FlySafair flights face two-week disruption amid pilot lockout
This is according to trade union Solidarity, which revealed that 90% of the pilots at FlySafair voted in favour of the strike.
On Sunday, 20 July, the trade union revealed that it had given the airline a notice of a one-day strike, but FlySafair hit back with a notice that it would lock out the pilots for seven days, which could be extended for another seven days.
'This forced Solidarity to extend its strike notice to 14 days as well. In the meantime, the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has offered to mediate again. Solidarity has agreed, but FlySafair is still refusing,' the union said.
Solidarity said the one-day strike notice was intended to force the company back to the negotiating table, but the low-cost airline has now escalated the dispute, which could cause it to drag on for weeks.
'Solidarity is calling on FlySafair to return to the negotiation table. The pilots are asking for correction of their salaries after pay cuts during Covid, as well as for working conditions not to be changed and for adequate provision to be made for rest time and family time.'
The airline's final offer, a 5.7% salary increase plus some additional compensation adjustments, was rejected by the vast majority of Solidarity members.
Meanwhile, the airline has assured that it has implemented strong contingency plans to minimise disruptions to travellers.
'We still have flights operating with pilots not taking part in the industrial action that is planned for Monday, and all flights are due to depart as scheduled.'
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
3RC marks 25 years of empowering youth through education and innovation
3RC, an organisation known for its career guidance roadshows and youth development initiatives, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with a media breakfast in Parkhurst. The event, held at Nice on 4th Avenue on July 31, brought together media guests and stakeholders for a morning of reflection and future planning. Founder and CEO Kay Cheytanov shared how the organisation grew from a music-based school tour into a full-scale educational platform aimed at inspiring learners across South Africa. Cheytanov, who began her career in music, said the idea for 3RC was sparked in 2001 after recognising the need to engage learners in more creative ways. The organisation has since hosted thousands of shows in schools, launched interactive expos, and introduced programmes such as High Five, which focuses on emotional wellbeing in children. 'We constantly adapt our shows to stay relevant. Today's learners respond to different methods, and we aim to meet them where they are.' Also read: Artist's 'Matriarchs' exhibition was made using coffee capsules 3RC continues to expand its reach through partnerships with schools and sponsors. Future plans include launching an internship programme, developing content for younger age groups, and increasing online access to resources for learners, teachers, and parents. The company says it remains committed to supporting the next generation with tools, information, and motivation to make informed choices about their future. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
The South African
4 hours ago
- The South African
Cape Town's debt-relief plan: Get your old bills WRITTEN OFF
The initiative, part of Cape Town City Council's 2025/26 budget, is worth about R2.2 billion in old debt. The programme is aimed at helping households and organisations recover from ongoing economic pressures while ensuring the metro remains financially sustainable. The plan allows qualifying residents and organisations to have outstanding municipal debt – incurred up to 30 June 2024 – written off. In return, they must commit to paying their future monthly accounts through a formal payment arrangement. 'There has not been a significant improvement in the economy since the Covid-19 pandemic due to national and global economic shifts,' said the City's Mayco Member for Finance, Councillor Siseko Mbandezi. 'This has had a detrimental impact on the ability of many residents, across various income and property value categories, to pay their municipal accounts.' The debt write-off applies to: Homeowners with properties valued between R450 000 and R7.5 million Indigent customers and indigent properties with zero valuation Pensioners and social grant recipients Non-profit organisations, animal shelters, old-age homes, cemeteries and crematoria, social housing and youth development organisations, community museums Public Benefit Organisations Applicants must enter into a payment arrangement for their most recent debt. Future monthly bills must be paid on time to prevent sliding back into debt. The City of Cape Town stressed that the programme is designed to incentivise a culture of payment, ensuring service delivery can continue for all. Thanks to strong payment levels, Cape Town has maintained a collection rate of above 95%, reaching 97.83% by June 2025. 'It should be noted that write offs will be reversed if payment arrangements are not adhered to,' added Mbandezi. Residents can check if they qualify by contacting the City through the following channels: Email (payment arrangements): Email (rates rebates): Email (indigent relief): Call Centre: 0860 103 089 In person: Visit your nearest City of Cape Town customer walk-in centre Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
