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.
EFF wants suspension of Amathole municipal manager and launching of forensic investigation into financial mismanagement at the municipality
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News24 reports that the EFF in the Eastern Cape has called for the immediate suspension of the Amathole District municipal manager, Thandekile Mnyimba, and for a forensic investigation to be launched into alleged financial mismanagement at the municipality.
Teachers’ unions want to meet basic education minister over reopening of schools
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SowetanLive reports that teacher unions have requested an urgent meeting with Department of Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga amid fears over the rising number of infections in the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Under extended lockdown regulations, permits required for those who travel to work during curfew
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The Citizen reports that persons who travel to work in the early hours of the morning will need a permit from their employer, in order to avoid falling foul of the curfew conditions in the latest gazetted version of the Disaster Management Act.
Liquor traders plead with government to allow off-site liquor trading to save jobs
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Fin24 reports that SA’s wine producers and liquor traders have slammed the government’s extension of the ban on the sale of alcohol, saying it will kill businesses and livelihoods.
At least 7,000 arrested in two weeks for not wearing masks
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TimesLIVE reports that at least 7,000 persons were arrested and charged for not wearing protective masks in public between 27 December and 7 January, earning them criminal records.
KZN education MEC rejects union calls to halt matric marking after Covid-19 deaths of two markers
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TimesLIVE reports that calls from trade unions to halt matric marking in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) after the deaths of two teachers from two different marking centres have been rejected by the provincial education department.
Western Cape expects that vaccine jabs for 100,000 healthcare staff will get going within weeks
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BL Premium reports that the Western Cape government estimates that 100,000 healthcare workers will need to be immunised during the first phase of its Covid-19 vaccination rollout, which is expected to get under way within a matter of weeks.
Talks in Nedlac on more Ters relief said to be ‘positive’, as business and labour press for action
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BL Premium reports that business and labour are locked in negotiations with the government over resuming the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) for workers affected by the tightening of coronavirus lockdown regulations.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 12 January 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
Tuesday, 12 January 2021.
Schools could turn into Covid-19 'super-spreaders', says teachers' union Natu
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TimesLIVE reports that the reopening of schools later this month might lead to a spike in Covid-19 infections, a teachers' union said on Monday as it called on the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to “think very carefully” about the move.
Parliament calls for solutions from Amathole after municipality said it wouldn’t be paying salaries over next four months
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Independent News reports that Parliament has urged the cash-strapped Amathole District Municipality to find a solution to its financial woes that have seemingly threatened its ability to pay salaries over the next four months.
HPCSA urges 'overburdened' healthcare workers to accept Covid-19 vaccine
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News24 reports that the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) has urged healthcare workers to take the Covid-19 vaccine when it arrives in the country.
As department gives nod for schools to open at end of January, unions call for enough PPE and for early teacher vaccinations
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BL Premium reports that public schooling, which has already been delayed because of the resurging Covid-19 pandemic, is set to resume at the end of January.
Karoo municipality slammed for plan to massively outsource services and for 'political' staff appointments
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TimesLIVE reports that the Kannaland municipality, which is one of SA’s poorest municipalities, is planning to outsource the provision of electricity and water services at a cost of R735m.
US ambassador Lana Marks praises SA healthcare workers after 10 days in ICU with Covid-19
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TimesLIVE reports that the US embassy has revealed that its ambassador to SA, Lana Marks, spent 10 days in intensive care while recovering from Covid-19.
Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu tests positive for Covid-19
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News24 reports that Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu has tested positive for Covid-19. He took a test on Monday after showing some symptoms.
Grade 12 exam marking extended due to shortage of markers after some withdraw due to Covid-19
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TimesLIVE reports that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has extended the marking of grade 12 exam papers due to a shortage of markers after some withdrew or declined to work, in many cases because of Covid-19.
Port Elizabeth police colonel fired after probe into alleged rape of girl aged eight
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TimesLIVE reports that a senior Port Elizabeth (PE) policeman has been dismissed after an Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) probe into allegations that he raped a child.
SIU gets temporary order freezing pension benefits of axed agriculture department CFO in relation to PPE contract
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News24 reports that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been granted an order to freeze the pension benefits of dismissed Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALR & RD) CFO Jacob Basil Hlatshwayo.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 11 January 2021
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Monday, 11 January 2021.
David Makhura says Nasrec facility will be used to help as Gauteng Covid-19 hospitalisations surge
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TimesLIVE reports that according to Gauteng premier David Makhura, Tshwane has been hardest-hit by the second wave of Covid-19 with province's highest daily infections.
Basic Education Department says teachers won’t be forced to take Covid-19 vaccination
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EWN reports that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) won’t be putting teachers under pressure to take the Covid-19 vaccine. Teachers have been particularly hard hit by Covid-19, with more than 1,600 having been infected in recent months.
Alarming increase in Covid-19 infections at Helderstroom prison in Caledon
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Cape Times reports that a soaring number of more than 150 Covid-19 infections among inmates at the Helderstroom Maximum Correctional Centre in Caledon has been recorded despite efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
Worker bust for alleged attempted theft of PPE at Eastern Cape hospital
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News24 reports that an Eastern Cape health worker was arrested at Frontier Hospital in Komani on Saturday for allegedly stealing personal protective equipment (PPE).
Matric exam marking hit by mass withdrawal of markers due to Covid-19 infections and other reasons
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SowetanLive reports that about 2,000 matric exam markers have had to withdraw from marking the National Senior Certificate exam scripts due to various reasons, including cases of positive Covid-19 tests.
Health department expanding capacity as hospitals buckle under Covid-19 pressure
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EWN reports that the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said capacity at both private and public health facilities was being expanded to create more space to treat Covid-19 patients.
Samwu calls for cash-strapped Amathole District Municipality to be placed under administration
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TimesLIVE reports that the SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) has called for the Amathole District Municipality to be placed under administration.
Following ban on alcohol sales, SAB suspends commitments on jobs, investment
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Reuters reports that South African Breweries (SAB) has suspended commitments to retain workers and investments, agreed as part of its merger with Anheuser-Busch InBev, due to SA’s decision to ban alcohol sales.
Proposed amendments to Companies Act could expose SA’s wage gap
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Moneyweb reports that the Companies Amendment Bill is expected to make some progress during 2021 after stalling somewhere along the legislative process during 2019 and 2020.
Amid job loss concerns, KZN government commits to extending helping hand to Durban's Hilton Hotel
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TimesLIVE reports that the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) government has committed to working with Durban's Hilton Hotel in an attempt to ensure it reopens its doors soon. It emerged on Saturday that the city's iconic landmark, situated next to the International Convention Centre (ICC), would be shutting its doors, temporarily.