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.
Two Durban prison guards stabbed in early morning attack on Tuesday
- Details
Independent Media reports that two Westville Correctional Centre officials were attacked on Tuesday morning. In a photograph shared on social media, two guards are seen with blood stains on their uniforms.
Ekurhuleni metro cop killed while attempting to fend off looters at mall in Katlehong
- Details
Independent Media reports that Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officer Meshack Mahlangu was killed by violent looters, at the newly built Sam Ntuli Mall in Katlehong.
ANC staffers in Cape Town on go-slow over late salary payments
- Details
Cape Argus reports that African National Congress (ANC) staffers in Cape Town are on a go-slow as a result of the non-payment of their June salaries.
Metrorail to resume some Gauteng train services on Wednesday
- Details
ANA reports that passenger rail service Metrorail has announced that train services suspended earlier this week due to spreading violent unrest, will formally resume on Wednesday.
Riots turn Gauteng and KZN into war zones, with SANDF deployment set to be enhanced on Wednesday
- Details
BL Premium reports that SA is on a knife edge as violent riots have escalated to the point of police being in running battles with thousands of protesters intent on looting and then burning malls and warehouses and sabotaging strategic infrastructure.
Fuel refinery Sapref declares force majeure and shuts plant in KZN amid unrest
- Details
BL Premium reports that South African Petroleum Refineries (Sapref), the largest refinery in Southern Africa, has declared force majeure and closed its doors amid rampant unrest and looting in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Rioting halts Covid-19 vaccinations in key SA provinces
- Details
Bloomberg reports that SA’s Covid-19 vaccination program has been partially halted as violent protests following the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma rage in two key provinces.
Seifsa says it’s one step closer to a wage deal in metals and engineering industries
- Details
Fin24 reports that the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has revised a wage offer in the metals and engineering sectors in order to get a deal in its ongoing negotiations with organised labour.
Unrest leads to MC Mining temporarily closing its Uitkomst colliery in KZN
- Details
Mining Weekly reports that operations MC Mining’s 70%-owned Uitkomst colliery have been suspended temporarily in light of the continuing civil unrest in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Fourth, fifth waves assured as riots reverse Covid gains, shut vaccine sites and make it difficult for healthcare staff to get to work
- Details
The Citizen writes that the ongoing riots in SA looks set to reverse all the country’s gains in combatting the Covid pandemic.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 13 July 2021
- Details
In our early morning roundup, see summaries
of our selection of recent South African labour-
labour-related reports.
Manganese ore truck torched in Gqeberha in apparent attack targeting foreign drivers
- Details
News24 reports that a truck was set alight on Monday in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape in apparent ongoing attacks on foreign nationals driving manganese ore trucks.
World Bank outlines what SA needs to do to create jobs
- Details
Bloomberg reports that according to the World Bank, SA can bolster hiring by temporarily extending tax incentives, suspending rules that increase labour costs and introducing measures to support entrepreneurship and self-employment.
President admits public violence is fuelled by anger over socioeconomic issues such as joblessness
- Details
BusinessLive reports that in an address to the nation on Monday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa appealed to South Africans to consider the consequences of their actions and stop the wholesale looting and the trail of destruction.
Public sector unions to choose between deal or dispute
- Details
Fin24 reports that some unions have accepted government's latest wage offer to public servants, while others have rejected the proposal and yet others are still weighing their options.
Some 95% of striking SAA pilots vote in favour of in principle settlement agreement
- Details
Fin24 reports that about 95% of the members of the SAA Pilots' Association (Saapa) have voted in favour of an in-principle settlement agreement offered by South African Airways (SAA).
Metrorail train and taxi collide in early Monday morning accident in Cape Town
- Details
News24 reports that a train and a taxi collided in an early Monday morning accident at a Cape Town level crossing, leaving commuters stranded between Fish Hoek and Retreat.
Ramaphosa assures that businesses and workers affected by lockdown will be aided
- Details
BL Premium reports that in his weekly newsletter published on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that detailed plans to cushion businesses and workers affected by the latest restrictions meant to curb the spread of Covid-19 and reduce pressure on hospitals would be published soon.
Former KZN premier and Eskom chair Ben Ngubane succumbs to Covid-19
- Details
TimesLIVE reports that former KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) premier and Eskom chair Dr Ben Ngubane died from Covid-19 complications on Monday morning.
Rio Tinto says Richards Bay Minerals to remain closed as some concerns yet to be resolved
- Details
Mining Weekly reports that Rio Tinto’s South African subsidiary, Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), says there are still “fundamental milestones” that must be met before its operations, in KwaZulu-Natal, can be resumed.
Seifsa tables offer for three-year wage deal in metals and engineering sectors
- Details
Engineering News reports that the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) has, on behalf of its 19 affiliated employer organisations, tabled a wage offer to trade unions in the metals and engineering sector.
Roundup on Monday, 12 July 2021 of weekend labour reports
- Details
In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 9 July 2021.
Rubbish collection in Kariega halted by garbage collectors demanding permanent jobs
- Details
GroundUp reports that about 30 garbage collectors at the Cuyler Depot in Kariega (Uitenhage) stopped rubbish collection for the second day on Friday morning.
Workers dismissed for refusing polygraph tests head to Labour Court to argue that the tests are unscientific
- Details
GroundUp reports that three workers who were dismissed by their employer for refusing to take polygraph tests are heading to the Labour Court next month.
Markets unfazed by prospect of higher than budgeted public sector pay hike
- Details
Business Times reports that markets and ratings agencies are unfazed by the prospect of a public sector wage increase that's now set to come in higher than the government had budgeted for.
With Covid-19 lockdown level 4 extended, alcohol and leisure sectors warn of death knell for recovery
- Details
BL Premium reports that in a blow to the liquor, leisure, travel and tourism industries, President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday extended the government’s ban on alcohol sales by another two weeks.
Gauteng traffic chief and two cops among those arrested in Joburg in R200m cocaine bust
- Details
News24 reports that a traffic chief, two police officers and a civilian have been arrested after a large haul of cocaine with an estimated street value of R200 million was allegedly discovered in a police bakkie.
With funding for additional staff secured, weekend Covid-19 vaccinations to roll out from August
- Details
The Citizen reports that acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane on Friday announced another big step forward in SA’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout programme with the implementation of weekend vaccinations.
Richards Bay Minerals to resume operations on Monday, to reserve 50% of general worker jobs for community members
- Details
Mining Weekly reports that Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) has agreed to reserve 50% of its currently available general worker jobs for members of the Sokhulu community.
Ramaphosa announces extension of Covid-19 Ters scheme for sectors affected by lockdown measures
- Details
The Citizen reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the extension of the Covid-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) in an effort to support people who have been affected by lockdown restrictions.