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.
Union warns that latest unrest at Richards Bay Minerals may be final nail in the coffin
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Mining Weekly reports that trade union Uasa has expressed concern about the dangerous situation prevailing at Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) in KwaZulu-Natal and has called for decisive action from President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, the police and the provincial government.
Tshwane Metro paying guards to guard ‘nothing’ at Zithobeni stadium because there’s nothing left to steal
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The Citizen reports that for over two years, the Tshwane Metro has been paying a company for two security guards per shift at the Zithobeni stadium. But even the guards don’t know what they’re meant to be guarding, as there is almost nothing left of the destroyed facility.
Clover closing its cheese factory in Lichtenburg due to municipal woes, 330 employees to lose their jobs
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Fin24 reports that dairy group Clover is closing down SA’s largest cheese factory in Lichtenburg, North West, due to "ongoing poor service delivery" by the local municipality.
Mossel Bay's municipal manager suspended for alleged sexual misconduct
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News24 reports that the Mossel Bay Municipality's municipal manager, Thys Giliomee, has seven days to provide written reason why he should not be suspended amid an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct.
Suspensions at UIF lifted, but two executives to face disciplinary hearings
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News24 reports that the head of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has seen his suspension lifted, along with those of two other executives at the fund.
Our other staff 'might be targeted', Gauteng MEC says after senior housing official dies in hail of bullets
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TimesLIVE reports that the Gauteng government is worried that other staff members could become victims of targeted hits after the weekend slaying of senior housing official Teboho Makhoa.
Samwu warns that municipal sector wage talks ‘nearing collapse’
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BL Premium reports that a wage deal in the local government sector is far from being concluded as the parties keep contradicting each other, with the employer saying “meaningful progress” has been made, while unions dispute this, saying the talks are “nearing collapse”.
Roundup on Monday, 7 June 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, 4 June 2021.
Technology gives farmers a leg up in cutting costs after minimum wage rises, but sector could lose over 4,000 jobs
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BL Premium reports that farmers are turning to technology to improve productivity, reduce costs and keep their enterprises afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Labour desks of political parties interfering in the work of the CCMA
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Mail & Guardian reports that the cash-strapped Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has warned that “political party labour desks” pose a threat to the work of the statutory dispute resolution body.
Skills programme to give leg up to unemployed youth in Alexandra
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The Sunday Independent reports that Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Morakane Mosupyoe officially opened the Ikusasalethu Youth Development Project centre in Alexandra township, on Thursday.
PSA to start getting ready for strike if there is no other way forward from government in the public sector wage talks
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City Press reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) said on Friday that it would start preparations for industrial action this week if government did not offer a favourable way forward on the public sector wage dispute.
Denel faces liquidation bid from SAAB Grintek Defence
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eNCA reports that state-owned arms manufacturer Denel faces a legal bid to have it liquidated. SAAB Grintek Defence has approached the High Court in Pretoria for the winding up of the company.
Rand Water to lay criminal charges against customers who were 'abusive' in emails to customer care staffers
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News24 reports that Rand Water is preparing to lay criminal charges against customers who allegedly sent abusive emails to its customer care centre during water shortages in several areas in Gauteng.
City of Cape Town employee robbed at gunpoint and left stranded after his vehicle was set alight
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News24 reports that a City of Cape Town employee was held at gunpoint and then left stranded when his vehicle was hijacked and set alight in Delft on Thursday.
“Excruciatingly slow” vaccine rollout means casual dining could be in for another year of pain
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Business Times writes that casual sit-down dining, one of the sectors hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and resultant lockdowns, is facing an uncertain recovery path, with analysts expecting it to return to some semblance of normality only in 9-12 months.
Public Works Minister Patricia de Lille tests positive for Covid-19
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News24 reports that Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille has tested positive for Covid-19.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 4 June 2021
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In our early morning roundup, see summaries
of our selection of recent South African labour-
labour-related reports.
Cosatu snubs Vavi’s invitation on public sector wage talks, accusing him of trying to steal members from other unions
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The Star reports that trade union federation Cosatu has snubbed an invitation from its former general secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, to close ranks and form a united front in the public sector wage talks.
Black engineers’ organisation shocked by ’outrageous’ salaries SA government is paying Cuban engineers
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The Star reports that the SA Black and Technical Careers Organisation (SABTCO), which represents black engineers, says it is shocked by the outrageous salaries that the SA government is paying Cuban engineers.
Solidarity laments that government is simply looking on as youth unemployment disaster unfolds
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On Thursday, Solidarity expressed its dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the unemployment crisis and especially the youth unemployment crisis that SA’s was currently facing.
Ramaphosa says about MPs' salaries and benefits that they ‘struggle to make ends meet'
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News24 reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has sought to dismiss the notion that Members of Parliament were "living it up" and said they often "struggle to make ends meet".
Senzo Mchunu laments ‘laziness, incompetence’ in SA’s public service
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News24Wire reports that Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) Minister Senzo Mchunu says the quality of the public service requires consistent and sustainable improvement.
Four suspected 'zama zamas' die in fight at Mpumalanga gold mine near Graskop
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News24 reports that four suspected illegal miners died after a fight broke out at a mine in Mpumalanga over the weekend. The miners' bodies, which were dumped in a mine shaft, were retrieved on Wednesday afternoon.
Minerals Council, unions commit their support to get mining industry employees vaccinated
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Mining Weekly reports that the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) and labour unions have urged all mining industry employees to get vaccinated as soon as they have the opportunity to do so.
Automotive group Motus takes on 355 young people for YES working experience
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Engineering News reports that automotive group Motus has come on board to support the Youth Employment Service (YES) by providing 355 young people with work experience.
Manager at Office of Auditor-General held for allegedly offering Home Affairs official a R3,000 bribe
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News24 reports that a general manager at the office of the Auditor-General (AG) has been arrested for allegedly trying to bribe a Home Affairs official.
Unions at SAA want airline’s subsidiaries to go it alone
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BL Premium reports that employees at the subsidiaries of SA Airways (SAA) have called for the flattening of the company’s group structure, saying the airline’s prolonged business rescue programme left the various units that fall under it out in the cold.
SANDF soldier on peacekeeping mission in DRC killed on Thursday in friendly fire incident
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News24 reports that a SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier was shot dead in a friendly fire incident in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Thursday morning.
Public enterprises portfolio committee welcomes De Ruyter’s clearance on racism allegations
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Engineering News reports that Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises chairperson Khaya Magaxa has welcomed the announcement by Eskom’s board that it has cleared CEO Andre de Ruyter of racism allegations.