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.
Gun-wielding suspects in school uniform rob teachers at KZN school
- Details
Sunday Tribune reports that teachers at a high school in the Pinetown district invigilating exams on Friday were uneasy and afraid after gun-wielding robbers dressed as pupils held up staff the previous day.
Roundup on Monday, 13 November 2023 of weekend labour reports
- Details
In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 10 November 2023.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 10 November 2023
- Details
In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Transnet considers use of private mechanics to solve Cape Town port crisis
- Details
BL Premium reports that Transnet is considering opening the door to companies to second mechanics at the dysfunctional Port of Cape Town.
SIU blocks pension fund payouts of two Transnet executives implicated in R33m breathalyser straw tender
- Details
BusinessLive reports that two former Transnet executives embroiled in a R33m tender for the procurement of straw breathalysers have been prevented from withdrawing their respective pension fund benefits worth R8.9m.
Internal school exams in KZN under threat as Sadtu embarks on protest action
- Details
News24 reports that a protest by the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is threatening the final examinations for some pupils in the province.
Tshwane stinks as Samwu strike continues
- Details
The Citizen reports that the impact of the strike by City of Tshwane workers affiliated to the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) is far from over.
Impala Platinum starts voluntary job cuts at platinum mines
- Details
Reuters reports that Impala Platinum is offering voluntary job cuts to workers at platinum mining shafts in SA in a bid to cut costs as prices for the metal fall.
National Treasury questions feasibility of proposed maternity support grant
- Details
BusinessLive reports that the National Treasury has expressed doubt about the feasibility of the proposal put forward by the SA Law Reform Commission advising the government to introduce a maternity support grant for poor pregnant women and to extend the benefits of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to self-employed workers.
Independent Newspapers retrenches 128, delays payment of severance packages
- Details
News24 reports that Independent Newspapers, the publisher of The Cape Times, The Star, Isolezwe and The Mercury, has retrenched 128 employees to cut its wage bill.
Floyd Brink is still Johannesburg's city manager – for now, pending leave to appeal judgment
- Details
News24 reports that Floyd Brink has been thrown a lifeline by the City of Johannesburg, which filed an application for leave to appeal a court finding that his appointment as city manager was unconstitutional, unlawful and invalid.
Pay negotiations begin again between City of Tshwane and unions
- Details
TimesLIVE reports that the administration of the Tshwane metro municipality and its municipal workers are back at the negotiating table in yet another effort to resolve their pay dispute and labour unrest.
Employment and labour minister Thulas Nxesi rubbishes R500m bribe claim
- Details
The Star reports that Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Thulas Nxesi has dismissed claims that he was one of three ministers who solicited a bribe of R500 million.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 9 November 2023
- Details
In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Retirement age comes under legal lens at ConCourt
- Details
Pretoria News reports that the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) is to cast a fresh eye on the issue of whether it is fair to fire employees working beyond their retirement age.
Patient stabs Eastern Cape nurse – with knife stolen from security guard – for refusing him a cigarette
- Details
News24 reports that a patient, who apparently suffers from acute psychosis, stabbed a nurse with a knife at Bhisho Hospital because he refused to share a cigarette with him.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 7 November 2023
- Details
In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Ramokgopa promises Eskom workers ‘a better Christmas’ if power cuts ease
- Details
TimesLIVE reports that Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has promised that Eskom workers will enjoy a “better Christmas” if the power utility improves generation capacity.
Defence force joins the fight against illegal miners, but expert says plan is flawed
- Details
BL Premium reports that the “imminent danger” posed by illegal miners has necessitated a multidisciplinary approach, with the muscle of a brigade from the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soon kicking into gear.
Sibanye-Stillwater signs five-year deal with Amcu and NUM at Kroondal platinum operations
- Details
BL Premium reports that precious metals producer Sibanye-Stillwater has concluded a five-year wage deal with labour unions at its Kroondal platinum mine. 
Already weakened unions suffer near-record membership decline
- Details
Fin24 reports that SA trade union membership decreased by half a million in the year to end March, with 10 unions deregistering over the course of the year.
State employees in SA ‘best paid in the world’
- Details
City Press writes that the state in SA has some of the highest paid public sector workers in the world. The government workforce is almost 2 million.
Roundup on Monday, 6 November 2023 of weekend labour reports
- Details
In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 3 November 2023.
Another eThekwini water and sanitation unit manager killed
- Details
Sunday Tribune reports that a senior manager in the eThekwini Municipality’s water and sanitation unit was shot dead on Friday night.
Gold One expects number of workers being disciplined for holding co-workers 'hostage' to rise
- Details
TimesLIVE reports that Gold One is moving with speed on the disciplinary hearings of employees suspended for allegedly holding co-workers hostage underground.
Government tightens screws on the hiring of new employees
- Details
Sunday Independent reports that the government is tightening the screws on the hiring of new employees in its bid to cut costs as part of responding to the current challenging fiscal environment.
Three executives emerge as strong candidates for Transnet CEO post
- Details
Business Times reports that two former Transnet executives and the board chair of Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) are believed to be front-runners for the position of group CEO at the state-owned rail and ports company.
Satawu’s Transnet protest planned for Friday put on hold
- Details
The Mercury reports that Cosatu and its affiliate, the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu), have postponed a planned nationwide strike on Friday as they continue to engage with the Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan over their concerns about the privatisation of Transnet.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 3 November 2023
- Details
In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Gunmen in Checkers uniforms rob staff at retailer’s Windermere store in Durban
- Details
IOL News reports that police in Durban are investigating a case of robbery after a group of men stormed the Checkers store in Windermere Centre on Thursday morning.