It is normal practice in a disciplinary hearing for the accused and witnesses to appear person. The accused would have an opportunity to face and cross-examine witnesses, followed by an opportunity to fully state his or her case and present further evidence. Occasionally, situations arise where the necessity for such a process is called into question. May one, for example, rely on written statements only in a disciplinary hearing?
Employee arrested
An interesting set of facts emerged in the case of Oberholzer vs. Central University of Technology: Free State (2017) where the employee, a lecturer in law, was arrested by the police. The employer (CUT) intended to proceed with disciplinary action on several unrelated charges. It was not known when the employee would be released from custody. CUT was not willing to wait. The employee was served with the charges and invited to make written representations. His attorney attended the disciplinary hearing as an observer. The employee was found guilty and afforded an opportunity to make written representations in mitigation. He failed to do so and was dismissed. The employee disputed the dismissal and referred it to the CCMA. He claimed that the procedure had been flawed because he had not been afforded a proper opportunity to state his case.
The CCMA Commissioner referred to the Code of Good Practice: Dismissal as set out in Schedule 8 of the Labour Relations Act (“the Code of Good Practice”). It provides as follows as far as procedural fairness is concerned:
“Normally, the employer should conduct an investigation to determine whether there are grounds for dismissal. This does not need to be a formal enquiry. The employer should notify the employee of the allegations using a form and language that the employee can reasonably understand. The employee should be allowed the opportunity to state a case in response to the allegations.”
An important fact in this case was that the employee was an admitted advocate. He would have been quite capable of presenting his case by means of an affidavit. According to the commissioner the manner the employer had gone about conducting the hearing had been in compliance with the Code of Good Practice. The dismissal was found to be procedurally fair.
Mass hearings
Support for a deviation from normal practice in disciplinary hearings can also be found the Labour Court case of Broadcasting Electronic Media and Allied Workers Union (BEMAWU) & others vs. SA Broadcasting Corporation & others (2016). More than 100 employees were charged with making fraudulent claims from the medical aid scheme. The disciplinary hearings were conducted on the basis of written representations. The SABC deviated from its normal disciplinary procedures for practical reasons. The union approached the court to obtain an interdict to prevent the SABC from proceeding along that course. The union relied on the SABC’s disciplinary code which states that “(f)or misconduct or offences which in the opinion of management warrant a stronger disciplinary measure than a warning … a formal disciplinary hearing must be held.”
The court expressed an understanding for the situation that the SABC was faced with. Having to deal with similar allegations of misconduct against more than 100 employees, it would have been unworkable to adopt a process where every employee had to be heard individually, could call witnesses and present evidence.
The court remarked that “(a)lthough the process adopted by the SABC in this case is different from that which it normally adopts, I do not think that it can be said that it is not a ‘formal disciplinary hearing’. It envisages a hearing chaired by an independent and experienced chairperson on the panel of a respected dispute resolution agency. It envisages a hearing, albeit on paper, without hearing oral evidence or argument. In my view it satisfies the requirements set out in the Code of Good Practice of the Labour Relations Act.”
While the union’s application for an interdict failed, the court pointed out that employees who disputed the outcome of the disciplinary hearing would still have access to the CCMA.
Criminal vs. disciplinary procedures
In a criminal trial, a guilty finding could have severe consequences for the accused. The stringent procedural standards that apply are intended to minimise the chances of a miscarriage of justice. The criminal justice model requires the presence of witnesses and the accused. It allows for cross-examination. In addition, there are several other intricate evidentiary requirements that have to be met.
Although the same procedural standards do not apply to disciplinary hearings, the Code of Good Practice does not suggest that disciplinary matters may be dealt with in a slipshod manner. Firstly, an employer is at least bound by the standards set by its own disciplinary code and procedure. Secondly, it remains a requirement for the employer to prove the employee’s guilt on a balance of probabilities. A proper investigation into the facts can be aided by the presence of the accused employee and witnesses in a hearing. The extent to which the demeanour of parties in a hearing plays a role in finding the truth, should not be underestimated. Evidence can be tested through cross-examination and further questioning by the chairperson. The outcome of a disciplinary hearing that meets these requirements is likely to be more robust.
While evidence by means of written statements or in the absence of the accused employee may meet the procedural requirements of the Code of Good Practice, it should only be considered in exceptional circumstances, as illustrated in the cases mentioned above. CLICK HERE to see video clip.
Jan Truter for www.labourwise.co.za
Quite your friendly advice in a simple language.
Good Day Labour Wise
To add, I submit the following concerning your article.
The substantive procedural requirements in dismissal cases were examined by the Labour Court in Avril Elizabeth Home for the Mentally Handicapped v Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (2006) 27 ILJ 1644 (LC). At paragraph 17, as follows:
“When the Code refers to an opportunity that must be given by the employer to the employee to state a case in response to any allegations made against that employee, which need not be a formal enquiry, it means no more than that there should be dialogue and an opportunity for reflection before any decision is taken to dismiss. In the absence of exceptional circumstances, the substantive content of this process as defined by item 4 of the Code requires the conducting of an investigation, notification to the employee of any allegations that may flow from the investigation, and an opportunity, within a reasonable time, with the assistance of a trade union representative or fellow employee. The employer should then communicate the decision taken, and preferably communicate this in writing.” (At par 17)
The Labour Court in Nitrophoska (Pty) Ltd v Commission for Conciliation, Mediation & Arbitration (2011) 32 ILJ 1981 (LC) and also in Munnik Basson Dagama Attorneys v CCMA (2011) 32 ILJ 1169 (LC), expressed a frustration with the formalistic, criminal-procedure approach adopted by employers in disciplinary proceedings, supported by the CCMA (and for that matter, also the various bargaining councils). In both cases the Labour Court referred with approval to the principles reaffirmed by Avril Elizabeth, namely, the Code particularly provides that: (i) the inquiry prior to a dismissal “need not be a formal enquiry”; (ii) before dismissing an employee the employer needs to conduct an investigation; (iii) employees or their representatives must be afforded the opportunity to respond to the allegations of misconduct; (iv) the employer must take a decision; and (v) inform the employee about that decision. (See par 17 above)
In the more recent judgment in the matter of Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa v Moreki and Others (J190/15, JR2361/16) [2017] ZALCJHB 114 (28 March 2017), the Labour Court again referred with approval to the Avril Elizabeth case. In this regard I attach the following link to an article by Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr.
Thank you for the additional information. It is encouraging that he courts have been consistent in pointing out that the approach adopted by employers, the CCMA and Bargaining Councils in the past, has been overly formalistic.