Keep up to date with South African employment law and ensure fair staff management
8 weeks, excluding
orientation
7–12 hours per week,
entirely online
Weekly modules,
flexible learning
1
Current knowledge of South Africa’s main labour statutes and related legal procedures.
2
The expertise to promote fair employment practices and reduce your company’s risk of legal non-compliance.
3
Practical skills you can draw on to handle dismissals, disciplinary procedures, and staff disputes.
4
Proof of your familiarity with the latest local labour laws in the form of a digital certificate from Africa’s leading university.1
1 QS Top Universities (2023)
Over the duration of this online short course, you’ll work through the following modules:
MODULE 1 Introduction to Labour Law
An introduction to labour law in South Africa.
MODULE 2 The Employment Contract, Basic Conditions of Employment and Termination of Employment
Learn about the individual employment contract.
MODULE 3 Workplace Discipline and Automatically Unfair Dismissals
Learn about workplace discipline and what constitutes an unfair dismissal.
MODULE 4 Dismissal for Misconduct and Poor Performance or Incapacity
Learn about dismissal for misconduct and poor performance or incapacity.
MODULE 5 Dismissal for Operational Requirements, Closures, Mergers and Sale of Business
Learn about dismissal for operational requirements, closures, mergers and sale of business.
MODULE 6 Unfair Labour Practice and Employment Equity
Learn about unfair labour practice and employment equity.
MODULE 7 An Introduction to Collective Labour Law and Industrial Action
An introduction to collective labour law and industrial action in South Africa.
MODULE 8 Dispute Resolutions and CCMA Procedures
Learn about dispute resolution and the various courts and councils that are involved.
Please note that module titles and their contents are subject to change during course development.
Debbie Collier
Associate Professor, Department of Commercial Law, UCT
Collier is a member of the Institute of Development and Labour Law (IDLL), serves on the editorial board of the Development and Labour Monograph Series (an IDLL publication), and is an associate of the Labour and Enterprise Project. She is involved in teaching and supervising undergraduate and postgraduate law students at UCT, as well as students outside of the law faculty. Collier conducts research in the field of law and development, and her PhD focused on this topic in the context of intellectual property law. Her current research interests lie in employment law and development, specifically in the context of workplace discrimination and equality law.
“I’ve found that many managers have the skills to manage a group of people or departments, but aren’t familiar with legal labour processes, especially regarding disciplinary procedures. That’s the reason why I took this course. My intention is to be the voice for the voiceless.”
Goolam Fakier, Past Student
This UCT online short course is delivered in collaboration with online education provider GetSmarter, part of edX. Join a growing community of global professionals, and benefit from the opportunity to:
Gain verifiable and relevant competencies and earn invaluable recognition from an international selection of universities and institutions, entirely online and in your own time.
Enjoy a personalised, people-mediated online learning experience created to make you feel supported at every step.
Experience a flexible but structured approach to online education as you plan your learning around your life to meet weekly milestones.