Swearing at a boss may feel impulsive, but in South African labour law, emotional outbursts seldom excuse misconduct. The Labour Relations Act recognises verbal abuse toward senior leaders as gross misconduct and insubordination. Dismissal can be fair if trust breaks down and procedures are followed. While stress or provocation may mitigate, the law prioritises respect, discipline, and procedural fairness over emotional impulse.

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.