South Africa faces pressure to pass new labor laws amid protests over foreign workers
via The Citizen3 min read
South Africa is under increasing pressure to pass the Employment Services Amendment Bill and the Draft National Labour Migration Policy. This comes amid protests concerning foreign nationals, both documented and undocumented, allegedly taking jobs from local citizens. The Employment and Labour Minister, Nomakhosazana Meth, officially introduced the Bill in the National Assembly. A civil society group, March and March, has given undocumented migrants until June 30 to leave the country voluntarily, escalating street actions. While Ghana has begun repatriating its citizens and Nigeria plans to do the same, some Nigerian parliamentarians have opposed these removals. The issue has become a priority for the government and is expected to be a campaign topic in the November 4 local government elections. The Bill aims to tighten regulations for foreign nationals in the labor market, empowering the minister to set quotas for foreign workers by sector, occupation, or region. Employers would be required to prioritize South African citizens and permanent residents and implement skills transfer plans for local employees when hiring foreigners. Exemptions apply to small businesses, critical skills, ministerial waivers, and scarce skills. The policy complements the Bill by addressing perceptions that foreign nationals are favored in certain industries and will impose quotas on documented foreign nationals with work visas. It also seeks to restrict foreign nationals from obtaining business vi
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A 13-year-old child died and over 200 shacks were destroyed in two separate fires at the Plastic View informal settlement in Pretoria East in less than a week. On May 24, approximately 150 shacks were razed, followed by another fire on Thursday that destroyed about 100 shacks. City of Tshwane Emergency Services spokesperson and deputy chief Nana Radebe-Kgiba stated that preliminary information suggests the Thursday night fire may have originated from a leaking gas cylinder in a shack where the deceased child was found. The child's parents and a younger sibling sustained burn injuries and were transported to a medical facility. Disaster Risk Management is assessing the situation to assist displaced families. City of Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya noted ongoing plans to relocate South African citizens from Plastic View, but the presence of foreign nationals has complicated these efforts. The settlement has experienced multiple fires over the years, including one in May 2023 that left 250 people homeless.
The Democratic Alliance in Tshwane has stated it will oppose any attempts to reverse disciplinary actions related to misconduct, violence, and criminality. This comes after the city's mayoral committee announced its intention to rehire 43 former employees who were dismissed during a violent, unprotected strike in 2023. DA Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink highlighted the significant damage caused by the illegal strike and emphasized that the DA-led government at the time took a firm stance against such actions. Brink confirmed that the DA has formally warned the city manager that legal action will be considered if reports of unlawful reinstatements prove true and proceed. Conversely, ANC regional secretary George Matjila has welcomed the decision to reinstate the 43 workers.
Author and journalist Tara Roos's debut book, "Where To From Here," analyzes South Africa's current political landscape, focusing on the rise of coalition governments and their impact. Roos observes that politics in the country are increasingly driven by identity and consolidation, citing examples like the coloured vote in the Western Cape and Afrikaner voters aligning with the Freedom Front Plus. She notes that the system is not designed for coalition politics, leading to a fragmented environment where deals are often struck after votes are cast, creating uncertainty for voters. Roos argues that South Africans are united in identifying national problems like crime, economic issues, gender-based violence, and the cost of living, but diverge significantly on how to solve them. She highlights that parties offering direct answers to voter frustrations, even if contested, are gaining traction. For instance, the Patriotic Alliance has attracted coloured-bloc votes by addressing issues head-on, while the Freedom Front Plus capitalizes on Afrikaner frustrations. Roos also discusses the Democratic Alliance's challenges in expanding its reach in Joburg and Gauteng, attributing this to both performance and communication issues, particularly regarding messaging on policies like B-BBEE. She views Helen Zille's increased visibility in Johannesburg as a sign of both desperation and strategy for the DA, acknowledging that while Zille might attract votes, the party's animosity with others co
Must ReadPresident Cyril Ramaphosa has called on South Africans to unite behind the national football team, Bafana Bafana, as they prepare for the Fifa World Cup opener against Mexico. This follows the resolution of a visa issue that had delayed the team's departure. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie confirmed that all players secured their United States visas and would depart for the tournament on Monday, a day later than scheduled. The squad was initially set to leave for their training base in Pachuca, Mexico, on Sunday morning. Bafana Bafana are returning to the World Cup for the first time since South Africa hosted the tournament in 2010. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa urged the nation to support the team, stating, "I call on all South Africans to rally behind our team and show their support. Let us wear the team colours and fly the flag." He praised the efforts to transform local football and emphasized the symbolic importance of the team's participation, noting that for 90 minutes, South Africans would stand together behind their national team. Ramaphosa reminded the squad of the nation's expectations, stating, "As I told the Bafana Bafana squad last week, the people of South Africa expect them to bring the trophy home." He drew parallels with the 1995 Rugby World Cup, highlighting that the country, like the team, has emerged from a difficult period and looks to the future with hope. Ramaphosa concluded with a rallying cry: "One Team. One Nation. Behind Bafana. Behind South