South Africa: Labour Court Rejects R10m Claim by Cape Town Man for Late Brother’s Dismissal

Cape Town – The Labour Court in Cape Town has dismissed a R10 million compensation claim filed by a man on behalf of his deceased brother, who was allegedly unfairly dismissed from a car dealership.​

Court Ruling

The court ruled against the claimant, effectively closing the long-running legal dispute. Reports indicate the man pursued the case after his brother’s death, but the judgment favored the employer. The decision was reported on November 27, 2025, highlighting limits on such claims under South African labour law.​​

Legal Background

Unfair dismissal claims in South Africa cap compensation at 12 months’ remuneration for typical cases or 24 months for automatically unfair ones, making the R10 million demand untenable. Such disputes require timely filing by the employee or estate representative through the CCMA, likely contributing to the dismissal due to procedural issues.