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.
Mpumalanga municipal employee and two others arrested over R300,000 RDP housing scam
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News24 reports that an employee at the eMalahleni municipality in Mpumalanga was granted R10,000 bail last week, after being charged with selling unallocated RDP houses to unsuspecting victims desperate for a home.
Covid-19 vaccination programme loses momentum
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City Press reports that SA’s Covid-19 vaccine programme is losing momentum. Dr Nicholas Crisp, who runs government’s vaccine programme, said they have not been able to reach the target of 250,000 jabs a day because too few people were showing up at vaccination stations.
NUM slams CAPM’s plans to retrench up to 200 Orkney miners
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Mining Weekly reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says it is “disturbed and aggrieved” by China Africa Precious Metal’s (CAPM’s) issuance of a Section 189 notice for the retrenchment of 200 of the 301 employees at its Orkney gold mine, in the North West.
Armed men rob principal, teachers on Friday at West Rand school
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News24 reports that police advised on Saturday that a principal and his teachers were robbed at a school on the West Rand in Gauteng.
Health Minister wants SA to stay at current lockdown level, despite downward trend in infections
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Reuters reports that Health Minister Joe Phaahla indicated on Friday that he would not recommend a relaxation of Covid-19 lockdown measures despite a downward trend in infections.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 13 August 2021
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
SA ranked low in new report on youth development
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The Citizen reports that a new report shows SA is lagging behind in the ranking for countries that have made an improvement in youth development.
Minimal staff at Cape Town fire stations because of disciplinary hearings
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Cape Argus reports that fire stations across Cape Town have been working with minimal staff for the last month because 525 firefighters are facing disciplinary hearings and are not allowed to work overtime.
Limpopo education department reprimands official who asked schools to pay for his office wifi
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Sunday Times Daily reports that the Limpopo education department has reprimanded a circuit manager for asking schools for donations to pay for wifi connectivity and stationery consumables for his office.
‘Whites only’ Covid-19 vaccine allegations being probed in North West
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The Citizen reports that three North West health officials could be in trouble for allegedly withholding Covid-19 vaccines from black people, while mobilising white people to get vaccinated at the department’s Tswaing sub-district last month.
NHI costing report compiled by Solidarity estimates unaffordable shortfall of R112 billion
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On Thursday, trade union Solidarity presented the findings of a comprehensive report compiled by the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI) into the estimated cost of introducing the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.
UIF slammed by Western Cape legislative committee for taking over a month to answer 123 complaints
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Cape Argus reports that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has been slammed for being too slow to deal with 123 complaints submitted a month ago.
After rape of grade one learner, five workers at Soshanguve school asked to ‘stay at home’, but not suspended
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At least five general workers at Khensani Primary School in Soshanguve have been asked to stay at home while the investigation into the rape of a grade one learner is underway.
Cosatu and PSA slam Treasury for exclusion of public servants from new rules on early retirement fund withdrawals
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Fin24 reports that labour federation Cosatu and the Public Servants Association (PSA) have each hit out at National Treasury's indication that members of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) will be excluded from new rules enabling pre-retirement fund withdrawals.
Pan African Resources concludes three-year wage agreements with NUM and Uasa at Barberton mines
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Mining Weekly reports that according to Pan African Resources, its Barberton Mines operation has successfully concluded a three-year wage agreement with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and a five-year wage agreement with Uasa.
Northam’s Zondereinde mine concludes five-year wage agreement with NUM
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Mining Weekly reports that Northam Platinum has advised that wage negotiations at its Zondereinde mine, in Limpopo, with representative union the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) have been concluded.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 12 August 2021
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Labour Minister outlines interventions to assist KZN workers affected by recent civil unrest
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Engineering News reports that Minister Thulas Nxesi has outlined interventions by the Department of Employment and Labour on how it will be assisting affected workers across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) following the recent civil unrest.
Suspect arrested for ‘offering R50,000 bribe’ to squash PPE investigation by SIU
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Sowetan reports that a man who allegedly tried to bribe away a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation into the irregular awarding of a personal protective equipment (PPE) contract by the Mpumalanga department of public works has landed himself behind bars.
Permanently injured fireman in court battle with City of Cape Town to secure promotion
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The Star reports that the City of Cape Town has been accused of acting immorally and arbitrarily by refusing to promote a firefighter who suffered permanent injuries at the workplace.
Unions at Mango considering appealing against business rescue ruling in effort to have own candidate appointed
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Fin24 reports that three unions at Mango say they intend to appeal a ruling placing the low-cost airline in voluntary business rescue, pending consideration of the judge's reasons for his decision.
Military union lashes SANDF over shortage of hygiene material in KZN
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The Star reports that the SA National Defence Union (Sandu) has called on newly appointed Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise to intervene over the alleged shortage of hygiene material for army personnel deployed in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Treasury advises public that partial withdrawal of pension funds currently not permisable
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The Citizen reports that National Treasury has advised the public against contacting their retirement funds in an attempt to request a partial withdrawal of pension funds as the law did not currently allow that.
New Joburg mayor doesn’t have a problem with insourcing, but only if it makes financial sense
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TimesLIVE reports that according to newly elected City of Johannesburg mayor Jolidee Matongo, the city does not have a problem with insourcing staff, provided it makes financial sense and achieves savings for the city.
Plan for partial pension withdrawals won’t be ready before 2022, with GEPF to be excluded
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BL Premium reports that workers in financial distress hoping for early access to a portion of their retirement savings while still employed won't be able to do so until at least 2022.
Amcu to commemorate Marikana, celebrate Women’s Month with upcoming events in August
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Mining Weekly reports that in paying tribute to the 44 mineworkers killed at Marikana on 16 August 2012, trade union the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) will host its ninth commemorative lecture this week.
Struggling arms manufacturer Denel confident of recovery if it gets state bail out
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BusinessLive reports that cash-strapped state-owned Denel believes it can become a sustainable business within the next five years if it restructures to create a streamlined and refocused company.
Warder found dead on Tuesday in Leeuwkop Prison's Covid-19 isolation wing
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News24 reports that the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has called for the suspension of top officials at Leeuwkop Prison in northern Johannesburg after the discovery on Tuesday night of the body of a warder in the Covid-19 isolation wing.
Makhura says Gauteng has shifted focus to vaccinating farm workers
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News24 reports that Gauteng Premier David Makhura’s provincial government had now shifted its Covid-19 inoculation programme to farmers and their workers.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 11 August 2021
- Details
In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.