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Article 18/2023

Finally, the constitutional court, in NUMSA v Dunlop Mixing and Technical Services (2019) 30 SALLR 2 (CC), had to determine the content of derivative misconduct, so entailing an alleged duty on an employee to disclose his knowledge of primary misconduct.

What approach did the constitutional court adopt?

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  • In view of the approach adopted by the constitutional court, the following principles are no longer applicable:
    • an employee, innocent of the actual perpetration of misconduct, is guilty of derivative misconduct if he or she elects not to disclose such information
    • the aforesaid duty is based on trust and confidence, being part of the duty of good faith of an employee towards his or her employer
    • mere knowledge of the primary misconduct triggers such a duty, without an employer’s request
    • some or other justification not to disclose the primary misconduct (e g potential community pressure) is not a defence but potentially a mitigating factor
  • Subsequently, in NUMSA v Marley Pipe Systems (2022) 33 SALLR 22 (CC), the constitutional court further held that common purpose and derivative misconduct are no longer mutually exclusive
  • Thus, in the scenario where an employee is not present at the scene of the primary misconduct, the constitutional court held, in Dunlop Mixing, in respect of the duty to disclose
    • such duty cannot be based on a unilateral fiduciary duty to disclose such information
    • such duty to disclose, however, can be based on a reciprocal contractual duty of good faith – e g before requiring an employee to disclose, the employer must provide a guarantee for his safety and provide protection before, during and after disclosure
    • evidence (direct or circumstantial) that the employee associated himself with the misconduct
      (before it commenced, or even after it ended) may be sufficient to establish complicity in the
      primary misconduct (accessory after the fact)
    • presence at the scene of the primary misconduct is not a requirement
    • prior or subsequent knowledge of the misconduct and the necessary intention in relation to
      association will be sufficient
    • prior or subsequent knowledge of the misconduct and the necessary intention in relation to
      association will be sufficient
July 20, 2026

Precautionary suspensions

In the public sector, the Senior Management Service Handbook (SMS Handbook) directly addresses precautionary suspensions and the 60-day time limit.

Clause 2.7(2)(c) of the SMS Handbook provides that ‘If a member is suspended or transferred as a precautionary measure, the employer must hold a disciplinary hearing within 60 days. The chair of the hearing must then decide on any further postponement.’

Regulation 6 of the Local Government: Disciplinary Regulations Senior Managers, 2010 (Regulations) provides for the precautionary suspension of senior municipal employees and Regulation 6(6)(a) provides: ‘If a senior is suspended, a disciplinary hearing must commence within three months after the date of suspension, failing which the suspension will automatically lapse.’

What are the principles governing a determination of the question as to whether or not a senior municipal employee’s suspension automatically lapses in terms of the aforesaid Regulation 6(6)(a)?

Obviously, the answers to the aforesaid question are very relevant in the private sector where, firstly, a collective agreement regulates a similar process or, alternatively, such contractual rights have been created between the parties, to be enforced in terms of s77(3) of the BCEA.

July 13, 2026

In the previous article, we dealt with the consequences of a plant level collective agreement with a definite beginning and end date. We indicated to you that, in line with s23(2) of the LRA, and an analysis of the relevant case law, that, once such a collective agreement reaches its expiry date, it expires and is no longer of any force or effect. In this article, we deal with the scenario where a plant level collective agreement is concluded for an indefinite period and the employer gave notice to terminate same.

What are the consequences when a party to a plant level collective agreement, concluded for an indefinite time period, gives notice to terminate such collective agreement?

July 6, 2026

In terms of s23(2), a collective agreement binds, for the whole period of the collective agreement, every person so bound in terms of s23(1)(c) (the members of a registered trade union and the employers who are members of a registered employers’ organisation who are a party to the collective agreement, if the collective agreement regulates the terms and conditions of employment, or the conduct of the employers and employees) who was a member at the time it became binding, or who becomes a member after it became binding (irrespective of whether or not that person continues to be a member of such trade union or employers’ organisation for the duration of the collective agreement).

What is the relevant case law development as to a plant level collective agreement that has an expiry date, i e does such collective agreement continue to be of force and effect after such expiry date?