Why fewer young South Africans in the workforce won't solve the youth unemployment crisis
In many sectors, particularly construction, infrastructure, and logistics, demand for specialised, high-risk or niche skills far outpaces local availability. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers Despite the number of young people aged 15 to 24 joining the labour market being expected to decrease over the next decade, structural barriers such as a lack of skills among young South Africans, limited job creation, and slow economic growth continue to impede progress. As a result, a shrinking youth population does not automatically translate into improved youth unemployment rates or ease the pressures on the economy and society. According to Statistics South Africa's 2025 mid-year population estimates, the country's total population stands at 63.1 million. Population growth has stabilised at around 1.23% annually, below pre-pandemic levels, driven by declining mortality and a rebound in positive net migration following COVID-19, the agency's figures show. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) it shows that 41.7 million South Africans are currently of working age. The working-age population, defined as those aged 15 to 64, grew by about 1% between mid-2024 and mid-2025, adding roughly 400,000 individuals, based on data from Statistics South Africa and the OECD. Young people aged 15 to 34 make up about half of this group. Within this segment, those aged 15 to 24 face the highest barriers to employment, with unemployment rates far exceeding those of older youth. Over the past decade, youth unemployment has climbed sharply, from 36.9% in early 2015 to 46.1% in 2025, according to the QLFS. 'Youth unemployment remains one of South Africa's most pressing challenges,' Statistics South Africa has said. While these labour market pressures mount, South Africa's demographic profile is shifting. Statistics South Africa's mid-year population estimates show that about 82% of the population is Black African, around 8% identify as coloured, 7% as white, and 3% as Indian or Asian. Women slightly outnumber men, making up 51% of the total population. At the same time, the number of young people entering the workforce is falling. Statistics South Africa's data shows that the number of children aged 0 to 14 has declined by 4.6% in a single year, dropping from roughly 17.3 million in 2024 to 16.5 million in 2025. This trend aligns with a continuing drop in South Africa's crude birth rate, now at 17.8 births per 1,000 people in 2025. Statistics South Africa further reports that improvements in infant and child survival rates have partially offset these declines. Infant mortality has dropped from 61.9 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2002 to 23.1 in 2025, and the under-five mortality rate has fallen similarly. Yet, total fertility has steadily declined from 2.78 children per woman in 2008 to 2.21 in 2025, meaning that future cohorts of working-age youth will continue to shrink. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Children under the age of 15 make up about 26,2% of South Africa's population — an estimated 16,5 million people. Meanwhile, around 10,5% of the population, or 6,6 million people, are aged 60 and older. Image: Stats SA Taken in combination, although there are fewer young people entering the workforce, which could reduce the total number of unemployed youth, it does not guarantee a drop in youth unemployment rates or resolve structural employment issues. Persistent challenges such as mismatched skills, limited job opportunities, and economic stagnation continue to block young people's access to employment. Moreover, slower growth in the working-age population will place greater pressure on economic growth and productivity. Based on Statistics South Africa's data, we can surmise that, with an ageing population, a shrinking youth base means fewer people will contribute to the labour market, while an increasing share of elderly dependents will require support. Provincially, Statistics South Africa shows that Gauteng remains the most populous province, housing about 25.5% of the national population, followed by KwaZulu-Natal. Limpopo and the Eastern Cape have the highest proportions of children under 15, respectively, while the Northern Cape has the smallest share of the population. Fewer young South Africans entering the workforce should not be mistaken for an easing of youth employment challenges. As Statistics South Africa's data make clear, the structural barriers remain and may be exacerbated by demographic shifts. Policymakers must prioritise sustainable economic opportunities and inclusive labour market interventions to secure a prosperous future for the country's youth. IOL
