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.
Thousands of underqualified Grade R teachers face job uncertainty
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News24 reports that a total of 7,294 Grade R practitioners teaching at public schools are underqualified, according to the Department of Basic Education (DBE). This number includes 1,937 underqualified teachers in KwaZulu-Natal, 1,416 in the Western Cape, and 1,001 in the Eastern Cape.
Lifestyle audits extended to 400 ‘high-risk’ public works officials, says Macpherson
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BusinessLive reports that Department of Public Works (DPW) Minister Dean Macpherson says his department is extending the conduct of lifestyle audits on “400 high-risk officials” this year after completing audits of 48 senior managers in the 2022/23 financial year.
Urgent court action by two business organisations aims to halt employment equity quotas
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Moneyweb reports that Sakeliga and the National Employers Association of SA (Neasa) filed an urgent Gauteng High Court application this week challenging race and gender targets under the Employment Equity Amendment Act (EEAA), which became law in January 2025.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 10 July 2025
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Cosatu joins voices calling for probe into Mkhwanazi allegations
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SABC News reports that trade union federation, Cosatu, has joined calls for an urgent, independent commission of inquiry into allegations of corruption involving senior police officials, members of the judiciary and members of correctional services.
Judge President Mbenenge has criminal case of crimen injuria against sexual harassment accuser Mengo
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IOL News reports that sexual harassment complainant Andiswa Mengo was labelled to have “selective amnesia” by former Judge President Selby Mbenenge as he continued his testimony at the Judicial Conduct Tribunal on Tuesday.
Companies need wellness programmes that support mental health, says Sadag
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SABC News reports that according to the SA Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag), SA has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, with more than 13,000 suicides each year.
Ramaphosa can still prevent major job losses due to Trump tariffs if he takes urgent action, says Solidarity
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According to trade union Solidarity, SA can still escape the pain that the US’s 30% trade tariff will bring upon its economy, provided President Cyril Ramaphosa takes urgent action.
Unemployed KZN doctors welcome 20 new posts, but call for far more
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The Witness reports that KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane recently released for appointment 20 funded medical officer positions, so delivering on a promise she made to the group of unemployed doctors who have been protesting for jobs outside the Natalia Building or the Premier’s office for the past two weeks.
Two Ashton traffic officers among three found guilty of issuing false drivers' licences in 2016
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The Post reports that three persons, including two traffic officers, were convicted of corruption in the Cape Town Regional Court on Monday for their roles in a scheme involving false drivers’ licences.
Numsa ballots members about downing tools over Gautrain wage dispute
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The Citizen reports that as Gautrain celebrated its fifteenth anniversary on Tuesday, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) indicated that it would be balloting its members to determine whether it would be going ahead with a strike at the rapid rail network.
Trump’s tariffs will kill SA motor industry growth, economist Dawie Roodt warns
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BusinessLive reports that economist Dawie Roodt warned on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump’s decision to slap 30% tariffs on vehicles, components, tyres and parts exported from SA to the US would “kill any possible economic growth in our country”.
More than 7,000 grade R teachers are not qualified to teach the grade
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The Citizen reports that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has admitted that more than 7,000 grade R teachers across SA are not qualified to teach the grade.
Tshwane officials allegedly implicated in R7m transformer theft released on bail
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News24 reports that the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court has granted bail to three City of Tshwane officials accused of stealing a transformer valued at R7 million.
Panel’s finding of racial bias in fraud detection probes rocks medical schemes
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BL Premium reports that an inquiry by an independent panel has found that under the fraud detection systems used by SA’s biggest medical schemes, black practitioners face a markedly higher risk ratio for audit and sanction than their white counterparts.
Abuse allegations mount against former St John’s Preparatory School teacher
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News24 reports that a former St John’s Preparatory School teacher who was arrested earlier this year on child abuse allegations is expected to face additional charges.
Mbenenge claims flirtatious texts with his accuser were sensual, not sexual
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Mail & Guardian reports that flirtatious text messages between Eastern Cape judge president Selby Mbenenge and junior legal professional Andiswa Mengo were at the centre of Tuesday’s session of the judicial conduct tribunal in which he faces sexual harassment charges.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 9 July 2025
- Details
In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South
African labour-related reports.
Unions call for urgent presidential intervention at SAPS following Mkhwanazi’s accusations
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News24 reports that police unions have called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene following allegations by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that senior figures were undermining investigations into political killings and organised crime.
Hawks launch investigation into Minister Nkabane over alleged fraud, lying to Parliament
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IOL News reports that the Hawks have confirmed they are investigating criminal charges against Higher Education Minister Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane, following a complaint filed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) last week.
Mpumalanga education opens housing allowance fraud case against two officials
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Mpumalanga News reports that on 29 June, the Mpumalanga Department of Education (DoE) formally opened a case of fraud with the SA Police Service (SAPS) against two officials from the Ehlanzeni School District.
Ekurhuleni Mayor warns of exodus of professionals amid assassination of municipal auditor
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IOL News reports that Ekurhuleni mayor, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, has sounded a chilling warning. Speaking at the funeral of slain forensic auditor Mpho Mafole on Sunday, he said that unless SA protected the integrity warriors within its public institutions, the state faced a mass exodus of professionals – and with it, the collapse of public trust.
Call for audit into secret service ghost workers in SAPS Crime Intelligence
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The Citizen reports that Jan Naudè de Villiers, chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on public service and administration, recently submitted a formal request to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, for an independent investigation into payroll fraud and the possibility of non-existent workers drawing salaries within the SA Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence (CI) Division.
Capitec CEO sticks with his view on jobless rate in talks with Presidency and Stats SA
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BL Premium reports that Capitec CEO Gerrie Fourie stood his ground when he met a government delegation last week and repeated his assertion that SA’s unemployment rate was much lower than the official data suggested.
Assmang confirms closure of Cato Ridge smelter on 31 August, with close to 600 jobs to be lost
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IOL Business reports that Assmang has confirmed the permanent closure of its Cato Ridge Works (CRW) Ferromanganese Smelter in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) with close to 600 employees set to lose their jobs.
Livingstone Hospital task team to report on Tuesday on interventions in wake of staff exodus
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News24 reports that a report on staffing issues that have led to doctors leaving the Livingstone Hospital in Gqeberha in droves is expected to be presented to senior officials in the Eastern Cape Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday.
Murder of Ekurhuleni auditor tied to probe into R2b electricity billing scandal
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IOL News reports that the murder of Mpho Mafole, the group divisional head for corporate and forensic audits at the City of Ekurhuleni municipality, has sent shockwaves through the city.
National Treasury to strengthen oversight of PIC
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BusinessLive reports that National Treasury is strengthening its oversight role over the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), Africa’s largest asset manager with more than R3-trillion in assets under management.
Judge President Mbenenge claims ‘malicious’ lies in sexual harassment complaint
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TimesLIVE Premium reports that Eastern Cape judge president Selby Mbenenge gave evidence on Monday at a Judicial Conduct Tribunal which is investigating judges’ secretary Andiswa Mengo’s complaint of sexual harassment.
Numsa changes stance, seeks an amicable solution to Gautrain wage dispute
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BL Premium reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) says it remains open to negotiations with Gautrain operator Bombela Operating Company (BOC) over its demands for above-inflation wage increases, stressing that it prefers to resolve the wage impasse amicably rather than taking to the streets.