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.
SA Maritime Safety Authority places three top executives on suspension following whistleblower and stakeholder misconduct allegations
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News24 reports that three SA Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) executives have been placed on precautionary suspension, amid allegations of misconduct.
Former mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane admits to appointing advisers without knowing them much
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SowetanLive reports that former mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane had a hard time on Tuesday maintaining that he was not a “stooge of the Guptas” as he was grilled for appointing their associates as advisers without knowing them.
As Sisonke study resumes, healthcare workers urged to register for J&J Covid-19 vaccine programme
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ANA reports that with the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) Sisonke Programme to vaccinate healthcare workers having resumed on Wednesday, such workers have been urged to register with the programme.
Cuban engineers are not taking local jobs, Lindiwe Sisulu asserts
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News24 reports that Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has lashed out at those who have questioned a skills transfer programme involving Cuban engineers.
Cosatu believes state unlikely to have capacity to ensure women’s statutory security of tenure
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BL Premium reports that trade union federation Cosatu is deeply sceptical of the capacity of the government to implement a new law meant to protect the rights of women to independently own property.
Foreign doctors targeted by fake ’Hawks’ official who threatens to have them arrested, struck off the roll
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Independent Media reports that a man purporting to be a Hawks official is allegedly approaching foreign doctors, accusing them of crimes and demanding that they pay him so they don’t get arrested and struck off the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) roll.
In wake of more than 10 recent arrests, Mpumalanga community safety MEC vows to crack down on corrupt traffic officers
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News24 reports that Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Vusi Shongwe has vowed to crack down on corruption in traffic law enforcement agencies. Shongwe called for an investigation after the arrest of more than 10 provincial traffic officers and traffic department employees since last year.
Spokesperson for Lily Mine families in hiding for fear of his life
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The Citizen reports that continued attacks on the settlement outside of Lily Mine where the families of the three dead miners whose bodies are still trapped in a container underground have forced the official spokesperson for the three families into hiding for fear of his life.
As accidents rise, Uber pledges to boost safety for SA drivers
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Reuters reports that Uber South Africa pledged to increase safety campaigns for food delivery drivers and review the insurance they provided following an expose about the mounting risks faced by drivers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Former Eastern Cape manager sentenced to 15 years in jail without option of a fine for stealing R2.3m from employer
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TimesLIVE reports that an Eastern Cape woman will spend the next 15 years behind bars for stealing more than R2m from her employer. The Mthatha Regional Court sentenced Vuyokazi Kati, 37, on Monday.
With salaries in the balance again, managers at SAA Technical question competence of executives in internal petition
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Fin24 reports that some managers at SAA Technical (SAAT) have drafted a petition questioning the competence of the executives running the subsidiary of state-owned airline South African Airways (SAA).
Samwu warns City of Cape Town against firing more than 500 firefighters over illegal strike in 2019
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EWN reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) on Monday again warned City of Cape Town bosses against firing more than 500 firefighters who took part in an illegal strike in 2019.
Union 'appalled' by Mchunu's attempt to gain public sympathy amid public sector wage deadlock
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Fin24 reports that according to the Public Servants Association (PSA), which represents 235,000 workers, government is undermining the wage negotiation process with unions by negotiating through the media.
No reason to celebrate Freedom Day, says Numsa
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Independent Media reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) said on Tuesday it was not celebrating Freedom Day because there was very little for the working-class majority of the country to celebrate.
Another prison sex scandal as senior official at Durban prison suspended after being caught in the act with inmate
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News24 reports that a senior official at a Durban prison has been suspended following allegations of an affair with a prisoner. The official is stationed at the Durban Westville Female Correctional Centre.
Mkhize announces that Covid-19 vaccine rollout to resume this week
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BL Premium reports that Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has announced that Sisonke Covid-19 vaccine trial of health workers will start again on Wednesday, while the sites offering vaccinations will be expanded to 95 from 18.
Cosatu willing to give public sector wage talks over 0% offer another chance
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BL Premium reports that labour federation Cosatu says it will give negotiations over government’s 0% wage increase a chance, an indication that unions are leaning towards hammering out a wage deal rather than take to the streets.
Court grants application by Solidarity and AfriForum to interdict the disbursement of the R1.2bn Tourism Equity Fund
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BL Premium reports that the High Court in Pretoria has interdicted the government from processing applications and making any payments from its R1.2bn Tourism Equity Fund, established to bail out companies in distress in the sector.
Roundup on Monday, 26 April 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, 23 April 2021.
With no end in sight to union impasse, Blyvoor gold mine hit by lost output worth R30m
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Daily Maverick reports that in the more than three weeks since protesters shut operations at the Blyvoor gold mine near Carletonville, mine management says R30-million has been lost in production.
Cuban engineers may need to be registered with engineering council before embarking on duties
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City Press reports that Cuban engineers may need to be registered with a council responsible for holding engineers accountable for shoddy workmanship before embarking on their duties in the country. Alternatively, they may need to be supervised by an engineer registered with the Engineering Council of SA (ECSA).
Ramaphosa prepared to cut cabinet, as government moves to appease trade unions in public sector wage negotiations
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City Press reports that according to Minister of Public Service and Administration Senzo Mchunu, President Cyril Ramaphosa wants to make the cabinet, which was reduced from 35 members to 28 in 2019, even smaller.
PPE looters dodge criminal prosecution
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Mail & Guardian reports that companies sanctioned by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) for looting Covid-19 funds have to pay back the money, but are not being criminally charged and are still allowed to conduct business with government departments.
Unions declare deadlock in ‘absurd’ public sector wage negotiations
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City Press writes that a general strike by public service workers looks set to go ahead as trade unions last week moved to declare a deadlock after the last round of negotiations with the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) failed to yield their desired outcome.
Glencore chairman defends pay plan for commodity trader’s new CEO Gary Nagle
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Bloomberg reports that Glencore’s chairman has defended an incentive plan for the commodity giant’s new chief executive officer, after prominent advisory firms urged investors to vote against it.
Absa insists race was not an issue in CEO’s sudden departure
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Business Times reports that Absa chair Wendy Lucas-Bull has defended the banking group against perceptions that its first black CEO, Daniel Mminele, was forced out as a result of clashes with white executives.
Solidarity has list of 120 local engineers ‘competent and willing’ to do work of imported Cubans
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The Citizen reports that trade union Solidarity has sent the government a list of more than 120 “competent and willing” South African engineers who can replace the 24 Cuban engineers imported to help repair the country’s ailing water infrastructure.
Mango’s 500 staff members unlikely to get their May salaries
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BL Premium reports that state-owned low-cost airline Mango is unlikely to be able to pay the salaries of its 500 or so employees from May as it battles to stay afloat.
It’s hard to guess who will win the wage tussle at Eskom, but history tells us the wage settlement cannot be 0%
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BL Premium writes that as wage negotiations at Eskom approach, it’s hard to guess what the outcome will be.
Amid credentials outcry, qualifications of senior government officials to be updated on Persal system
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News24 reports that amid an outcry over senior public servants who are not qualified for their jobs, the heads of national and provincial departments have been instructed to update the qualifications of senior management on their systems.