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Article 11/2022

What is the content of the common law duty of the employer to take reasonable care of its employees?

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It is well-established that there is a common law duty of reasonable care on an employer in respect of its employees (e.g. Van Deventer v Workmen’s Compensation Commissioner 1962 (4) SA 28 (T), Vigario v Afrox Ltd 1996 (3) SA 450 (W) and Media 24 Ltd and Another v Grobler 2005 (6) SA 328 (SCA)).

The above obligation to take reasonable care exists in respect of protecting employees against physical harm as well as protecting employees against psychological harm.

Employees have available to them both statutory and common law remedies.

September 28, 2026

What are the principles governing common purpose misconduct?

September 21, 2026

What are the principles governing an employee’s duty to disclose to his/her employer information about misconduct?

September 14, 2026

In Article 31, we dealt with the distinction between desertion and abscondment.

In Article 32, we dealt with the misconduct of deeming desertion.

In this article, we will deal with termination of employment by operation of law in the private sector – similar to deeming to be discharged in the public sector.