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.
Mpumalanga ambulance driver shot and hijacked, medical staff robbed in Carolina hospital
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IOL reports that the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison has condemned two incidents, in one of which an ambulance was hijacked and in the other of which a hospital was vandalised and healthcare workers robbed while on duty.
Eskom under pressure to suspend Jan Oberholzer for his role in R500m Fidelity security contract saga
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City Press reports that Eskom is under fresh pressure to review and terminate the recently concluded two-year contract of its former chief operations officer, Jan Oberholzer, who is facing criticism for his role in the controversial awarding of a R500 million emergency security contract to the Fidelity Services Group for three months.
Six more arrested in Mhlathuze Water Board corruption case
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News24 reports that six more people have been added to the corruption case involving the alleged looting of R37 million from the Mhlathuze Water Board.
Call centres proving to be crucial in absorbing SA’s jobless youth
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City Press reports that for some time, call and contact centres for a variety of local and international companies have been important job creators for young people in South Africa with little or no work experience.
Fate of community health workers uncertain amid battle over minimum wage, working conditions
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Fin24 reports that most community health workers (CHWs) in SA, except those in Gauteng, earn a stipend of around R4,000 per month, without benefits like pension or medical aid, and without the surety of a permanent pay cheque.
Roundup on Monday, 26 June 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, 23 June 2023.
Methane level still too high to retrieve illegal miners’ bodies from unused mine shaft
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Sunday Times reports that dangerously high levels of methane in a ventilation shaft of an unused mine have prevented rescue workers from retrieving 28 of the 31 illegal miners who died in a gas explosion last month.
Jobs axed at Harrismith abattoir, the latest victim of load-shedding and municipal dysfunction
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Sunday Times reports that the death knell was sounded last week for a major abattoir in the Free State with the loss of 79 jobs due to the usual litany of South African woes – load-shedding, water shortages and rickety municipal services.
Pretoria University vice-chancellor Tawana Kupe was found guilty of sexual harassment at Wits in 2016
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News24 reports that Professor Tawana Kupe, who resigned abruptly as vice-chancellor of the University of Pretoria (UP) last week, was found guilty of sexual harassment in 2016 and issued with a final warning.
Thirty-one Illegal miners die underground in disused Free State ventilation shaft
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The Citizen reports that at least 31 suspected illegal miners, believed to be Basotho nationals, have died in a ventilation Shaft 5 Virginia mine in Welkom, Free State province.
Unisa council ‘not properly constituted’, suspended registrar claims in court papers
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TimesLIVE Premium reports that the suspended registrar of the University of South Africa (Unisa), Prof Steward Mothata, has asked the North Gauteng High Court to declare that the university’s council is no longer “properly constituted” after the resignation of several members.
Four former Justice Department staffers found guilty of stealing almost R100,000 bail money from Gqeberha court
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IOL reports that four former Department of Justice and Constitutional Development employees were convicted of theft this week. Mzikazi Mahlalasa, Letitia Mack, Yonela Ntsaluba and Nomthandazo Takayi were convicted in the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.
Arrest André de Ruyter for corruption at Eskom, says NUM
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TimesLIVE reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Highveld region has called for the arrest of former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter.
Major victory for Simunye Workers Forum with Labour Court ruling it can register as a trade union
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GroundUp reports that the Simunye Workers Forum (SWF) has won a major legal victory, with the Johannesburg Labour Court ruling that it can register as a trade union.
Eskom acting head of security Karen Pillay suspended
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Fin24 report that Eskom has placed its acting head of security Karen Pillay on precautionary suspension. This is apparently related to a R500 million emergency security contract awarded to Fidelity Services to investigate coal theft last year.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 23 June 2023
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 22 June 2023
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Sactwu wants R300m loan back from Survé-linked media group as union can't pay pension, funeral bills
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Fin24 reports that André Kriel, general secretary of the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union (Sactwu), says the union is struggling to pay out funeral benefits to its members.
Health Minister blames ageing equipment and lack of skilled staff on SA’s decade-long backlog of toxicology reports
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IOL reports that Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla has blamed the country's backlog of toxicology reports on ageing equipment, delays in procurement and a shortage of skilled staff.
DA awaits Gauteng court outcome on its bid to oust Joburg city manager
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TimesLIVE reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has gone to court in a bid to oust Johannesburg city manager Floyd Brink. The matter was heard on an urgent basis last week.
Ex-Lepelle Northern Water official has R10.2m pension frozen by Special Tribunal
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SowetanLive reports that the Special Tribunal has granted the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) a preservation order to freeze R10.2m in pension benefits of a former Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) official linked to the Giyani Water Project.
Old Mutual expects one million clients to cash out up to R25,000 each in once-off pension withdrawals
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Fin24 reports that fund managers expect a wave of cash-strapped South Africans to withdraw up to R25,000 each from their pension savings when the new two-pot retirement system comes into effect next year.
Four justice department staffers in hot water over millions stolen from Guardian’s Fund
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The Citizen reports that four Department of Justice and Correctional Services employees face suspensions after millions of rand were stolen from the Guardian’s Fund.
Health Minister to get his day in court to defend ‘certificate of need’ to determine where doctors can work
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BL Premium reports that the High Court in Pretoria has rescinded a far-reaching judgment that scuppered the Health Minister’s plans for determining where doctors work, saying he should be given an opportunity to have his day in court.
Gauteng metro cops crippled by lack of bulletproof vests, protective gear and armoured cars
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News24 reports that a lack of fleet vehicles, shortage of bulletproof vests and protective gear, and problems with training dogs and their handlers are some of the challenges crippling metro police departments in Gauteng.
New Lotteries Commission boss says sorry and promises huge clean-up as well as reparations
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GroundUp reports that the board of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has approved a reparation process that will lead to apologies and, in some cases, financial reparation, to former staff who were punished or driven out of their jobs for blowing the whistle on corruption.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 21 June 2023
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In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Eskom head of legal disagreed with ‘speedy termination’ of De Ruyter’s contract
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BL Premium reports that Eskom’s departing head of legal and compliance, Mel Govender, doesn’t believe the state-owned utility’s former CEO brought the organisation into disrepute with the comments he made during a controversial TV interview in February.
Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane successfully interdicts SIU from probing his qualifications
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TimesLIVE Premium reports that Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has successfully interdicted the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) from probing his University of Fort Hare (UFH) qualifications in part A of a court application.
Bombela and Numsa to hold further talks on Friday in bid to avert wage strike
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TimesLIVE reports that the Bombela Operating Company (BOC), which operates the Gautrain, advised on Tuesday that although it had agreed with the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) to hold three wage-negotiation sittings, the union abandoned the negotiations after the second sitting.