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.
Striking pilots threaten SAA flight plan
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Business Times reports that just over a week into its first strike in more than 50 years, the SAA Pilots' Association (Saapa) says it will continue the industrial action at SAA for as long as it takes to see its demands met.
Cosatu resolves to support ANC during upcoming municipal elections
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BL Premium reports that despite the recent tension between the two organisations, labour federation Cosatu has resolved to support the ANC during this year’s local government elections.
Numsa raises concerns over 'sham' probe by Eskom board into claims against CEO De Ruyter
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Fin24 reports that according to the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), the Eskom board's probe into claims against the power utility’s CEO André De Ruyter will be a "sham process".
Still no sign of funds to top up partial salary payments at SAA Technical
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Fin24 reports that attempts by the management of SA Airways Technical (SAAT) to try to improve on the partial payments of March salaries continued until Saturday morning, but were unfortunately unsuccessful.
Three men due in court after guard killed during North West farm robbery on Wednesday
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News24Wire reports that three men are expected to appear in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Monday for allegedly killing a security guard during a robbery at a farm in the North West on Wednesday.
Labour criticises state’s slow Covid-19 vaccination rollout
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BusinessLive reports that Cosatu has upped the ante in its demands for the ramping up of the government's Covid-19 vaccination rollout, which it says is proceeding too slowly.
De Ruyter accuser allegedly extended irregular Eskom contracts worth R8bn to oil firm
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News24Wire reports that suspended Eskom procurement chief Solly Tshitangano supported the awarding of contracts worth more than R8-billion to Econ Oil in 2019, detailed charge sheets in his disciplinary process reveal.
Impala Rustenburg hands over nine completed social and labour plan projects to local communities
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Mining Weekly reports that on Friday, Impala Rustenburg, a member of the Impala Platinum (Implats) group, handed over nine completed social and labour plan (SLP) projects to communities near its operations.
Mineworkers at Buffalo Coal in KwaZulu-Natal stage sit-in over salary increases
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BL Premium reports that workers at Buffalo Coal’s Aviemore mine, located near Dundee in KwaZulu-Natal, have staged a sit-in, with some underground employees refusing to return to the surface unless their demands for salary increases were met.
Nehawu strike action shuts 14 Mpumalanga game reserves
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SowetanLive reports that fourteen game reserves owned by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) have been shut since Tuesday after employees downed tools demanding better working conditions and for those in acting positions to be appointed permanently.
Scopa suspends its probe into racism claim against Eskom CEO André de Ruyter
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BL Premium reports that parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) has put its investigation into allegations of racism against Eskom CEO André de Ruyter on hold, to allow the power utility to conduct its own probe.
NUM calls for government intervention as labour tensions rise at Blyvoor gold mine
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Miningmx reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has called on the government to intervene at Blyvoor, a gold mine west of Johannesburg.
Sparks expected to fly when Eskom and unions go head-to-head in wage negotiations later this month
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Financial Mail writes that a perfect storm may engulf Eskom and trade unions as they start a new round of wage talks this month.
Government revising Covid-19 vaccination strategy in wake of missed deadline
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The Citizen reports that the government is playing catch up on its national vaccination programme, with the Department of Health (DOH) announcing a revision of the country’s vaccine strategy, nearly a month before its delayed roll out.
Santaco will seek a balance when hiking taxi fares in June
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The Citizen reports that despite a record increase in petrol prices, the SA National Taxi Association (Santaco) has given its assurance that when increasing taxi fares it will take into consideration the burden posed on commuters by Covid-19.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 7 April 2021
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In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Wednesday, 7 April 2021.
City of Cape Town halts sewage services in Samora Machel after worker shot, crew robbed
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EWN reports that a City of Cape Town staff member has been shot and wounded while repairing a collapsed sewer pipeline in Helen Joseph Street in Samora Machel.
‘Aggressive’ stabbing victim attacks Joburg medics treating him
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Independent Media reports that two Johannesburg paramedics had to abandon their work when a patient they were treating turned on them and started attacking them.
Teacher vacancy rate of 5.8% nationally as at end of February 2021
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BusinessTech reports that according to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, the national teacher vacancy rate as of the end of February 2021 stood at 5.8%.
National Arts Council denies planning to use Red Ants to forcefully remove artists protesting over relief funds
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The Star reports that as artists and cretives continue to protest outside the National Arts Council (NAC) in Newtown, Johannesburg, the council has denied allegations of planned forceful removal from its building.
Eskom’s De Ruyter says on racism allegations that 'it’s not about race, it’s all about performance, delivery'
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News24Wire reports that Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter has said that appointments of senior managers at Eskom were not motivated by "ulterior racial motives" but rather by "performance and delivery".
SABC economics editor Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki rejects ‘bogus’ misconduct charges
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Pretoria News reports that SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) economics editor Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki has rejected three misconduct charges levelled against her, saying the charges were “trumped up” and “bogus”.
Limpopo health MEC indefinitely withdraws new rosters designed to reduce overtime claims
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TimesLIVE reports that health workers in Limpopo have won their fight to ensure a new roster system is not implemented in the province.
SACP wholeheartedly backs ANC resolution that criminally charged leaders must step aside
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TimesLIVE reports that the SA Communist Party (SACP) has thrown its weight behind the ANC national executive committee’s (NEC’s) resolution that leaders who are criminally charged should step aside.
Government Employees Pension Fund invested in DRC firm accused of rights abuses
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BusinessLive reports that the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) is invested in a Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) palm oil business linked to human rights abuses and land expropriation.
NYDA is not an employment agency for the politically connected, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane insists
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News24 reports that according to Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) is not and has never been an employment agency for the politically connected.
Two Gauteng cops caught red-handed asking for bribes from undercover officers
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News24 reports that two police officers were separately arrested in Gauteng over the long weekend for soliciting bribes of R100 and R200, respectively.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 6 April 2021
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 6 April 2021.
Nehawu welcomes health department’s deal with Pfizer for 20-million Covid-19 vaccine doses
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EWN reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has welcomed the Health Department's signing of a crucial contract with US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer that will see South Africa receive 20-million Covid-19 vaccine doses.
WEF says equal gender pay set back a generation by pandemic
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Bloomberg reports that the Covid-19 pandemic has rolled back years of progress on gender parity for pay, making women wait a generation longer to earn the same as men.