The Constitutional Court’s Van Wyk judgment reshapes South Africa’s parental-leave framework under the BCEA and UIA, requiring equal treatment for all parents and prompting major compliance, cost, and policy challenges. Employers must now reassess paid-leave benefits, align with interim provisions effective 3 October 2025, and balance equity with sustainability through lawful consultation, capped-benefit models, and strategic HR planning.

The Labour Appeal Court in Gauteng Department of Education v GPSSBC [2025] ZALAC 2 upheld the dismissal of four officials linked to a R2 million ghost employee scam. Despite earlier reinstatement rulings, the LAC found the employees’ failure to safeguard or explain compromised login credentials made them accountable. The Court ruled the dismissals substantively and procedurally fair, reinforcing accountability in public-sector payroll and IT access control.

The Labour Appeal Court in IMATU obo Spangenberg v Overberg District Municipality [2024] ZALAC 56 reaffirmed that employers cannot unilaterally alter agreed job descriptions or bypass approved job evaluation systems. The LAC reinstated the arbitration award, finding the Labour Court exceeded its powers by directing the PAC to act outside its mandate. The ruling underscores the sanctity of job evaluation processes and the limits of managerial discretion in labour relations.