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.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 31 August 2021
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In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
DA in KZN lays charges against health MEC Simelane-Zulu for flouting Covid rules
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EWN reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) on Monday laid charges against Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu for transgressing Covid-19 regulations.
Limpopo health MEC defends ‘no vax, no mjolo’ poster
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EWN reports that the Limpopo Department of Health has defended its remarks on a controversial poster that did the rounds on social media last week encouraging the 18 to 34 cohort to vaccinate against Covid-19 infection.
UIF opens applications for relief for workers affected by July riots
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GroundUp reports that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has opened applications for temporary relief funds made available to all Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal workers affected by the July unrest.
Cosatu says striking ANC workers must be paid outstanding salaries
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Independent Media reports that Cosatu has come out in support of striking ANC workers, with the labour federation indicating that it expectedthe ruling party to conduct itself in an “exemplary manner”.
More arrests expected after six accused make first court appearance for Babita Deokaran’s murder
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News24 reports that six men appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Monday in connection with the murder of Gauteng health department official Babita Deokaran.
Richards Bay cop gunned down on Friday night, service pistol stolen
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Independent Media reports that a 41-year-old sergeant was gunned down on Friday night and his service pistol stolen.
Foreign workers bear brunt of nonpayment of Covid-19 Ters benefits
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BL Premium reports that system glitches that left many workers in desperate need of cash and stranded have returned to haunt the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), with foreign nationals the worst affected.
Fitness trainer who allegedly strangled, assaulted female JMPD officer faces attempted murder charge
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Independent Media reports that a female Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) officer from the K9 unit was allegedly viciously assaulted at the weekend while arresting a motorist for speeding and skipping a red traffic light.
Senior officials and company directors at Mogalakwena municipality arrested for R15m fraud
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TimesLIVE reports that the Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) have arrested several senior officials and company directors at the Mogalakwena municipality in connection with alleged fraud amounting to R15m.
SA must do more to keep whistleblowers safe, says Ramaphosa after murder of Babita Deokaran
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TimesLIVE reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa says the fight against corruption has gained momentum since the state capture inquiry started its work and the government must urgently review its approach to the broader protection of whistleblowers by tightening existing laws and policies.
Blue Label Telecoms suspends two senior executives, pending investigation about ‘internal matter’
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Fin24 reports that technology company Blue Label Telecoms has suspended two executives, pending an investigation. No details have been given on the reasons for the suspension, nor what the investigation is about.
Roundup on Monday, 30 August 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, 27 August 2021.
Treasury warns of further belt tightening after public sector wage deal compounds its woes
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Business Report writes that the government will be tightening its belt further this financial year, with downward risks to the fiscus having materialised after it lost a bruising battle with labour unions over wage increases.
Scammers rip-off desperate job-seekers seeking Correctional Services jobs
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ANA reports that the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has warned members of the public about scams taking place in different parts of SA whereby community members are being swindled out of their money in exchange for fictitious jobs.
With monthly costs running into millions, government managing to cut down on employees on suspension
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Independent Media reports that with costs running into millions of rands every month, the government is cutting down on employees on suspension.
NUM to march to Luthuli House over claim that black people being overlooked for senior positions at Eskom
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Independent Media reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is planning to march to the ANC’s Luthuli House headquarters over claims that black people are being overlooked for senior positions at Eskom.
Minister Motshekga confirms that October school holidays won’t be scrapped'
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TimesLIVE reports that Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Angie Motshekga confirmed during a media briefing on Sunday that, after a meeting with the nine MECs of education on Friday, it was decided that the October holidays would not be used to “to claw back lost time”.
Minister Cele visits family in Tembisa of yet another slain cop
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News24 reports that the police are mourning the loss of yet another officer after Tembisa-based police officer Sharon Mogale was gunned down last week.
ANC’s Paul Mashatile says infrastructure spend is key to SA jobs drive
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Bloomberg reports that Paul Mashatile, secretary-general of the African National Congress (ANC), last week urged the government to accelerate spending on infrastructure to create jobs, while at the same time cautioning against raising taxes to fund additional welfare benefits.
Mabuza says public sector wage bill cuts will make it difficult for state to absorb youth enrolled in YES programmes
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News24 reports that Deputy President David Mabuza told MPs last week that government's efforts at reducing the public service wage bill would make it challenging for the state to absorb large numbers of young South Africans who were enrolled in the government’s Youth Employment Stimulus (YES) and other programmes.
After assassination of Gauteng health official, SIU seeks to protect corruption witnesses
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News24 reports that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) indicated in a statement Friday that it was concerned about the safety of whistle-blowers and witnesses and had put measures in place to ensure their safety.
Joburg bookkeeper who allegedly scammed UIF out of R11.1m in Covid-19 Ters grants due in court on Tuesday
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Fin24 reports that an unnamed Johannesburg bookkeeper is the latest suspect to have been nabbed by police for fraud relating to the Unemployment Insurance Fund's (UIF’s) Covid-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (Ters).
KwaZulu-Natal health MEC sanctioned after flouting Covid-19 regulations at birthday party
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News24 reports that KwaZulu-Natal's (KZN’s) Health MEC will have to issue a public apology after she and her guests were seen neglecting Covid-19 protocols during her surprise party on Sunday, 22 August 2021.
Relief for Mango employees as airline finally gets money to pay some salaries
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Fin24 reports that in an update to employees dated 23 August, Mango's business rescue practitioner Sipho Sono advised that required funding from the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) had been received and the airline should be able to pay those salaries still outstanding for July 2021 by 29 August.
HPCSA registrar and CEO David Motau vows to challenge his suspension by health minister
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BusinessLive reports that Health Minister Joe Phaahla has suspended registrar and CEO of the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) David Motau a second time, for allegedly not disclosing that he was implicated in a criminal investigation when he applied for the position.
SABC suspends TV show anchor Rams Mabote after complaint about 'inappropriate behaviour'
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TimesLIVE reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has suspended current affairs television show host Rams Mabote after a female member of the production team lodged a complaint of inappropriate behaviour towards her.
As staff continue strike, ANC’s salary woes drive crowd-funding initiative
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Independent Media reports that the salary woes being experienced by the ANC have pushed the party to find innovative ways to raise funds, including crowd-funding.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 26 August 2021
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Medical Research Council study finds more than half of SA's sex workers victims of rape
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News24 reports that early findings of a study by the SA Medical Research Council and the Perinatal HIV Research Unit has found that more than half of sex workers, in a sample of 3,000, have been victims of rape.