CONSTRUCTIVE DISMISSAL CONFIRMED IN LANDMARK CASE AGAINST RELIGIOUS EMPLOYER

By Johnny Goldberg The judgment in Makombe vs Cape Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist and Others (C04/2023) [2025] ZALCCT 19 marked a significant moment for labour law in religious institutions, where the Labour Court set aside a CCMA award and found that the employee was constructively dismissed by her employer. The employee, a former pastor employed…

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WITHDRAWAL OF A RESIGNATION

In the case of MOHLWAADIBONA V DR JS MOROKA MUNICIPALITY (J718/21) [2022] ZALCJHB 91 (18 MARCH 2022), the employer, which is a municipality, was placed under administration.  Following this, due to ill health, the employee submitted his resignation immediately. He addressed the resignation letter to the acting Municipal Manager at the time. After sending the resignation letter,…

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Unfairly barred from employment because of a criminal record

Individuals with a criminal record may be faced with significant challenges when seeking employment. In South Africa, employers may legally exclude an applicant from consideration for LexisNexis. As part of the recruitment process, LexisNexis required Mr O’Connor to declare whether he had ever been criminally charged. Mr O’Connor confirmed that he had been convicted, but…

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DISCRIMINATION

Since the decriminalisation of the cultivation, possession and use of cannabis for private purposes, there have been several cases in which employees have challenged their employers regarding the banning or restriction of cannabis. The Labour Court recently considered a case of alleged discrimination for religious reasons. ·  In 2018, the Constitutional Court (CC) decriminalised the cultivation,…

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LABOUR COURT JUDGMENT SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE TO UNIONS AND CCMA COMMISSIONERS AHEAD OF THE NEW YEAR

In one of the first reportable judgments of 2024, SAA v NUMSA & SACCA, the Labour Court has sent a strong message to Unions which litigate in the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (“CCMA”) and CCMA Commissioners who consider preliminary issues in the CCMA. Background Facts During December 2019, SAA was placed in voluntary business rescue, as…

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