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.
Cosatu tells Jacob Zuma to stop playing the victim
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Independent Media reports that after the speaking notes that former president Jacob Zuma used when he met with the ANC’s top six early last month became publicly known, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) weighed in and said Zuma must stop playing victim.
Nehawu ’extremely worried’ about growing number of Covid-19 cases at higher education institutions
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The Star reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) is extremely worried about the growing number of Covid-19 cases in institutions of higher learning across the country.
Eight Gauteng health CEOs face disciplinary charges over lack of oversight of Covid-19 health and safety measures
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TimesLIVE reports that eight CEOs of Gauteng health facilities have been charged internally for not complying with or overseeing health and safety measures during the Covid-19 pandemic.
SABC refutes CWU’s assertion that it’s 'on the brink of collapse' following job cuts, broadcast interruptions
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Fin24 reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has hit back at criticism by the Communication Workers Union (CWU), saying that it was not on the "brink of collapse".
SA outperforms on female directors, but with work still to do
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Bloomberg reports that SA’s push for female empowerment has led to an outperformance against emerging-market peers when measured by gender diversity in listed company boards.
SABC charges its economics editor Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki, who opposed retrenchments, with misconduct
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Pretoria News reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has laid three charges against its economics editor, Thandeka Gqubule-Mbeki, for various incidents of alleged misconduct.
Traffic cops to wear body cameras to thwart bribery
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BusinessLive reports that in future, misbehaving SA motorists will be less likely to get away with paying so-called “cold drink” bribes to avoid getting arrested or paying hefty fines.
Lockdown boosts emigration inquiries
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Business Times reports that the number of South Africans of all races inquiring about emigrating to countries such as the US, Portugal and Grenada has soared since the Covid-19 pandemic took hold.
Former Lesedi municipal official in court over illegal sales of 'vacant' land in Gauteng using forged signature
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News24 reports that a former municipal official appeared in court last week for allegedly selling vacant Lesedi Municipality land without permission and using a forged signature.
City Power appoints former Eskom executive Mongezi Ntsokolo as its new CEO
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Engineering News reports that Johannesburg’s City Power has appointed Mongezi Ntsokolo as its new CEO with effect from 1 April.
Eskom Pension and Provident Fund appoints Shafeeq Abrahams as new CE and principal officer
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Engineering News reports that the Eskom Pension and Provident Fund (EPPF) has appointed Shafeeq Abrahams as the new CE and principal officer, replacing Linda Mateza with effect from 1 April.
Numsa to take legal action over failure in March to pay wages at SAA subsidiaries
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BL Premium reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) announced on Monday that it was taking legal action after the failure to pay workers’ salaries at SAA Technical (SAAT) and Air Chefs.
Public-sector unions threaten total shutdown over demand for higher wages
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BL Premium reports that the government, which intends to pay no cost-of-living increase for public servants for the next three years, did not table a wage offer in talks last week.
NUM to seek wage hikes of nearly 60% for lowest-paid gold miners
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BL Premium reports that trade unions and the gold mining sector are due to hammer out a new three-year wage deal later in 2021 and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is preparing to demand wage increases of nearly 60% for the lowest-paid miners.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 31 March 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, 31 March 2021.
PSC says officials doing deals with state must face action
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SowetanLive reports that the Public Service Commission (PSC) wants disciplinary action to be taken against senior managers whom it has identified as having conflicts of interest.
Metro mayors and unions call for provision of subsidies to public transport networks
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The Star reports that the mayors of Johannesburg, Tshwane and eThekwini, along with transport unions, have called on the government to provide reliable operational subsidies to public transport networks.
Union pickets to demand permanent employment of EPWP workers at Gauteng health department
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The Star reports that the Gauteng Department of Health has come under sharp scrutiny for its Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
Minerals Council SA urges caution over Easter weekend
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Mining Weekly reports that the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) has urged all employees and communities to be mindful that Covid-19 was still prevalent.
Strike by Limpopo health workers over duty rosters averted after MEC’s intervention
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News24 reports that a renewed strike by Limpopo health workers was averted when Health MEC Phophi Ramathuba scuppered efforts by administrators to unilaterally implement a new duty roster.
Phindile Baleni appointed Director-General in the Presidency
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News24 reports that the Presidency finally has a director-general (DG) after President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Phindile Baleni in the post that Cassius Lubisi left vacant after he left the public service in September last year.
Eastern Cape government finds R400m to extend contracts of 8,000 temporary Covid-19 health workers for three more months
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News24 reports that after a public outcry coupled with protest action, the Eastern Cape health department has sourced R400 million to keep 8,000 Covid-19 contract workers employed for the next three months and community workers for another 12 months.
Survey shows that 77% of organisations struggle to recruit and obtain critical skills
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Business Report writes that Xpatweb’s Critical Skills Survey 2020/21 showed that 77% of organisations were struggling to recruit and obtain critical skills in SA for their local and cross-border operations.
No outright booze ban, but liquor industry still concerned about effect on retailers
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News24Wire reports that the announcement President Cyril Ramaphosa of restrictions on alcohol sales over the Easter weekend has ended speculation about an outright ban, but the industry is concerned about the effect on retailers.
Pilots’ union issues strike notice to SAA, with unusual demands
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The Citizen reports that the SA Airways Pilots Association (Saapa) has issued a strike notice to state-owned SA Airways (SAA), with a list of unusual demands.
Department heads must act on errant behaviour by public servants, says Public Service Commission
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BL Premium reports that the Public Service Commission (PSC) said on Tuesday that heads of government departments must act on errant behaviour by civil servants and bring those who breached public service regulations to book.
eThekwini city manager barred from returning to work until after conclusion of criminal trial
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TimesLIVE reports that eThekwini city manager Sipho Nzuza, who is one of the accused in the R320m Durban Solid Waste corruption and fraud matter, has been barred from going back to work.
Minerals Council urges members to discourage employees from travelling over Easter
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Mining Weekly reports that the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) has made certain recommendations to member companies in light of the risks that a third Covid-19 wave poses due to infections surging over the Easter long weekend and other upcoming public holidays.
SA experienced 4.8% fall in real wages in 2020
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BusinessTech reports that the United Nation’s International Labour Organisation (ILO) has named SA as one of the few emerging markets to experience a fall in real wages in 2020.
Momentum pays out R750 million in Covid-19-related death claims
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Business Report writes that Momentum has paid out about R750 million in Covid-related death claims.