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.
Outgoing UCT vice-chancellor Phakeng put on leave with ‘immediate effect’
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TimesLive reports that amid an information war still raging at the University of Cape Town (UCT), outgoing vice-chancellor Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng has been placed on leave “with immediate effect”.
Unemployment rate dropped to 32.9% in fourth quarter, but remained above pre-Covid level
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BL Premium reports that SA’s unemployment rate fell slightly in the fourth quarter, reaching the lowest level in two years, but at 32.7% the country’s jobless rate remained well above pre-pandemic levels.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 28 February 2023
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In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Nurse stabbed by two men in parking lot at Helen Joseph Hospital on Monday
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TimesLive reports that a male nurse at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg is in a stable condition after being attacked by two men in the hospital parking lot.
Steep petrol price hike announced for Wednesday, with diesel also pricier
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Fin24 reports that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy announced on Monday that petrol prices will jump on Wednesday amid a supply crunch worldwide.
Public sector unions gear up for indefinite wage strike from 6 March
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BL Premium reports that a coalition of public sector unions are set to embark on an indefinite strike from 6 March in support of their demands for above-inflation wage increases.
Most of the public hospitals in Gauteng don't have valid fire certificates
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City Press reports that Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has revealed that several public hospitals in the province do not have valid fire clearance certificates.
Eastern Cape teacher faces suspension after allegedly forcing pupils to clean up her vomit
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News24 reports that an Eastern Cape teacher faces disciplinary action after she vomited and allegedly forced pupils to clean up her mess at Nyibiba Primary School earlier this month.
Roundup on Monday, 27 February 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, 24 February 2023.
Outgoing Amplats CEO Natascha Viljoen sets her sights on leading a global mining company
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Business Times reports that Natascha Viljoen, Anglo American Platinum CEO, says she accepted a job at US-based gold company Newmont Corporation because it’s in line with her ambition to lead a global mining company.
DMRE adamant that tough new penalties needed to improve mine safety standards
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Business Times reports that chief inspector of mines David Msiza says that the Department of Mineral Resources & Energy (DMRE) is determined to go ahead with tougher penalties for mining companies in a bid to improve safety standards.
Nampak reduces forced retrenchments to 20 after union talks
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BL Premium reports that packaging manufacturer Nampak has avoided a swathe of retrenchments at its plastics division after union talks resulted in an agreement to cut 20 jobs instead of the 213 initially planned.
City Power ropes in JMPD, security to escort technicians when restoring power in hotspot gang areas
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News24 reports that City Power has called on the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) to escort technicians and operators into hotspot gang areas when repair works are being done.
Eskom appoints CFO Calib Cassim as interim CEO after De Ruyter's early exit
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News24Wire reports that Eskom announced on Friday that the power utility’s chief financial officer (CFO) Calib Cassim has been appointed as interim CEO following the abrupt departure of André de Ruyter.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 24 February 2023
- Details
In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
André de Ruyter leaves Eskom with immediate effect, acting CEO to be announced ‘shortly’
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BL Premium reports that it was announced late on Wednesday that André De Ruyter will leave Eskom with immediate effect. In a special board meeting, the Eskom board decided De Ruyter would not serve out his notice period.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 23 February 2023
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
National minimum wage – including for domestic workers – will top R4,000 per month from March
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Business Insider SA reports that from 1 March, a domestic worker who averages 8 hours of work a day for 20 days a month will have to be paid more than R4,000 for the first time, in terms of new national minimum wage rates published on Tuesday.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 22 February 2023
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In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
'Look how drunk this policeman is': Northern Cape cop arrested after crashing van
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News24 reports that a seemingly drunk police officer from De Aar in the Northern Cape has been arrested after he was involved in an accident on Saturday.
KZN teacher fired for allegedly asking to test if pupil was a virgin and other instances of sexual misconduct
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News24 reports that a KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) teacher accused of sexually harassing some of his pupils has been axed from his job.
PSA wants 12.5% increase for its public sector members for 2023/24 wage round
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BL Premium reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) is demanding an above-inflation wage increase of 12.5% for 2023/24 for its more than 235,000 members on the basis that public servants have not received any real increases over the past four years.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 21 February 2023
- Details
In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Top cop removed from presidential protection duties over Ramaphosa safety row
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Sunday Times reports that Lieutenant-General Samson Shitlabane, head of protection services for the president, has been removed after two incidents allegedly compromised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s safety.
Telkom still considering paying dividends even as job cuts loom
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BL Premium reports that Telkom is scrambling to cut costs, but the group is still considering paying dividends to shareholders, a move unlikely to go down well with employees and other stakeholders.
Two Soweto police officers in the dock on Monday for kidnapping, extortion and possession of stolen goods
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The Citizen reports that two police sergeants are expected to appear in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Monday on charges of kidnapping, extortion and possession of stolen goods, after they allegedly demanded cash from a suspect they arrested in Springs, Ekurhuleni.
Amid suspension rumours, embattled UCT vice-chancellor refuses exit package
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Sunday Independent reports that confusion reigned on Friday over the suspension of Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, University of Cape Town (UCT) vice-chancellor (VC).
Roundup on Monday, 20 February 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, 17 February 2023.
Woman arrested for allegedly colluding with Eskom workers to steal nearly R1m from Tutuka power station
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News24 reports that a Mpumalanga woman has appeared in the Standerton Magistrate's Court in connection with a theft and money laundering case related to the Tutuka power station.
Eastern Cape judge president faces sexual harassment probe by Judicial Conduct Committee
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Sunday Times reports that Eastern Cape judge president Selby Mbenenge is facing an investigation by the Judicial Conduct Committee after claims of sexual harassment were levelled against him by a judge’s clerk based in the Makhanda High Court.