The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Tuesday announced its decision to suspend the current wage negotiations between the union and gold mining giant Harmony. This was in reaction to the company’s announcement last Friday that it might have to close six of its mine shafts, which could cost more than 6Â 300 jobs.
Gauteng transport minister Khabisi Mosunkutu on Tuesday launched a multimillion-rand project aimed at upgrading the Randfontein taxi rank in the West Rand. The project forms part of a R2,5-billion programme to transform existing taxi and bus ranks around the country into diversified retail and service outlets.
The saga of Mpumalanga public works minister Steve Mabona intensified this week when the Scorpions submitted a long-awaited charge sheet in the Pretoria Regional Court against Mabona’s former head of department, William Mthombothi. Mthombothi was arrested and charged with fraud by the Scorpions last November.
The recent employment figures released by Statistics South Africa are a clear indication that there has been a marginal increase in the number of people in employment, Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana said on Tuesday. He said the government is on track to meet its goal of halving unemployment by 2014.
Department of Labour inspectors on Tuesday served 17 contravention notices and a prohibition order on four different companies at Isipingo, south of Durban, after several complaints relating to air pollution, environmental issues and unconducive working environments in the area.
The number of man days lost in South Africa due to strike action fell from 945Â 000 in 2002 to 700Â 000 in 2003, according to labour analyst’s Andrew Levy strike report for 2003. The report says strike action in the country has levelled off significantly since the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana has lashed out at Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon’s suggestion of a two-tier labour market in the country, saying the system is aimed at making black workers perpetual slaves. Mdladlana was reacting to a speech Leon delivered on the DA’s economic policy.
<img src="http://www.mg.co.za/ContentImages/41909/10-X-Logo.gif" align=left>Former president Nelson Mandela on Thursday put aside his tight schedule to pay tribute to his lifelong comrade Joe Slovo, the past chairperson of the South African Communist Party (SACP), at Slovo’s Avalon grave in Soweto. Mandela’s visit coincided with the launch of the Joe Slovo Election Trail campaign by the SACP.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3_fl2.asp?o=40922">Special Report: Elections 2004</a>
The winners of Greening the Future 2003 Awards are projects or initiatives that make a difference — both within the companies or organisations submitting the entries and to the lives of people they have a relationship with outside the company. Read who came in with flying green colours.