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.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 4 July 2023
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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.
Food prices are climbing again, according to latest Shisa Nyama Index
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Bloomberg News reports that the cost of a basket of goods in Bloomberg’s SA Shisa Nyama Index, designed to show the price of a traditional backyard barbecue in townships and rural areas, accelerated to 15% in June from a year earlier.
Cosatu to strike on Thursday over state of economy, government failures
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Fin24 reports that trade union federation Cosatu and its affiliates are to strike on Thursday in protest against the state of the economy, poor governance, and the falling living standards of workers.
The first protest held by SA's newest union ended in shooting
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Terry Bell writes that gunmen – usually referred to as iinkabi, a Zulu term meaning young bulls full of strength and action – have been accused of opening fire on a trade union gathering on Saturday, 24 June near the centre of Germiston.
Justice DG commandeers prison guards as personal security team
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Sunday Times reports that Doctor Mashabane, director-general of the department of justice & constitutional development, who was mugged while jogging outside his plush Pretoria golf estate, has been accused of taking three security guards from Pretoria’s Kgosi Mampuru prison as his personal bodyguards after the police rejected his request for close protection.
Banyana called 'mercenaries, traitors' amid pay boycott that saw Botswana surge to thumping win
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AFP reports that Banyana Banyana were called "mercenaries" and "traitors" on Sunday as they boycotted a warm-up match against Botswana ahead of Fifa Women's World Cup later this month.
Roundup on Monday, 3 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, 30 June 2023.
Stellenbosch rector Wim de Villiers cleared of nepotism, but faces appropriate financial consequence
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News24 reports that an investigation into nepotism allegations has found that Stellenbosch University's (SU) rector and vice-chancellor, Wim de Villiers, did not breach the institution's rules or policies.
MEC says Cape Town's Central Line unlikely to reopen in December, but Prasa adamant it's on track
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News24 reports that the Western Cape government is sceptical that Cape Town's problematic Central Line will re-open in December, but the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) remains adamant that it will meet the deadline.
Unions warned by mining companies of possible retrenchments as rail crisis persists
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Sunday Times reports that mining unions and experts are warning of possible job cuts as Transnet's failing rail infrastructure chokes the movement of commodities to the ports.
Armscor CEO accused of irregularities related to his employment contract and sexual misconduct
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City Press reports that serious allegations of fraud and a sex scandal have surfaced in the top office of the entity tasked with procuring weapons for the SA National Defence Force.
Five Free State police officers arrested for theft, fraud, money laundering and defeating the ends of justice
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News24 reports that in two separate incidents, five Free State police officials were arrested this week for corruption, defeating the ends of justice, money laundering and theft.
Ramaphosa signs off on 3% salary increase for public office bearers despite plea from Finance Minister for lower adjustment
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News24 reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed off on a determination to increase the salaries of all public office bearers such as cabinet ministers, members of parliament, judges, magistrates and traditional leaders by 3%.
Four nabbed for attack on Carolina Hospital staff on 17 June
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The Citizen reports that four suspects have been arrested after they robbed the Carolina Hospital and attacked the staff.
Over 50% of Guardian's Fund recipients unpaid after millions stolen in April; Justice Department officials suspended
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GroundUp reports that fewer than half of outstanding payments to beneficiaries of the Guardian’s Fund have been made, according to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
Recommended reforms to whistleblower protection open for public comment
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News24 reports that Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola has proposed reforms to whistleblowing legislation, which is now open for public comment until 15 August.
SIU orders three former Western Cape municipal officials to pay back R400,000 for PPE fraud
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EWN reports that according to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), three former Western Cape municipal officials have been ordered by the Special Tribunal to pay back R400,000 lost by the Matzikama Local Municipality in an irregular Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) tender.
Three police generals in court to face corruption rap over altered job interview scores
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SowetanLive reports that former Limpopo police commissioner Lt-Gen Nneke Ledwaba and two other generals are facing corruption charges after they allegedly hired a candidate who did not get the highest score during a job interview process.
Protest staged by community health workers at Lentegeur hospital in Cape Town on Wednesday
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GroundUp reports that dozens of Nyanga and Gugulethu community health workers demonstrated outside Lentegeur Day Hospital in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, on Wednesday.
Pension funds can't deviate from beneficiary instructions without proper investigation, says Pension Funds Adjudicator
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Fin24 reports that the Pension Funds Adjudicator (PFA) has ordered the Alexander Forbes Retirement Fund to pay a deceased retirement fund member's benefits as his beneficiary form had instructed, and not according to its own calculations.
Workers dismissed for unprotected strike take Frimax Foods to CCMA
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GroundUp reports that workers at Frimax Foods factory in Verulam, Durban, will be taking the company to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) next week.
Cape police detective arrested after allegedly trying to stop suspected drug dealer from being searched
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IOL reports that the SA Police Service (SAPS) Western Cape Anti-Corruption Unit have arrested a police constable attached to the Lentegeur detectives for allegedly defeating the ends of justice after he tried to protect an alleged drug peddler from being searched by officers.
'Sex work bill is not canned, it's being enhanced', says justice department
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SowetanLive reports that the Department of Justice and Correctional Services says the draft bill to decriminalise sex work (Decrim Bill) has not been canned but is in the process of being enhanced.
Treasury clears up tax poser over two-pot pension withdrawals
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Fin24 reports that amid some confusion about how two-pot pension payouts will be taxed, Treasury has provided clarity.
Traditional healer working for PetroSA unsuccessfully turns to court after entry barred for dagga use
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Pretoria News reports that an employee who worked for PetroSA for 14 years and then took up a programme in traditional healing, turned to court after he tested positive for cannabis and was not allowed on site until his test results proved to be negative.
Motsoaledi to apply for leave to appeal against ZEP judgments, claiming ‘dangerous precedents’
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News24 reports that Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi will be applying for leave to appeal against two Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) judgments handed down by a full bench of the North Gauteng High Court this week.
Unisa's vice-chancellor has no powers to dismiss me, claims registrar Steward Mothata
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TimesLIVE Premium reports that University of SA (Unisa) registrar Prof Steward Mothata has hit back at vice-chancellor Prof Puleng LenkaBula, who fired him this week with immediate effect.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 30 June 2023
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Hawks warn of bogus police captain soliciting bribes in Free State
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News24 reports that the Free State Hawks have warned the public about a man impersonating one of their officers, and using a police letterhead to solicit bribes from those he claims he is about to arrest.