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Article 13/2023

What is the extent of the duty on a person when applying for a job to disclose the circumstances under which his or her employment with a previous employer had been terminated?

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  • In Intercape Ferreira Mainliner (Pty) Ltd v McWade and Others (2019) 30 SALLR 148 (LC), it was held that, when applying for a job, there is a duty to disclose the circumstances under which employment with a previous employer was terminated if it is material to the prospective employer’s decision whether to employ such person or not
  • In similar vein, in Ndudane v Premier of Eastern Cape (2022) 33 SALLR 6 (ECB), it was held that an employee has an absolute duty to disclose such facts that are within his or her knowledge, which are material to a prospective employer’s decision whether to employ him or her
August 17, 2026

We think that everyone understands that an employer is vicariously liable for the wrong committed (an act or omission) by its employee during the course/scope/sphere of employment/engagement in any activity reasonably incidental to it.

But, what is the extent of an employer’s vicarious liability where the employee commits a wrong on his or her own volition?

August 10, 2026

What is the content of traditional consensus to indicate that an agreement exists between an employer and an employee?

If, on the traditional theory of consensus, a party fails to prove an agreement upon which it relies, with reference to Sonap Petroleum SA (Pty) Ltd v Pappadogianis 1992 (3) SA 234 (A), on what basis can a finding be made that quasi-mutual assent exists, founded on the approach that a party is precluded from denying the existence of an agreement based on their own conduct and the circumstances?

What does the three-fold enquiry entail to determine the presence of quasi-mutual assent?

In determining whether an agreement has been reached in the absence of traditional consensus, but on the basis of quasi-mutual assent, what is the extent of the duty on the party wishing to rely on such an agreement to, on the basis of reasonableness, enquire as to the contradictions that exist in the position of the other party so contained in correspondence?

August 3, 2026

Where do delictual claims fit into dispute resolution options applicable to employment disputes?