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.
Durban paramedics come under fire during robbery, ambulance struck by bullet
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News24 reports that Durban paramedics narrowly escaped injury after being trapped right in the middle of an armed robbery in the city centre, which saw a bullet strike their vehicle.
Sex workers tell deputy minister that police rape, rob and abuse them
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GroundUp reports that about 200 sex workers gathered at the East London International Centre on Thursday for a dialogue with Deputy Minister for Social Development Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu about government’s plans to decriminalise sex work.
Pressure mounts on Gordhan to act against Eskom CEO De Ruyter
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Sunday Times reports that as SA was again plunged to stage 6 load-shedding last week, pressure mounted on Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) Minister Pravin Gordhan and the Eskom board to take action against CEO André de Ruyter.
Department of Health dismisses 'fake news' circulating on social media about Covid-19
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News24 reports that the National Department of Health says it has noted a misleading message being circulated on social media platforms and attributed to the Ministry of Health.
Four-day work week pilot so successful, all participating companies will be sticking to it
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The Citizen reports that the country’s largest four-day work week pilot was a huge success, according to the first published research results. Companies rated their experience a 9 out of 10, and none will be returning to a five-day week post-trial.
SACC condemns Prasa for banning preaching on new trains
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EWN reports that the SA Council of Churches (SACC) says it should have been consulted before the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) banned preaching on trains.
Public sector wage deadlock endures as unions gauge appetite for strike
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Fin24 reports that public sector union structures in the Western Cape held a march to Parliament on Friday in protest against the government's 3% baseline wage offer, insisting on a 10% hike.
Roundup on Monday, 12 December 2022 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, 9 December 2022.
Over 11,000 cops promoted in bid to 'boost morale and well-being'
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News24 reports that the SA Police Service (SAPS) has promoted 11,364 officers to higher ranks in a bid to promote morale and enhance service delivery. Some of the promotions date as far back as April.
Truck driver kidnapped and tortured near Lebombo border crossing lucky to escape
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News24 reports that a 33-year-old truck driver was lucky to survive after he was allegedly kidnapped near the Lebombo border post in Komatipoort on Thursday.
Numsa fuming over 300 Eskom jobs 'lost unfairly' through cancellation of contract
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Fin24 reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has demanded that Eskom reinstate about 300 workers whom the union says lost their jobs unfairly after the power utility did not renew a contract with service provider Kusile JV.
Government calls on public sector unions to return to talks on 10% pay demand
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BL Premium reports that the government has refused to give in to demands by disgruntled public sector unions for a 10% wage increase and instead called on parties to go back to the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) to resolve outstanding disputes.
Sugar industry renews call for scrapping of sugar tax
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BL Premium reports that SA’s struggling sugar industry has launched a fresh bid for the sugar tax to be scrapped, arguing that there is no evidence the levy has had a positive impact on obesity levels in the country.
Saccawu plans to intensify Makro wage strike by targeting Massmart group companies
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Fin24 reports that the SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers' Union (Saccawu) has served the Massmart Group with a seven-day notice of intention to go on strike at six of the company's subsidiaries over its ongoing wage dispute with Makro.
Shoprite truck drivers protest in Cape Town for basic salary and transport allowance
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GroundUp reports that about 80 Shoprite truck drivers protested outside the retailer’s distribution centre in Brackenfell, Cape Town on Thursday.
Families of buried Lily mine workers have camped outside mine gate for 1,319 days
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Moneyweb reports that on Tuesday this week, the families of Solomon Nyirenda, Yvonne Mnisi and Pretty Nkambule had been camped outside the Lily gold mine gate in Mpumalanga for 1,316 days – and they say they will stay there another 1,316 days if that’s what it takes to recover the bodies of their loved ones.
Public sector workers in Western Cape set to march to parliament on Friday over wage impasse
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Moneyweb reports that public sector workers in the Western Cape are set to march to the parliament buildings in Cape Town on Friday over the protracted wage impasse with government.
Travel industry welcomes extra public holiday on 27 December
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BL Premium reports that the travel industry has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that 27 December will be a public holiday because a four-day long weekend will encourage domestic travel.
Stabbing of three warders at Eastern Cape prison suspected by Popcru to be revenge attack by 28s gang
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News24 reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) suspects that this week’s attack on three prison warders could be a revenge attack by members of the 28s for the death of a gang member during clashes with guards about three years ago.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 9 December 2022
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Cosatu says calls for Ramaphosa to step aside are premature
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TimesLIVE reports that ANC alliance partner Cosatu believes those calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign from his position after the adverse findings of the section 89 independent panel report on the Phala Phala debacle are jumping the gun.
Ex-game rangers sentenced to seven years for poaching-related offences
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TimesLIVE reports that the Skukuza Regional Court in Mpumalanga has convicted and sentenced two former game rangers to seven years' imprisonment for poaching-related offences.
Correctional Services vows to take action after inmates stab warders at East London prison
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TimesLIVE reports that the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has vowed to take action against the inmates who stabbed prison warders at the St Albans correctional centre in the Eastern Cape.
Joburg City finance department employees evicted from offices after 'rent not paid'
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TimesLIVE reports that City of Johannesburg group finance employees were evicted from their offices on Wednesday afternoon due to the city's alleged failure to pay rent.
Labour Court rules that ConCourt didn’t legalise weed in the workplace and employers can enforce zero-tolerance policies
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GroundUp reports that the decriminalisation of cannabis for private use does not include the workplace, a Johannesburg Labour Court judge has ruled.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 8 December 2022
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Fedusa reports that President has agreed to declaring 27 December a paid public holiday
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The Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) issued a press release on Thursday announcing that it had successfully petitioned the Presidency to declare 27 December a paid public holiday.
Labour Appeal Court rejects bid by two steel sector employers to interdict wage deal
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BL Premium reports that two employer associations in the steel industry are considering approaching the Constitutional Court after the Labour Appeal Court (LAC) rejected their application to appeal a multi-term wage deal being extended by the Metals and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC) to the entire sector.
Cosatu won’t be supporting Ramaphosa’s re-election campaign, to remain neutral on ANC leadership issues
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BL Premium reports that Cosatu, which became the first alliance partner to support President Cyril Ramaphosa’s successful campaign for the ANC presidency in 2017, has resolved not to support his bid for re-election as ANC leader during the party’s national elective conference, starting on 16 December.
Golden Arrow to increase bus fares on average by 6.95% after Christmas
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IOL reports that Golden Arrow Bus Services has announced an increase in bus fares effective from 27 December for Western Cape commuters.