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.
Sassa lost R11m after thousands improperly benefited from R350 grant, action to be taken against civil servants involved
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BusinessLive reports that the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) lost about R11m after 31,955 people improperly benefited from the Covid-19 social relief of distress (SRD) grant.
NUM calls for investigations following two separate mine fatalities on 1 September
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Mining Weekly writes that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has reported that two fatalities occurred in the mining industry on Wednesday, 1 September.
Presidency says green paper on social security didn’t follow due process and effects of early release to be assessed
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TimesLIVE reports that Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele says the government will assess the effect, if any, of the controversial social security green paper that has been withdrawn.
Nicholas Crisp appointed as acting health director-general following the suspension of Sandile Buthelezi
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TimesLIVE reports that Nicholas Crisp has been appointed acting director-general of the national health department following Sandile Buthelezi’s suspension.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 2 September 2021
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Gauteng health department witnesses in PPE investigation fear for their safety after murder of Babita Deokaran
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TimesLIVE reports that Gauteng health department staff who are witnesses in a corruption investigation being conducted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) fear for their safety after the brazen murder of their corruption-buster colleague.
Speeding fitness trainer accused of assaulting JMPD officer granted R500 bail
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News24 reports that a Gauteng motorist, who is alleged to have attacked a Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer and racially abusing her, has been released on R500 bail.
PPE investigations by SIU have cost over R350m
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BusinessLive reports that the estimated cost of the investigations by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into irregular and corrupt procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) by government departments is R351m.
NICD says 6.1m South Africans now fully vaccinated against Covid-19
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EWN reports that the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says that over 6.1 million South African are now fully vaccinated with either the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the double dose Pfizer jab.
As funds slowly trickle in, DPE hopes SAA subsidiaries will be sustainable again
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Fin24 reports that Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) director-general Kgathatso Tlhakudi was on Wednesday unable to advise MPs exactly how the funds made available by Treasury for subsidiaries of SA Airways (SAA) would be spent, but said the aim was to make the ailing companies sustainable again.
Former health minister Zweli Mkhize could face criminal charges relating to Digital Vibes contract
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Sunday Times Daily reports that former health minister Zweli Mkhize could face criminal charges for his role in the controversial Digital Vibes contract.
Former contract workers who are now jobless take to streets in Tshwane
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The Citizen reports that former City of Tshwane contract workers took to the streets of Pretoria on Wednesday to hand over a memorandum to the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Controversial social security green paper withdrawn to ‘obtain clarity’ on issues raised
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BL Premium reports that according to the Department of Social Development, it withdrew the green paper on comprehensive social security and retirement reform so that clarity could be obtained on some of the issues raised.
Five accused of killing two North West cops who bodies were found in burnt-out police vehicle appear in court
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News24 reports that four men and a teenager accused of killing two police officers in Mareetsane briefly appeared in the Itsoseng Magistrate's Court in North West on Monday.
State considers Covid vaccine passports for businesses and public amenities
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BL Premium reports that health minister Joe Phaahla told MPs on Tuesday that the government was exploring the scope for businesses and public amenities to demand proof of Covid-19 vaccination from patrons.
Government shoots down demand for military veterans to receive one-off R4m payment each
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TimesLIVE reports that the government has rejected demands for military veterans to be paid a one-off R4m each for their contribution to the struggle against apartheid.
State considers Covid vaccine passports for businesses and public amenities
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BL Premium reports that health minister Joe Phaahla told MPs on Tuesday that the government was exploring the scope for businesses and public amenities to demand proof of Covid-19 vaccination from patrons.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 1 September 2021
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In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Fear of job losses grips coal mining towns as transition to clean energy gains traction
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The Citizen writes that fear of job losses linked to the transition from coal to low-carbon energy sources is not new, but with unemployment having reached a new record, there is a new urgency to discussions over how to achieve a just transition.
Suspended Dirco DG found guilty of misconduct, but points finger at ex-minister over botched New York land deal
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News24 reports that the suspended director-general of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), Kgabo Mahoai, has been found guilty on three counts of misconduct.
Sactwu secures second wage increase this year
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Engineering News reports that about 70,000 clothing workers, most of whom are members of the Cosatu-affiliated Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu), will receive a 4.2% average wage increase as from 1 September.
SIU, Transnet welcome judgment that former Transnet executive must pay back R26.4m
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Engineering News reports that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and Transnet have welcomed a judgment handed down by Judge Lebogang Modiba in terms of which former Transnet employee Herbert Msagala must pay back R26.4-million to Transnet.
Khusela Diko axed as Ramaphosa's spokesperson for failure to disclose financial interests, but keeps public service job
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TimesLIVE reports that Khusela Diko has been axed as President Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesperson, but will retain a position in the public service.
Road Freight Association to pilot pop-up vaccination sites for truck drivers along the N3
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News24 reports that truck drivers will soon be able to be vaccinated while on the road, thanks to pop-up vaccination sites at filling stations along the N3.
Staff at SAA subsidiary Air Chefs to be paid after 16 months, but for many it’s too late
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Sunday Times Daily reports that many employees of SA Airways (SAA) subsidiary Air Chefs — which provides in-flight catering services to airlines — have gone without normal salaries for more than 16 months.
Doubling sugar tax would be disastrous for embattled sector and mean even more job losses
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BL Premium reports that the embattled SA sugar industry has criticised calls for the government to increase the sugar tax, saying doing so would prove disastrous for a sector that is already bleeding jobs.
SA scientists keep close tabs on new Covid-19 variant detected in all provinces
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BusinessLive reports that scientists are monitoring mutations of a new variant of Covid-19 present in all provinces, although the newly identified lineage only accounts for a small proportion of cases.
Cosatu calls on government to take steps to manage industrial cannabis production
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BL Premium reports that Cosatu indicated on Tuesday during parliament’s public hearings on the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill that decriminalising the cannabis sector would boost SA’s economy and would be a step in removing the industry from the control of criminal syndicates.
‘Staggering surge’ in insurance industry policyholder deaths ascribed to Covid-19
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BL Premium reports that statistics on mortality claims from the insurance industry show that more than a million policyholders died in the most recent one-year measurement period, which the sector said was “no doubt” linked to Covid-19.
Minister Lindiwe Zulu withdraws controversial green paper on social security reform
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BusinessLive reports that Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu has withdrawn the green paper on comprehensive social security and retirement reform less than two weeks after it was first gazetted on 19 August.