South Africa Case Law

Sasol South Africa Limited v Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union and Another (2025/029924)

Sasol South Africa Limited v Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union and Another (2025/029924) [2025] ZALCJHB 113 (18 March 2025)

Court

Labour Court Johannesburg

Case number

2025/029924

Judge

Tlhotlhalemaje

The Labour Court confirmed an interdict against a strike over Sasol’s 4-shift system, finding no live dispute existed when the strike notice was issued.

• Protected Strike
• Mutual Interest Dispute
• Shift Allowance
• Strike Interdict
• Certificate Of Outcome
• Rights Vs Interests

Mantsopa Local Municipality v Samwy obo Tsekoe and Others (JR239/20)

Mantsopa Local Municipality v Samwy obo Tsekoe and Others (JR239/20) [2025] ZALCJHB 34 (30 January 2025)

Court

Labour Court Johannesburg

Case number

JR 293/2020

Judge

Sono, AJ

The Labour Court granted condonation, dismissed a review of a bargaining council award, and held the shift allowance interpretation was reasonable.

• Collective Agreement Interpretation
• Condonation
• Review Of Arbitration Award
• Shift Allowance
• Labour Court Rules
• Collective-agreement-interpretation

Skhosana v Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration and Others (JR1843/2022)

Skhosana v Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration and Others (JR1843/2022) [2024] ZALCJHB 463 (20 November 2024)

Court

Labour Court Johannesburg

Case number

JR1843/2022

Judge

Bart Ford

The Labour Court refused leave to appeal, finding no realistic prospect of success where the applicant repeated arguments about a disputed shift allowance.

• Unfair Labour Practice
• Shift Allowance
• Occupational Accident Leave
• Grievance Procedure
• Leave-to-appeal
• Labour-law

Skhosana v Commission For Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Others (JR1843/22)

Skhosana v Commission For Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Others (JR1843/22) [2024] ZALCJHB 335 (21 August 2024)

Court

Labour Court Johannesburg

Case number

JR1843/22

Judge

Ford

Labour Court review dismissed: the commissioner reasonably held that Eskom’s shift allowance was not payable while the applicant was moved off shift work.

• Review Of Arbitration Award
• Unfair Labour Practice
• Shift Allowance
• Interpretation Of Conditions Of Service
• Review-of-arbitration-award
• Unfair-labour-practice

Mncwati and Others v King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality (5448/2021)

Mncwati and Others v King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality (5448/2021) [2023] ZAECMHC 44 (22 August 2023)

Court

Eastern Cape High Court, Mthatha

Case number

5448/2021

Judge

T.V. Norman

The court held that the municipality must reflect the agreed 6% shift allowance rate on applicants’ payslips, but refused to interfere with salary calculation under the collective agreement.

• Basic Conditions Of Employment Act
• Collective Bargaining
• Shift Allowance
• Remuneration Information
• Payslip Compliance
• Shift-allowance

Assmang (Pty) Limited t/a Mine v Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Others (JR273/2017)

Assmang (Pty) Limited t/a Mine v Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Others (JR273/2017) [2020] ZALCJHB 247 (30 November 2020)

Court

Labour Court Johannesburg

Case number

JR273/2017

Judge

Tlhotlhalemaje

The Labour Court dismissed a review of a CCMA jurisdiction ruling over an unfair labour practice dispute involving loss of a shift allowance.

• Unfair Labour Practice
• Jurisdiction Of Ccma
• Review Of Arbitration Ruling
• Shift Allowance
• Collective Agreement Interpretation
• Unfair-labour-practice

National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa and Others v Eskom Holdings SOC Limited (JS1086/12)

National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa and Others v Eskom Holdings SOC Limited (JS1086/12) [2015] ZALCJHB 271 (19 August 2015)

Court

Labour Court Johannesburg

Case number

JS1086/12

Judge

Tlhotlhalemaje

The court found that the introduction and subsequent termination of the shift system constituted a change in work practice, not a change to the applicants' contractual terms and conditions of employment. The fixed monthly payments, originally a shift allowance, were continued erroneously after the shift system ended. There was no express, implied, or tacit contractual right to continued payment, and the respondent's error did not create a legal obligation. The applicants were properly consulted and given sufficient notice to adjust their lifestyles. The respondent was entitled to discontinue…

Source excerpt

• Unilateral Change To Terms
• Shift Allowance
• Condictio Indebiti
• Consultation Requirements
• Breach Of Contract

South African Typographical Union v Kohler Flexible Packaging (Cape) (CA2/2001)

South African Typographical Union v Kohler Flexible Packaging (Cape) (CA2/2001) [2002] ZALAC 10; [2002] 7 BLLR 605 (LAC); (2002) 23 ILJ 1248 (LAC) (8 May 2002)

Court

Labour Appeal Court

Case number

CA2/2001

Judges

JHM Traverso, RMM Zondo, CR Nicholson

The Labour Appeal Court held that section 41(2) sets a minimum severance entitlement and did not require inclusion of a shift allowance absent agreement.

• Severance Pay
• Shift Allowance
• Basic Conditions Of Employment Act
• Collective Agreement Interpretation
• Severance-pay
• Shift-allowance

Mocom Plastics Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd v SACWU and Others (J921/01)

Mocom Plastics Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd v SACWU and Others (J921/01) [2001] ZALC 58 (23 April 2001)

Court

Labour Court

Case number

J921/01

Judge

E. Revelas

Labour Court confirmed an interdict against employees who refused to implement a new shift system, finding the refusal was an unprotected strike.

• Unprotected Strike
• Collective Agreement
• Night Work
• Shift Allowance
• Interdict
• Costs Order