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.
Western Cape train commuters stranded on Thursday due to vandalism, cable theft
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News24 reports that cable theft and vandalism caused power outages that led to widespread disruptions to the rail network in the Western Cape on Thursday morning.
You ain’t seen nothing’ yet with Froneman’s R300m ‘Covid bonus’
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Ann Crotty writes that in about 18 to 24 months’ time, the brouhaha over executive pay could get extremely testy because that’s when we’ll start to see the first signs of the value of long-term incentives (LTIs) awarded to executives during the early days of Covid. She calls it the ‘Covid bonus’.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 13 May 2022
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Blade Nzimande orders probe of National Skills Fund after R5bn unaccounted for
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TimesLive reports that higher education and training minister Blade Nzimande has appointed a forensic company to conduct a full-scale investigation into the financial affairs of the National Skills Fund (NSF).
Pharmacist Association warned GEMS of pricey and unwise provision of multivitamins
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BL Premium reports that the Independent Community Pharmacy Association (IPCA) says it warned the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) that its controversial plan to deliver multivitamins to its members flew in the face of good clinical practice and that its chosen product was overpriced.
Directors-General might get 10-year contracts under proposed new policy
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BusinessLive reports that the government is proposing that the term of office for heads of departments be extended to 10 years from the existing five years, subject to performance.
Sars employees set to go on strike over 0% salary increase
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IOL reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) has given the SA Revenue Service (Sars) notice of its intention to go on strike after receiving a certificate of non-resolution of their mutual dispute from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
MTN links top executive pay to ESG outcomes, which include upping rural broadband
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Fin24 reports that MTN, which has set itself a goal of cutting its carbon emissions to zero by 2040, has linked the pay of senior executives with the firm's environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets.
SA’s racial policy to be officially tried by ILO following Solidarity’s complaint
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Solidarity reported on Wednesday SA’s racial policy was now officially on trial by the United Nations’ (UN’s) labour agency, namely the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Air force cadets who turned to court after being kicked off training programme for using cannabis must await Ombud’s decision
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Pretoria News writes that four men’s dreams to be enlisted in the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) as air force cadets were dashed when they were kicked out of the training programme after cannabis was detected in their blood.
Sebokeng principal successfully argues that sex abuse allegation was part of a conspiracy by teachers and union members
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The Star reports that a Sebokeng primary school principal accused of sexually violating a learner has managed to convince an arbitrator that he was a victim of a conspiracy by teachers and fellow union members.
Two Rustenburg police officers in court for allegedly soliciting R500 bribe in connection with Immigration Act contravention
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IOL reports that two police officers appeared in the Rustenburg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, for allegedly soliciting a R500 bribe.
Walter Sisulu University says accreditation of programmes in hand, but MPs want heads to roll
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TimesLive reports that Chairperson of the Walter Sisulu University council, Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, on Wednesday said the accreditation debacle at the institution was “not as big as has been reported and is largely under control”.
Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union calls on nurses to boycott International Nurses Day on Thursday
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The Citizen reports that the Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union (YNITU) has called on the country’s nurses to boycott all celebrations and commemorations of International Nurses Day on Thursday.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 12 May 2022
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Labour Court orders striking Numsa members at ArcelorMittal SA to go back to work
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BL Premium reports that striking National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) members at ArcelorMittal SA (Amsa) are expected back at work after the Labour Court granted the steel producer an interim order prohibiting workers from striking for above-inflation wage increases.
Over 10,000 new Covid-19 cases in SA in one day on Wednesday
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TimesLive reports that the Covid-19 positivity rate jumped to 25.3% on Wednesday with 10,017 new infections recorded. This brought to 69,872 the number of active cases.
Pfizer to cut SA production of Covid-19 vaccine due to low demand
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Bloomberg reports that plans to produce Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine in Cape Town may be scaled back because of waning demand for the shots, according to the head of the company’s SA manufacturing partner.
Toyota SA says employees won’t lose jobs in restarting of operations following KZN floods
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The Citizen reports that Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has reiterated that none of its employees will lose their jobs as the company implements a systematic phased plan to return its Prospecton plant to working conditions.
Gauteng Health to continue recruiting students for controversial Cuban medical program
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The Citizen reports that Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi has revealed that more students will be recruited for the controversial Cuban medicine study program.
Classes resume at Gqeberha school after protest by parents, even though issue of ‘absent’ teacher not yet resolved
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Sowetan reports that while teaching and learning resumed at Papenkuil Primary School in Gqeberha on Monday, an absent teacher who sparked a two-day protest had still not returned to work.
Unpaid KZN Grade R teachers to be paid this week, education department claims
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IOL reports that the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) education department says Grade R teachers who had not been paid their salary stipends since April, will be paid this week.
With main accusers declining to testify, Cricket SA drops disciplinary action against Proteas coach Mark Boucher
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BusinessLive writes that Cricket SA’s (CSA’s) decision to drop all charges of "gross misconduct" against the men’s head coach, Mark Boucher, brings to an end yet another sorry chapter in the organisation’s history.
Employee shot as robbers hit Louis Trichardt fuel depot, stealing diesel worth R5.5m
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IOL reports that diesel worth over R5.5 million was stolen on Saturday evening after robbers attacked a fuel depot in Limpopo and shot an employee, before fleeing in six fully loaded fuel trucks.
NUM bemoans workers' safety after four miners die at Harmony Gold’s Kusasalethu mine
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SowetanLive reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Tuesday it was disturbing that poor mineworkers “continue to die like flies” in a “careless” industry.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 11 May 2022
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In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
As regulator initiates probe, GEMS defends multimillion-rand contract to provide its members with multivitamins
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BL Premium reports that the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) has defended its decision to award Afrocentric subsidiary Activo Health a multimillion-rand contract to provide its members with multivitamins, saying it was responding to their demands for immune boosters to fend off Covid-19.
Ex-cop who allegedly killed three in Cape Town hospital shooting is 'suicidal', his lawyer tells court
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News24 reports that an ex-police officer accused of the murder of a police officer and two patients at New Somerset hospital made a brief appearance in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
‘Tense’ platinum wage talks on the cards
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Mail & Guardian reports that SA platinum miners and unions are entering crucial wage talks over a multiyear pay deal in June and the volatility is already rearing its head.
NUM commemorates the 1995 Vaal Reefs disaster
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Mining Weekly reports that on 10 May the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) commemorated the 27-year anniversary of the Vaal Reefs disaster that resulted in 104 fatalities.