The Competition Commission has taken energy company Sasol to task for excessive polymer prices, which industry claims is costing jobs.

Business has claimed that "irrational" labour Bills were passed before a final Nedlac report and were not properly assessed by stakeholders.

Employers have been urged to make contingency plans ahead of Cosatu's planned nationwide strike over labour brokers and new tolls in Gauteng.

Negotiations on the review of South Africa's labour legislation reached an advanced stage.

Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant has called on unions to focus on the issues and not use strikes to further the call for a ban on labour brokers.

A bus strike planned for Monday has been cancelled after industry employees accepted their employers' offer.

President Jacob Zuma has berated soldiers who took part in a violent protest last month, saying they displayed "a lack of social responsibility".

A combination of global and domestic economic circumstances provides a real test for South Africa's economic policy, says President Kgalema Motlanthe.

Labour and business agreed on Tuesday that Eskom's proposed 53% tariff increase would have a severe impact on the economy. "Pricing is not the only solution; effective leadership and strategic appropriation of management is important," said Business Unity South Africa.

A national electricity emergency programme management office (PMO) will be established immediately, government spokesperson Themba Maseko said on Thursday. The office would be responsible for coordinating all efforts to deal with an emergency, Maseko said at a media briefing following Cabinet's regular meeting on Wednesday.