for allegedly helping an awaiting trial prisoner escape from custody at the Welkom Magistrate's Court.
Court upholds restraint of trade against former Shoprite employee who wanted to work at Clicks
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BusinessLive reports that Shoprite Checkers has successfully restrained a former employee from working for competitor Clicks after the court ruled the company had the right to protect confidential information the worker would have had access to.
If unchecked, brutal action of VIP protectors could lead to public revolt, says ANC’s Mbalula
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TimesLIVE reports that ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has warned the brutal action by VIP protection officers seen kicking, stomping and dragging vehicle occupants on the N1 should not be taken lightly.
Old Mutual says most of its low-income clients plan one-off pension withdrawals under two-pot system
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Fin24 reports that Old Mutual says more than two-thirds of its low-income retirement fund members want to access the 10% of their retirement savings they'll be eligible to cash in when the two-pot system comes into effect next year.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 6 July 2023
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Changes to work permit regime in the pipeline to tackle crucial skills shortages
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Bloomberg News reports that SA has begun taking steps to resolve what the Presidency believes is the biggest impediment to growth after persistent blackouts, namely an acute shortage of skills.
Independent Newspapers mulls job cuts as revenues keep falling
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Fin24 reports that Independent Newspapers, which publishes titles such as The Cape Times, The Star and Isolezwe, is contemplating cutting 115 editorial and production jobs in a bid to remain sustainable in a harsh operating environment.
Three accused in Bester prison escape granted R10,000 bail each on appeal
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TimesLIVE reports that three of the accused in the Thabo Bester prison escape case were granted R10,000 bail each by the Free State High Court on Wednesday.
Safpu gives details on Motsepe rescue plan that sent Banyana off to World Cup
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TimesLIVE reports that Banyana Banyana will go to the 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup happy after their contractual impasse with the SA Football Association (Safa) was ended with the intervention of the Motsepe Foundation.
Numsa and Gautrain sign inflation-beating 8% wage deal
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BL Premium reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has reached an above-inflation wage increase of 8% across the board for Gautrain workers.
Cape Town film industry booming again with 4,000 film permits issued in one year
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TimesLIVE reports that the Cape Town film industry is back to its glory days with the City of Cape Town having issued almost 4,000 film permits in one year.
Popcru in talks with correctional services about future of more than 500 G4S employees at Mangaung prison
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SowetanLive reports that with four weeks left before the G4S contract at the infamous Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) comes to an end, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) is fighting to have more than 500 employees absorbed by the state.
Cosatu to stage national protest on Thursday
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The Citizen writes that while Cosatu and its affiliated unions plan to embark on a nationwide strike in defence of workers’ rights on Thursday.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 5 July 2023
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In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Mashatile's VIP protectors slapped with suspensions after assault on civilians on N1
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News24 reports that four warrant officers from the police's Presidential Protection Services (PPS) were handed notices of suspension on Tuesday after they were seen on video assaulting motorists on Gauteng's N1 highway.
Sandu pledges support for victims of alleged VIP Protection Unit assault on N1
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TimesLIVE reports that the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) said on Tuesday that the three occupants of a VW Polo who were allegedly assaulted by VIP Protection Unit members on the N1 highway were all SA National Defence Force members, with at least one of them being affiliated to the union.
Patrice Motsepe steps in to resolve Banyana Banyana contractual issues
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TimesLIVE reports that Patrice Motsepe is stepping in to help solve the SA Football Association’s (Safa's) Banyana Banyana crisis.
Shutdown at Bell’s Richards Bay plant threatened by Numsa
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BusinessLive reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) is threatening to strike at Bell Equipment’s Richards Bay plant and at its Boksburg-based head office to demand insourcing of workers, a housing and transport allowance and R2,000 in untaxed bonuses for member employees.
Sishen Iron Ore plant manager pleads guilty to receiving R600,000 in kickbacks
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TimesLIVE reports that a 53-year-old former plant manager of the Sishen Iron Ore Company has pleaded guilty to 12 counts of corruption and 10 of money laundering.
Still no work for suspended deputy police commissioner Francinah Vuma
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City Press reports that suspended deputy police commissioner Francinah Vuma has been told that she may not return to work, pending a review of her suspension. Vuma was suspended in July last year.
G4S prison worker implicated in Thabo Bester escape granted R10,000 bail
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IOL reports that the three latest accused in the Thabo Bester prison escape saga appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Two Tshwane metro cops accused of corruption, kidnapping, and robbery remain at work
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News24 reports that two Tshwane Metro Police Department officers, who have had several criminal cases opened against them, were handed precautionary suspension letters, but allegedly refused to accept them.
Trade union federations appalled by ‘obscene’ 3% pay hike for public office bearers
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BL Premium reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has come under fire by disgruntled labour federations after he signed off on 3% wage increase for public office bearers (POBs) including judges, cabinet ministers, MPs and traditional leaders.
SPCA unable to pay staff as Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality fails to pay debt
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News24 reports that the SPCA in Nelson Mandela Bay does not know how it will pay staff members after the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality allegedly failed to pay an outstanding amount of about R620,000 it owes the organisation.
Ekurhuleni municipality warns public about sick notes fraud
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SowetanLive reports that the Ekurhuleni unicipality has raised the alarm about a scam in which workers use the city’s public clinic attendance letters as sick notes to fool their bosses.
Safa to meet Banyana in emergency meetings after send-off match drama
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The Citizen reports that the SA Football Association (Safa) is set to have two emergency meetings with the Banyana Banyana squad following the intervention of Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa and Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi.
Trade unions are not the victims of the ‘neoliberal capitalist system’ they like to make out to be
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In a thought-provoking opinion piece, investigative journalist Sipho Masondo writes that three decades into the democratic dispensation, unions still portray themselves and their members as victims of the "neoliberal capitalist system and establishment", but nothing could be further from the truth.
Harmony Gold hits back at zama zama’s claim that mine shaft was bombed
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The Citizen reports that one of the two illegal miners (zama zamas) who up until now have been the only known survivors of a massive underground explosion at the Harmony Gold mine in the Free State in May, claims he has unearthed the truth behind the cause of the fatal blast.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 4 July 2023
- Details
In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Price hike for diesel on Wednesday, but petrol gets cheaper
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TimesLIVE reports that petrol prices will drop on Wednesday, but diesel will become more expensive, the Department of Mineral Resources & Energy (DMRE) has confirmed.