Automotive Industry Braces for Possible Strike Action

Loading player...
South Africa’s auto manufacturing industry could be heading for disruption as wage talks between employers and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) reach a stalemate.

On Kaya Biz, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, NUMSA spokesperson, joins the show to unpack the union’s stance amid deadlocked negotiations. Employers have tabled a 6.5% wage increase for the first year and 5% for the next two, but the union says this effectively amounts to a wage freeze especially in an environment where rising fuel, transport, and energy costs continue to erode workers’ earnings.

NUMSA is calling for 7% in the first year and 6% in the following two, arguing that the 1% gap is both reasonable and affordable given the sector’s profitability and government incentives.
4 Nov 2025 4PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Responsible Mining Must Put Communities and Ecology at the Centre

With the Mining Indaba in full swing, one of the key conversations should be focused on why South Africa’s pursuit of sustainable development in mining still remains uneven. While economic growth and investment imperatives continue to dominate decision-making, environmental protection and community wellbeing are too often treated as secondary considerations…
11 Feb 3PM 10 min

Beyond Numbers: The Human Side of Financial Success in Entrepreneurship

A study by FinScope MSME has highlighted that South Africa is home to around 3 million micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, employing an estimated 13.4 million people, making small businesses a critical part of the country’s workforce and economic future. To work towards curbing the challenges of entrepreneurship, there is…
11 Feb 1PM 11 min

Valentine’s Risk: What Couples Don’t Know About Money

As Valentine’s Day approaches, many South African couples are celebrating love, but few are talking about money. This is where problems often start. Reeona Chetty, Head of Advice at Vouch, unpacks the financial, legal and insurance blind spots couples face in South Africa, especially those living together but not married.
11 Feb 1PM 10 min

FlySafair–Harith Deal raises ownership, regulation and PIC questions

Low-cost carrier FlySafair’s acquisition by pan-African infrastructure investor Harith General Partners has placed the airline on the cusp of expanded growth opportunities across the continent, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and deeper commercial links with Europe, analysts said on Tuesday. Did FlySafair have no real choice…
11 Feb 1PM 10 min