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 Thursday, 27 October 2022
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Missing Nehawu Eastern Cape leader found murdered
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AlgoaFM reports that the vice-chair of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) in the Eastern Cape, Lizo Vakala, has been found dead.
Government stands firm on wage increases, but buckles on welfare grants
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Bloomberg News reports that in his medium-term budget policy statement presented to MPs on Wednesday, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana held the line in the government’s efforts to contain the state’s wage bill.
Godongwana says increase of 3% for public sector employees in best interest of fiscus and workers
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BL Premium reports that, as was widely expected, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana pencilled in a 3% increase for public sector wages, an offer he said was in the best interest of the fiscus and public service workers.
Makro wage strike: Saccawu accused of ‘negotiating in bad faith’
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The Citizen reports that thousands of Makro employees embarked on a nationwide strike on Wednesday after an ongoing wage dispute could not be resolved.
NUM general secretary hijacked and kidnapped last week
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News24 reports that the general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), William Mabapa, was reportedly hijacked and kidnapped in Gauteng last week.
Nxesi says government’s wage offer to public servants 'of an average of 7.5%' is still on the table
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News24 reports that on Tuesday, acting Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) Minister Thulas Nxesi gave MPs an update on the salary negotiations with public servants.
SANDF confirms fire at SA Army College Centre in Pretoria on Tuesday, no injuries reported
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IOL reports that a fire that broke out at the SA Army College Centre for Conflict Simulation building situated in Thaba Tshwane, Pretoria, was brought under control by army and municipal fire rescue services on Tuesday.
Presidency DG Phindile Baleni to take on role of head of public administration
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News24 reports that Acting Public Service and Administration Minister Thulas Nxesi announced on Tuesday that Presidency director-general (DG) Phindile Baleni would be designated head of public administration.
Cadre deployment may be an ANC policy, but it is not a government policy, Nxesi asserts
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News24 reports that according to Acting Public Service and Administration Minister Thulas Nxesi, cadre deployment may be an ANC policy, but it is not a government policy.
Government plans new register of employees who resign to avoid facing disciplinary action
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Fin24 reports that according to President Cyril Ramaphosa's response to the recommendations of the Zondo Commission, government will attempt to keep track of all staff who have been fired from organs of state, or who have resigned to avoid being disciplined, through a new register.
Negotiations with municipal manager’s kidnappers at advanced stage, private investigator optimistic about release
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TimesLive reports that according to a private investigator, negotiations with the kidnappers of the municipal manager of Nkangala district municipality, Maggie Skosana, and her driver, Gugu Mtsweni, are at an advanced stage.
Makro employees to picket on Wednesday over wage dispute
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The Citizen reports that more than 5,000 Makro employees will picket on Wednesday at Makro stores around the country under the leadership of the SA Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccaw) over an unresolved wage dispute.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 26 October 2022
- Details
In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Nxesi gives Treasury go-ahead for penciling in of 3% public sector pay hike in medium-term budget statement
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BL Premium reports that Department of Public Service & Administration (DPSA) acting minister Thulas Nxesi on Tuesday gave the Treasury the “go ahead” to pencil in the contentious 3% final wage offer for public servants into the medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS).
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 25 October 2022
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In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Investigators claim R5m ransom demand made in Nkangala municipal manager kidnapping
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News24 reports that according to the private investigating company working on the case of the kidnapped municipal manager of the Nkangala District, Maggie Skhosana, the family has received a R5 million ransom demand.
Nineteen teachers struck off the roll, most for sexual misconduct
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TimesLive Premium reports that according to research conducted by the SA Council for Educators (Sace), most teachers found guilty of sexual misconduct have “double personalities”.
Numsa considers revised wage offer of up to 7.5% in motor sector
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BL Premium reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) is considering a revised offer from motor sector employers that could see workers receiving increases of up to 7.5% in a three-year deal.
ANC in Limpopo, KZN call for Eskom CEO André de Ruyter to be axed
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TimesLive reports that the ANC leadership in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and in Limpopo has called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Eskom CEO André de Ruyter.
Matric pupil arrested for allegedly stabbing Free State teacher to death at her home
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News24 reports that less than two weeks before matric exams start, a Grade 12 pupil allegedly stabbed a 35-year-old Free State teacher to death.
Ubank staff worried that African Bank merger will lead to jobs cuts
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Business Times reports that with the merger between Ubank and African Bank now before the competition authorities for approval, Ubank employees have raised concerns about the possibility of job cuts.
Public Servants Association heads for public sector wage strike after Nxesi ‘stokes the fires’
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BL Premium reports that on Monday, the Public Servants Association (PSA), which represents more than 235,000 public servants, will be serving the government with a seven-day strike notice over its demand for above-inflation wage increases.
Ministerial Handbook to be reviewed by 'neutral structure', says Mondli Gungubele
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News24 reports that Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, says that a review of the Ministerial Handbook, which outlines perks for ministers and deputy ministers, will be handled by a neutral structure.
Prasa suspends its acting legal head over 'serious' allegations
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Fin24 reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has placed its acting legal head, Thato Tsautse, on precautionary suspension over allegations of misconduct.
Hawks head signals possible prosecutions over R2.5bn missing from National Skills Fund
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BL Premium reports that the Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) are investigating suspected fraud, corruption and money laundering in several projects tied to the National Skills Fund (NSF) for development, education and training.
Prison guards may have assisted in Makhanda prison escape
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IOL reports that the possibility that prison guards may have assisted seven men in their escape from Waainek Correctional Centre in Makhanda on Monday is being investigated.
New Eskom board to decide CEO De Ruyter’s future, says Mabuza
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BusinessLive reports that Deputy President David Mabuza indicated on Thursday that the executive’s hands were tied when it came to firing Eskom CEO André de Ruyter, whose performance has come under the spotlight amid the load-shedding gripping the country.
SA will only recover from Transnet strike by 2023, freight industry warns
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Fin24 reports that as Transnet and trade unions seal a wage deal, industry is counting the enormous cost of a strike that could mean months of recovery.
State wage bill not the main cause of fiscal crisis, claims former Treasury official Michael Sachs
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BL Premium reports that a former head of the National Treasury budget office, Michael Sachs, says that the public sector wage bill is not the key factor behind SA’s fiscal crisis.