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.
Pretoria brewery employee in court for fraud involving more than R60m
- Details
TimesLIVE reports that a brewery employee, Naayn Hardien, 44, appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Friday facing fraud charges involving more than R60m.
Treasury sees no 'economic incentive' for public servants to leave to join private sector as a result of wage freeze
- Details
Fin24 reports that MPs were told on Friday that National Treasury saw no risk in a wage freeze resulting in the loss of skilled workers in the public sector.
Roundup on Monday, 9 November 2020 of weekend labour reports
- Details
In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 6 November 2020.
Limpopo premier orders probe into senior official's qualifications as labour spat with Nehawu deepens
- Details
News24 reports that Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha has ordered an investigation into allegations that a senior official in his office misrepresented his academic qualifications to land a lucrative post.
Solidarity writes to warn NSFAS to stop its alleged non-payment of students' study fees
- Details
News24 reports that Solidarity has written to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) warning it to stop its alleged non-payment of study fees to tertiary institutions.
Alleged murderers of off-duty cop in Eldorado Park arrested within 24 hours
- Details
News24 reports that two people have been arrested for the murder of an off-duty police officer in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg. The arrests came just 24 hours after the fatal shooting of a crime intelligence warrant officer on Thursday evening in Extension 1, Eldorado Park.
Cape Town paramedics on their way to meet police escort in Khayelitsha robbed and shot at
- Details
News24 reports that an ambulance crew was robbed and then shot at in Khayelitsha while on their way to meet up with the police who were going to escort them to the patient they were there to assist.
Millions paid to consultants since SAA went into business rescue
- Details
Business Times reports that consultants working in the first five months of the business rescue process in respect of state-owned airline SA Airways (SAA) cost the taxpayer almost R170m.
Ramaphosa urges new Presidential State-owned Enterprises Council to work quickly on rescuing struggling state firms
- Details
ANA reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa wants the Presidential State-owned Enterprises Council (PSEC), which he appointed in June, to work quickly towards repositioning struggling state-owned enterprises (SOEs) as effective instruments of economic transformation and development.
Pravin Gordhan categorical that no more state money will go to SAA
- Details
BL Premium reports that according to Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, he has been “absolutely categorical” in talks with prospective airline partners that the government would not put any further capital into SA Airways (SAA) other than what has been promised in the business rescue plan.
Amid concerns of job losses, Gauteng government vows to block the liquidation of Mandela House Museum
- Details
Independent News reports that the Gauteng government has vowed to stop the liquidation of the Mandela House Museum in Soweto following concerns about huge job losses and the disintegration of the tourist site.
Protest held at Independent Development Trust offices for resumption of Expanded Public Works Programme
- Details
Pretoria News reports that frustrated members of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) staged a sit in at the offices of the Independent Development Trust (IDT) on Thursday.
'No winners' if SAA should be liquidated, says Gordhan
- Details
News24 Wire reports that according to Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, avoiding the liquidation of SA Airways (SAA) would ensure the aviation market remained competitive and it meant consumers would not be forced to be price takers.
North West municipal technician arrested for allegedly accepting bribe of R112,000 to cancel R1m arrears debt
- Details
News24 reports that a technician at a North West municipality was arrested after he allegedly offered to cancel a client's R1 million municipal debt for R112 000.
Fire reservists and contract workers protest to demand permanent jobs from City of Johannesburg
- Details
The Citizen reports that more than 1,000 fire reservists and contract workers are demanding permanent jobs from the City of Johannesburg.
Renewable energy drive threatens 120,000 jobs in SA’s coal mines and power plants
- Details
Bloomberg reports that according to a research consultancy, a drive to shift SA’s electricity production to renewable energy is threatening as many as 120,000 jobs at coal mines and power plants that use the fuel.
Minister issues directive that officials at water boards must not use state funds to delay investigations by the SIU
- Details
BL Premium reports that according to human settlements, water and sanitation minister Lindiwe Sisulu, no water boards being investigated for corruption and maladministration may use state funds to delay those investigations.
Fifteen arrested by Hawks for issuing of roadworthy certificates for unroadworthy vehicles
- Details
TimesLIVE reports that a police officer and 14 other people are expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges of fraud and corruption.
Ending Ters would devastate hospitality sector, says Tourism Business Council
- Details
BL Premium reports that according to the Tourism Business Council of SA (TBCSA), a decision by the government to end its flagship Covid-19 wage protection scheme would be devastating for the hospitality sector, where about three quarters of employees are either dependent on the scheme or have already been retrenched.
Nehawu to strike from 11 November over permanent jobs for community health workers
- Details
BL Premium reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) says it will embark on an indefinite strike on Wednesday next week (11 November) to force the government to employ an estimated 20,000 community health workers as part of an agreement reached in the public health and social development sectoral bargaining council in 2019.
Investigation into workers having to withdraw Ters money and pay it over to farmer
- Details
Cape Argus reports that police are investigating a fraud case after a Western Cape Graafwater farm owner allegedly defrauded five workers of their Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) money.
Staff at Addington Hospital in Durban down tools over faulty lifts
- Details
Independent News reports that frustrated staff at Durban’s Addington Hospital have downed tools over an issue with the hospital's faulty lifts.
Cosatu demands that Ters benefit be extended in line with state of disaster
- Details
ANA reports that Cosatu on Wednesday pointed out that it would cost about R8 billion to extend the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) for another two months and the sdtate’s refusal to do so smacked of contempt for workers.
State must get harsh on train vandals, MPs told by ACDP
- Details
The Citizen reports that MPs heard on Tuesday that the government should immediately implement the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act (CIPA) as its “soft approach” to train vandals and arsonists has led to the further marginalisation of the poor.
Taxi subsidy will come from a reprioritised transport department budget, says minister Mbalula
- Details
BL Premium reports that the national transport department, which is battling the vandalism and looting of SA’s rail infrastructure, says it will reprioritise its already reduced budget allocation to implement an ambitious subsidy scheme for the R5bn taxi industry by April 2021.
Job loss fears as Soweto’s Mandela House Museum to be liquidated
- Details
The Star reports that workers at the Mandela House Museum in Soweto are worried about job losses as management has announced that the tourist site will be liquidated to pay off debt.
Bridgestone to close and 252 jobs to be lost after efforts to save its PE plant fail
- Details
HeraldLIVE reports that it is the end of the road for Bridgestone SA’s Port Elizabeth plant and the employment of its 252 workers, with operations winding up and the closure of the plant earmarked for 15 November.
State dragging its feet over announcement of decision about extension or not of Ters benefit
- Details
BL Premium reports that the government is dragging its feet on the announcement of a decision on the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters), despite the uncertainty it has raised in business and labour sectors.
Numsa fumes fume over R836,000 bonus paid to departing boss of SAA Technical
- Details
TimesLIVE reports that a trade union at SAA Technical (SAAT) is up in arms over a near R1m bonus paid to a departing divisional chief executive officer.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 3 November 2020
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 3 November 2020.