Universal Church of The Kingdom of God v CCMA and Others (D348/12) [2013] ZALCD 35; [2014] 3 BLLR 295 (LC); (2014) 35 ILJ 1678 (LC) (27 November 2013)

Universal Church of The Kingdom of God v CCMA and Others (D348/12) [2013] ZALCD 35; [2014] 3 BLLR 295 (LC); (2014) 35 ILJ 1678 (LC) (27 November 2013)

The court held that the pastor was an employee of the church for the purposes of the Labour Relations Act. The evidence established that the pastor rendered services under the church's control and direction, was economically dependent on the church, worked regular hours, and was integrated into the church's...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2013] ZALCD 35
Parties
Applicant: Universal Church of The Kingdom of God; Respondent: CCMA; Respondent: Commissioner L Sullivan; Respondent: M J Myeni
Court
Labour Court Durban
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Case Number
D348/12
Procedural Posture
Review Application / Review of CCMA Jurisdictional Ruling on Employment Status
Outcome
The pastor was found to be an employee of the church. The review application on the jurisdictional point is dismissed.
Judges
Steenkamp
Legal Topics
Employee Definition, Section 200a Presumption, Jurisdiction of Ccma, Contract of Employment, Code of Good Practice, Unfair Dismissal
Labour Law Civil Procedure Employee Definition Section 200a Presumption Jurisdiction of Ccma Contract of Employment Code of Good Practice Unfair Dismissal

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Parties

Universal Church of The Kingdom of God

Applicant

CCMA

Respondent

Commissioner L Sullivan

Respondent

M J Myeni

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Review Application / Review of CCMA Jurisdictional Ruling on Employment Status

  1. 1 Whether a pastor who signed a 'Declaration of Voluntary Service' is an employee under the Labour Relations Act.
  2. 2 Whether the CCMA had jurisdiction to entertain the unfair dismissal dispute.
  3. 3 Whether the presumption in section 200A of the LRA applies to the relationship between the pastor and the church.

Ratio Decidendi

The court held that the pastor was an employee of the church for the purposes of the Labour Relations Act. The evidence established that the pastor rendered services under the church's control and direction, was economically dependent on the church, worked regular hours, and was integrated into the church's organisational structure. The statutory presumption in section 200A applied, and the church failed to rebut it. The absence of a written contract did not preclude the existence of an employment relationship. The court distinguished earlier case law decided before the introduction of section 200A and emphasised that the factual relationship, not the form of the contract, determines...

Court Disposition

The pastor was found to be an employee of the church. The review application on the jurisdictional point is dismissed.

Orders

  • It is declared that the pastor was an employee of the church.
  • The question whether the award that his dismissal was unfair and that he should be reinstated stands over for later determination.