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.
NYDA to start R2.5bn fund to tackle youth unemployment in SA
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Bloomberg reports that on Friday SA started offering loans from a R2.5 billion Youth Fund aimed at supporting small businesses as part of a push by the government to tackle one of the world’s highest youth unemployment rates.
Walmart to bring 80 new jobs to Roodepoort with its first SA store at Clearwater Mall
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BusinessDay reports that the world’s largest retailer Walmart will create more than 80 jobs when it debuts in SA before year-end. The company said on Thursday that it would open its first store at Clearwater Mall in Roodepoort.
Labour Court backs Transnet over employees fired for insubordination and insolence
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IOL Business reports that the Labour Court (LC) has sided with Transnet in a dispute over insubordination and insolence, overturning a commissioner’s order that two dismissed employees be reinstated with 18 months’ back pay.
Gauteng education department suspends teacher assistant over alleged sexual assault
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Sunday World reports that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has suspended a teacher assistant accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old pupil at Ema Primary School in Winterveldt, Pretoria.
Gunmen kill Joburg taxi association boss Molefe Moekeletsi and his bodyguard
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News24 reports that the chairperson of the Alexandra Randburg Midrand Taxi Association (Armta), Molefe Moekeletsi, and his bodyguard – travelling in separate cars – were gunned down in Marlboro Gardens, Joburg, on Thursday.
City of Ekurhuleni appoints shooting survivor Kagiso Lerutla as new city manager
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News24 reports that the City of Ekurhuleni made an announcement on Thursday on its X account that it has appointed Kagiso Michael Lerutla as its new city manager.
Auto manufacturing industry and Numsa fail in last-ditch effort to resolve wage impasse
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BusinessDay reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) said on Thursday evening that a last-ditch effort by it and executives from SA’s vehicle manufacturers had failed to break their wage deadlock.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 31 October 2025
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
PIC and Oxford University posit that SA’s re-industrialisation could create 250,000 jobs in five years
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BusinessDay reports that research by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) in partnership with Oxford University indicates that SA can create 250,000 jobs in the next five years and R100bn in economic uplift if it doubles down on re-industrialisation efforts.
Floyd Brink appointed for a second time as Joburg city manager
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TimesLIVE reports that the Johannesburg city council has approved a recommendation to reappoint Floyd Brink as city manager. The decision was taken during an ordinary meeting of the council on Thursday.
Salaries increase for sixth consecutive month, indicating a possible strengthening in jobs market
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The Citizen reports that salaries increased for the sixth consecutive month in September, suggesting that the job market is strengthening in the third quarter of 2025.
Teachers under fire due to Gauteng education funding cuts
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Newsday reports that trade union Solidarity has warned that teachers will be significantly impacted by the Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE) decision to cut funding for certain public schools in 2026.
Major labour inspection in Mandeni in KZN leads to arrests of two employers and 47 illegal foreign workers
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The Mercury reports that a labour inspection blitz in Mandeni in northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has led to the arrest of two employers and 47 illegal foreign nationals. The large-scale operation also resulted in the closure of a clothing and textile factory.
Strike by water workers in Free State on Monday
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GroundUp reports that dozens of workers at Maluti-a-Phofung Water (MAP Water) in the Free State downed tools on Monday in protest against the municipality’s plan to close down the water company.
Amid race for talent, FirstRand boosts minimum pay for its SA employees
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BusinessDay reports that FirstRand has hiked the minimum pay for its SA employees as competition for talent heats up in financial services. This has been amplified by public minimum pay disclosures by the main companies in the sector.
Lifestyle audits led to 24 public servants being flagged for hidden wealth
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The Citizen reports that the Presidency identified 24 public servants suspected of undeclared income, hidden assets and living beyond their means during lifestyle audits in the 2025 reporting cycle.
Western Cape magistrates march to parliament demanding judicial reforms and salary reviews
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IOL News reports that Western Cape magistrates took to the streets of Cape Town on Wednesday, marching to Parliament in an unprecedented demonstration that highlighted growing tensions within SA’s judicial system.
Numsa to march to National Treasury on Friday to demand blacklisting of security firms that don’t pay over fund contributions
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SABC News reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) is expected to march to the National Treasury in Pretoria on Friday.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 30 October 2025
- Details
In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Two inmates dead at Pollsmoor prison after violent attack on staff
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Weekend Argus reports that the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed that a violent incident occurred on Wednesday morning at the Pollsmoor prison during which officials were attacked and two inmates lost their lives.
Harmony Gold’s mine death toll climbs to 12 this year
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IOL Business reports that Harmony Gold Mining has announced that an electrician died while performing routine maintenance work at its Mponeng mine near Carletonville on Sunday morning.
Fake SPCA inspector jailed for 12 months after forging qualifications
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IOL News reports that a Cape Town man who impersonated a qualified SPCA inspector and forged official documents in a bid to secure employment has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after entering a plea agreement.
New taxes to fund National Health Insurance are ‘nearly a decade away’
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BusinessDay reports that according to a Department of Health (DOH) presentation to MPs on Tuesday, the government may not need to raise new taxes for National Health Insurance (NHI) for almost another decade.
Public Protector asked to probe promotion of CCMA official who had tampered with case management system
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GroundUp reports that a former senior commissioner at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has asked the Public Protector (PP) to investigate why an official who tampered with statistics to make the East London office look good was later promoted to a senior case management post.
Refinery in Booysens busted for processing gold-bearing material for zama zamas
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The Citizen reports that four suspects have been arrested in connection with an alleged clandestine gold refinery in Joburg. The Joburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), the Hawks and private security made the discovery as they continued their fight against illegal mining.
Eastern Cape teacher dismissed over illicit affair with 16-year old pupil
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TimesLIVE reports that a teacher who was found to have engaged in a sexual relationship with a 16-year old female pupil was dismissed in an award made by the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) on Tuesday.
Court interpreters to register as professional language practitioners
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SABC News reports that Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has advised that court interpreters will soon be required to register as professional language practitioners, as required by the South African Language Practitioners’ Council Act.
Cuban doctor in court for allegedly stealing medication from Thabazimbi Hospital
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SowetanLive reports that a 54-year-old Cuban national who works as a doctor at a Limpopo hospital was released on a warning after being accused of stealing medication at her place of work.
Dramatic increase in shortage of employees with critical skills
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News24 reports that SA’s critical skills shortage is expanding with 84% of companies now finding it necessary to source overseas talent, which is up five percentage points from last year.
Staff in limbo as Mafube municipality in Free State fails to pay salaries on time
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Sunday World reports that the cash-strapped Mafube local municipality, located in the Fezile Dabi district in Free State, has once again infuriated its workers by failing to pay salaries on time.