Sibanye Gold Limited t/a Sibanye Stillwater v Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union and Others (J 4390 / 18) [2018] ZALCJHB 397; (2019) 40 ILJ 898 (LC) (5 December 2018)

Sibanye Gold Limited t/a Sibanye Stillwater v Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union and Others (J 4390 / 18) [2018] ZALCJHB 397; (2019) 40 ILJ 898 (LC) (5 December 2018)

The Labour Court held that it is empowered under section 69(12) of the LRA to grant urgent interim relief, including varying picketing rules, where it is just and equitable to do so pending CCMA conciliation or court adjudication. The Court found that the multiple picketing areas at Beatrix mine enabled movement and...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2018] ZALCJHB 397
Parties
Applicant: Sibanye Gold Limited t/a Sibanye Stillwater; Respondent: Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union; Respondent: Persons as listed in Annexure “A”
Court
Labour Court Johannesburg
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Case Number
J 4390 / 18
Procedural Posture
Urgent Application / Interim Urgent Relief Pending Final Conciliation/adjudication of Picketing Rules Dispute
Outcome
Interim urgent relief granted: picketing rules varied to consolidate picketing areas at Beatrix mine into a single area with a maximum of 500 picketers; other relief as set out in the order.
Judges
S Snyman
Legal Topics
Picketing Rules, Urgent Interim Relief, Protected Strike, Section 69 Lra, Unlawful Conduct During Strike
Labour Law Civil Procedure Picketing Rules Urgent Interim Relief Protected Strike Section 69 Lra Unlawful Conduct During Strike

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Parties

Sibanye Gold Limited t/a Sibanye Stillwater

Applicant

Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union

Respondent

Persons as listed in Annexure “A”

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Urgent Application / Interim Urgent Relief Pending Final Conciliation/adjudication of Picketing Rules Dispute

  1. 1 Whether the Labour Court may urgently vary picketing rules under section 69(12) of the LRA pending CCMA conciliation/adjudication.
  2. 2 Whether the existing picketing rules are ineffective or breached due to unlawful conduct by striking employees.
  3. 3 What variation of picketing rules is just and equitable to balance the right to picket with prevention of violence and unlawful conduct.

Ratio Decidendi

The Labour Court held that it is empowered under section 69(12) of the LRA to grant urgent interim relief, including varying picketing rules, where it is just and equitable to do so pending CCMA conciliation or court adjudication. The Court found that the multiple picketing areas at Beatrix mine enabled movement and concealment by striking employees, facilitating unlawful conduct and making control difficult for both the employer and the union. However, the Court determined that reducing the number of picketers to 50 would unduly infringe on the right to picket and render the protest ineffective, given the large number of striking employees. Instead, the Court ordered consolidation of the...

Court Disposition

Interim urgent relief granted: picketing rules varied to consolidate picketing areas at Beatrix mine into a single area with a maximum of 500 picketers; other relief as set out in the order.

Orders

  • Rules relating to time limits and service dispensed with; application heard as urgent.
  • Rule Nisi issued calling upon respondents to show cause on 27 February 2019 why a final order should not be granted as set out.