South Africa Case Law

NUMSA and Others v Industrial Oleo Chemical Products

Section 189A(7)(b)(ii) creates a direct route to the Labour Court for dismissal disputes arising after failed facilitation in mass retrenchments. The cross-reference to section 191(11) operates as a time provision, not as a requirement to first go through conciliation. The Labour Appeal Court's contrary interpretation was set aside and the Labour Court's order reinstated.

Source excerpt

• Operational requirements dismissals
• Mass retrenchment
• Facilitation
• Conciliation
• Jurisdiction of the labour court
• Statutory interpretation

Matunga v G Aan R Hydraulics (Pty) Ltd (JR2233-21)

Matunga v G Aan R Hydraulics (Pty) Ltd (JR2233-21) [2024] ZALCJHB 70 (26 January 2024)

Court

Labour Court Johannesburg

Case number

JR2233/21

Judge

M T M Phehane

The Labour Court granted condonation, reviewed and set aside two commissioners’ rulings, and remitted an automatically unfair dismissal dispute for fresh conciliation.

• Automatically Unfair Dismissal
• Jurisdiction Of Labour Court
• Condonation
• Review Of Arbitration Ruling
• Automatically-unfair-dismissal
• Labour-court-jurisdiction

IMATU obo Espach v Polokwane Local Municipality (J 1171/17)

IMATU obo Espach v Polokwane Local Municipality (J 1171/17) [2023] ZALCJHB 322; [2024] 2 BLLR 143 (LC); (2024) 45 ILJ 308 (LC) (17 November 2023)

Court

Labour Court Johannesburg

Case number

J 1171/17

Judge

GN Moshoana

The Labour Court refused to make an alleged grievance settlement an order of court, finding no valid agreement and no proven right to arbitrate without conciliation.

• Settlement Agreement
• Jurisdiction Of Labour Court
• Offer And Acceptance
• Unfair Labour Practice
• Conciliation Requirement
• Labour-court

Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union and Others v Faeroes Properties (Pty) Ltd (JS 751/2020)

Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union and Others v Faeroes Properties (Pty) Ltd (JS 751/2020) [2023] ZALCJHB 14 (7 February 2023)

Court

Labour Court Johannesburg

Case number

JS 751/2020

Judge

Van Niekerk

The Labour Court granted condonation for a late referral in an unfair retrenchment dispute, finding the delay satisfactorily explained and prospects of success neutral.

• Condonation
• Late Referral
• Retrenchment
• Section 189a
• Conciliation
• Settlement Agreement

NUM obo Mlotshwa and 57 Others v Reitspruit Crushers and Construction (PTY) Ltd and Others (J 820/22)

NUM obo Mlotshwa and 57 Others v Reitspruit Crushers and Construction (PTY) Ltd and Others (J 820/22) [2022] ZALCJHB 194 (26 July 2022)

Court

Labour Court Johannesburg

Case number

J 820/22

Judge

G N Moshoana

The Labour Court dismissed an urgent bid to set aside dismissals, holding that it lacked jurisdiction because the dispute had not first been conciliated.

• Jurisdiction Of Labour Court
• Unfair Dismissal
• Business Rescue Proceedings
• Conciliation Requirement
• Labour-court-jurisdiction
• Unfair-dismissal

Maloka v Liberty Holdings (PTY) Ltd (J 05/21)

Maloka v Liberty Holdings (PTY) Ltd (J 05/21) [2022] ZALCJHB 125 (6 June 2022)

Court

Labour Court Johannesburg

Case number

J 05/21

Judge

Tlhotlhalemaje

The applicant's application for condonation was filed approximately 240 days late, far exceeding the statutory 90-day period. The explanation for the delay was unsatisfactory, as the applicant failed to provide a coherent and reasonable account for the non-compliance. The applicant's reliance on the CCMA's conduct did not absolve him of his responsibility to comply with statutory timeframes. Furthermore, the applicant's claim under section 187(1)(f) of the LRA did not disclose a valid cause of action, as he failed to produce credible evidence of discrimination or any prohibited reason for dis…

Source excerpt

• Automatically Unfair Dismissal
• Condonation
• Section 187 Lra
• Jurisdiction
• Conciliation
• Unfair Discrimination

Baloyi and Others v Kwathlano Shuttle & Chauffeur Service CC (JS410/2020)

Baloyi and Others v Kwathlano Shuttle & Chauffeur Service CC (JS410/2020) [2021] ZALCJHB 403 (26 October 2021)

Court

Labour Court Johannesburg

Case number

JS410/2020

Judge

K Naidoo

The Labour Court held it lacked jurisdiction to hear an unfair dismissal and severance pay dispute because the applicants withdrew the CCMA referral and no conciliation occurred.

• Unfair Dismissal
• Retrenchment Consultation
• Jurisdiction Of Labour Court
• Conciliation Requirement
• Severance Pay
• Labour-law

NUM obo Morobe and Others v Bidvest Protea Coin (Pty) Ltd (JS 317/14)

NUM obo Morobe and Others v Bidvest Protea Coin (Pty) Ltd (JS 317/14) [2021] ZALCJHB 168 (20 July 2021)

Court

Labour Court Johannesburg

Case number

JS 317/14

Judge

P Nkutha-Nkontwana

The Labour Court dismissed the employer’s jurisdictional objection, postponed the trial because of late service of the document bundle, and ordered costs against the respondent.

• Jurisdictional Point
• Conciliation Requirement
• Unfair Dismissal
• Document Discovery
• Costs Award
• Labour-law

NUPSAW obo Paulse v Department of Health Western Cape (C154/2017)

NUPSAW obo Paulse v Department of Health Western Cape (C154/2017) [2021] ZALCCT 15 (30 March 2021)

Court

Labour Court Cape Town

Case number

C154/2017

Judge

Rabkin-Naicker

Labour Court judgment on a point in limine. The court held the stated case was inadequate and ordered an amended stated case before deciding res judicata or conciliation issues.

• Jurisdiction Of Labour Court
• Res Judicata
• Conciliation Requirement
• Protected Disclosure
• Unfair Dismissal
• Labour-court

Motor Industry Association obo Members v Big Apple Motors CC (C840/19)

Motor Industry Association obo Members v Big Apple Motors CC (C840/19) [2020] ZALCJHB 28 (6 January 2020)

Court

Labour Court Johannesburg

Case number

C840/19

Judge

G N Moshoana

The Labour Court dismissed an urgent application to interdict a retrenchment, holding that it lacked jurisdiction because section 189A did not apply and no conciliation referral had been made.

• Retrenchment
• Jurisdiction Of Labour Court
• Section 189a Lra
• Conciliation Requirement
• Retrechment
• Labour-court-jurisdiction