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 Friday, 2 December 2022
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Two former cops who charged illegal immigrants R150 to enter SA from Lesotho sentenced
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News24 reports that two former police officials who allowed illegal immigrants to enter the country after charging them R150 each have been convicted and sentenced.
South32 solar energy training centre in partnership with Solana Energy launched in Richards Bay
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BL Premium reports that a training academy that will supply SA’s fast growing solar energy industry with skilled workers will open its doors to the public next year.
African Bank's acquisition of Ubank now official
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City Press reports that African Bank has completed its acquisition of prominent micro-lender Ubank after it announced that it was the successful bidder to purchase most of Ubank’s disclosed assets and liabilities.
Policeman shot dead in Grassy Park on Thursday
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TimesLIVE reports that a 26-year-old police constable was shot and killed in Grassy Park, Cape Town, on Thursday afternoon.
SA Policing Union (Sapu) abandons trade union federation Saftu
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Fin24 reports that the SA Policing Union (SAPU), which has an estimated 84,000 members, has decided to cancel its affiliation with the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu).
'We need more boots on the ground', says Popcru as it slams drop in police numbers
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SowetanLive reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) wants increased technology support and more police officers, its president indicated at a central executive committee meeting this week.
North West principal suspended for allegedly preventing 19 matric pupils from completing exam
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News24 reports that a principal of a North West school was suspended after she kept 19 pupils in her office at the time when they were supposed to be writing Life Sciences paper two.
MPs run out of time to adopt NHI bill in time for the ANC’s elective conference
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BL Premium reports that Parliament’s health committee has run out of time to process the controversial National Health Insurance Bill in the National Assembly before the ANC’s elective conference after a key meeting with the health department was delayed.
SSA blames De Ruyter for delay over vetting of executives, but Eskom denies knowledge of timely requests for information
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BL Premium reports that the tussle between the State Security Agency (SSA) and parliament’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) over the obligation of the SSA to account to the committee on its vetting of Eskom officials, remains unresolved.
Deputy principal stripped naked and beaten after allegedly having sex with pupil, place on suspension
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News24 reports that the deputy principal of a school in Seleteng Ga-Mphahlele, outside Lebowakgomo in Limpopo, was placed on precautionary suspension after he allegedly had sex with a pupil.
Protesting Kalafong hospital staff barricade road, trash health facility
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News24 reports that on Wednesday, staff members at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital in Pretoria embarked on a protest which saw the facility being trashed.
Solidarity report exposes appalling conditions under which SAPS detectives work
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MyBroadBand writes that a new report published by the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI) has revealed that the detective services department of the SA Police Service (Saps) is facing a disaster because it is left without little to no resources or support to conduct investigations.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 1 December 2022
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Protesting community healthcare workers at Sedibeng municipality finally paid
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SowetanLive reports that about 200 community healthcare workers of the Sedibeng district municipality, who had been camping outside municipal buildings due to non-payment, were excited as the employer finally deposited their money on Wednesday.
More Eskom arrests as coal truck driver, supervisor apprehended at Matla power station
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News24 reports that a truck driver and his supervisor were arrested on Monday for allegedly swapping out good-quality coal, and delivering sub-standard product to Eskom’s Matla power station.
Senior Lotteries staff suspended as corruption crackdown gains momentum
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GroundUp reports that the crackdown on corruption at the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) is gathering momentum, with the suspension of five key staff members.
Trial of 11 accused in Transnet corruption case, including Brian Molefe and Siyabonga Gama, postponed to April
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TimesLIVE reports that the Transnet fraud and corruption case involving about R400m has been postponed to 20 April 2023, after which it will be transferred to the High Court for trial.
Police and courts not helping in Eskom’s crime fight, leaving staff ‘alone in the firing line’, says De Ruyter
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BL Premium reports that according to Eskom CEO André de Ruyter, the high safety risk that Eskom executives faced daily in the line of duty was “definitely not helping” with the retention of high-ranking employees or the recruitment of new personnel.
Drop in jobless rate defies SA economy’s somber signals
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BL Premium reports that SA’s latest unemployment rate surprised, falling to its lowest since the first quarter of 2021.
Marikana returns to haunt Ramaphosa in civil suit that is a step closer to trial
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Sunday Independent writes that President Cyril Ramaphosa will be heading to court for a grilling on his role in the Marikana massacre back in 2012 when the police shot and killed Lonmin mineworkers during a strike for a wage increase.
Two guards arrested after diesel stolen from Eskom power station in East London
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TimesLIVE reports that two guards employed by a security company contracted by Eskom to protect Port Rex power station in East London were arrested on Monday for allegedly stealing 5,863l of diesel valued at about R145,930.
Diesel prices set for big cut in December, but petrol prices to rise
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BusinessLive reports that SA motorists face a mixed bag in December, depending on what type of car they drive, with petrol prices looking set to rise and diesel prices due for a big cut.
Finance Minister says NHI unlikely to receive substantial budget allocations soon
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Fin24 reports that according to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, the 2023 Budget to be tabled in February is unlikely to have a substantial focus on the National Health Insurance (NHI) and will focus on overcoming service delivery backlogs in the present system.
SA doesn't have world's worst unemployment rate anymore, with Namibia and Nigeria now the worst
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Bloomberg News reports that SA’s official unemployment rate in the third quarter declined to 32.9%, the third highest on a global list of 82 countries and the Eurozone.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 30 November 2022
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In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Good news as SA's unemployment rate dropped in third quarter of 2022
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Fin24 reports that according to Statistics SA, the official unemployment rate declined further to 32.9% in the third quarter of 2022, from 33.9% in the second quarter.
Basic food basket costs R500 more than a year ago
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TimesLIVE reports that South Africans are forking out over R500 more each month for basic food items compared with a year ago.
Hawks appoint new deputy chief, but 48% of posts still remain vacant
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News24 reports that on Tuesday, Hawks boss Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya revealed that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), as the crime-fighting unit is officially known, is operating at only 52% capacity, although it was working towards filling around 1,500 posts as soon as possible.
Sabotage at Eskom is adding one level of load-shedding, CEO André de Ruyter says
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TimesLive reports that according to Eskom CEO André de Ruyter, sabotage of the beleaguered power utility’s equipment and coal syndicates are among the criminal activities contributing to one stage of load-shedding.