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.
Blow to broke ANC as Cosatu affiliates reject crowd-funding initiative
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Sunday World reports that the African National Congress (ANC) has suffered another blow after affiliates of trade union federation Cosatu last week rejected the proposal of crowd-funding for the financially ailing governing party.
Solidarity’s case against Post Office over unpaid medical contributions to be heard on Tuesday
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SowetanLive reports that trade union Solidarity has hauled the SA Post Office (Sapo) to court after it failed to pay more than R600m into employees’ medical funds.
Four soldiers seriously injured after military vehicle plunges into a river in KZN
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The Witness reports that four members of the SA Defence Force (SANDF) suffered serious injuries after a military vehicle known as a Samil 50 plunged over a bridge along the Wasbank Road, in the Mwela Wela area near Ladysmith, on Monday morning.
SA and UK scientific experts meet over travel red list concerns
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TimesLIVE reports that information provided by SA scientists to their UK counterparts will be factored into the latter country's decision-making on whether to keep SA on its travel “red list”.
‘Blue lights’ corruption case against former top cops Phahlane and Mgwenya postponed to November
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EWN reports that the multimillion police ‘blue lights’ corruption case against the former national police commissioner, Khomotso Phahlane, and the former deputy national commissioner, Bonang Mgwenya, has been postponed to November.
Anti-vaccine protests having negative impact on jab programme, says Western Cape health department
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EWN reports that recent ‘anti-vax’ demonstrations in Cape Town may have resulted in waning demand for Covid-19 vaccines in the province.
National Treasury downplays exit of key official
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Bloomberg News reports that Tshepiso Moahloli, the head of assets and liability management and the most high-profile woman at the National Treasury, last week became the latest senior official to resign.
Popcru wants more protection for SAPS as it laments increase in cops being killed
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News24 reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has expressed concern over the increasing number of police officers being killed, saying it was tired of burying colleagues and attending annual memorial services.
Three senior Gauteng education department officials face charges over R431m school decontamination tenders
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News24 reports that the Gauteng Department of Education has laid charges against three senior managers over R431 million spent on the decontamination of schools last year.
Police corruption tops complaints received by Corruption Watch in first half of 2021
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SowetanLive reports that according to Corruption Watch (CW), police corruption topped the list of complaints received from the public and private institutions in the first half of this year.
Mining fatalities remain a concern, says chief inspector of mines
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Mining Weekly reports that according to Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) chief inspector of mines, David Msiza, the continued loss of life, injuries and diseases in the SA mining sector remains of great concern, even though there has been an historic improvement.
Popcru alarmed by report of Cape Town lawyer allegedly carrying drugs for his client
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News24 reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) Popcru has expressed concern over a report that a 39-year-old lawyer was arrested last week in Bellville, Cape Town, for allegedly being in possession of drugs intended for a client in custody.
Probe concluded into white North West officials accused of withholding Covid-19 vaccine from black residents
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News24 reports that an investigation report into the conduct of three white North West health department officials accused of withholding Covid-19 vaccine jabs from black residents will determine what action will be taken against them.
Health director-general Sandile Buthelezi suspended over Digital Vibes contract
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TimesLIVE reports that Department of Health director-general Sandile Buthelezi has been placed on precautionary suspension over his alleged role in the Digital Vibes tender saga.
Youth encouraged by education department to apply for 287,000 teacher, general assistant positions
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News24 reports that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) on Sunday announced that it has opened Phase 2 of the Basic Education Employment Initiative programme.
SA's economy is growing, yet more people are losing their jobs
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City Press writes that the economy grew in the second quarter of this year and the SA Reserve Bank forecasts growth of 5.3% for the year, but ever more people are losing their jobs.
Some 45% of South African mineworkers now fully or partially vaccinated
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Mining Weekly reports that the mining industry has vaccinated, or partially vaccinated, 203,007 employees and contractors in SA, which that is about 45% of the workforce. Of that total, 49% have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Tourism furious over state’s inaction in getting SA off UK’s red list and opening gates to visitors
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Business Times reports that Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO of the Tourism Business Council of SA, says President Cyril Ramaphosa needs “urgently” to speak to his opposite number in Downing Street, Boris Johnson, to get to the bottom of why the UK is keeping SA on its red list.
Roundup on Monday, 27 September 2021 of weekend labour reports
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In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 24 September 2021.
Absa staff in line to benefit from new BEE deal worth R9.5bn
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BL Premium reports that Absa is considering a second broad-based BEE (BBBEE) scheme to make a more meaningful contribution to transformation in the financial services sector.
Labour minister’s rogue regulations are set to deepen the rot in Compensation Fund
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Tim Hughes, spokesperson for the Injured Workers’ Action Group, writes that the government has gone rogue in gazetting “draconian, irrational and unreasonable” regulations pertaining to the Compensation Fund.
UCT senate votes to approve mandatory vaccination for staff and students
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BusinessLive reports that plans to introduce mandatory Covid-19 vaccination among staff and students at the University of Cape Town (UCT) are one step closer after a resounding vote in favour by the university’s senate.
Supreme Court of Appeal rules BEE criteria for tourism relief fund is unlawful
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BL Premium reports that the Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled that the application of BEE criteria in the disbursement of money from the Tourism Relief Fund was unlawful.
State launches unit to tackle corruption and fraud in public service
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BusinessLive reports that the government has launched a niche unit aimed at curbing corruption and fraud among public servants by implementing norms and standards on ethics, integrity and discipline management in the civil service.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 21 September 2021
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In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Ramaphosa tells Cosatu that right to bodily integrity must be balanced with right to safe working environment
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TimesLIVE reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has indicated that, while the government respects workers' right to bodily integrity when it comes to Covid-19 vaccinations, a balance has to be found between those rights and others' right to work in a safe environment.
Pension fund legislation expected to take centre stage in Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in November
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Business Report writes that pension fund legislation is expected to take the centre stage in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), which will be tabled on 4 November.
Government's current strategies not at a sufficient scale to address unemployment and poverty, Ramaphosa tells Cosatu
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Fin24 reports that addressing labour federation Cosatu's seventh central committee on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa underlined the extent of the fiscal crisis the government was facing. Current interventions were not enough, he stressed.
US to lift travel restrictions on South Africans vaccinated against Covid-19
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Fin24 reports that by November, the US will allow entry to South African travellers as long as they’re fully vaccinated against Covid-19. The US government has had a travel ban imposed on most countries for more than 18 months.
Man arrested for allegedly authorising forged official documents outside Home Affairs in Centurion
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News24 reports that a 35-year-old Zimbabwean national has been arrested after he was caught allegedly authorising official Department of Home Affairs (DHA) documents, including asylum documents.