News24 reports that an HR manager at a fishing company, dismissed after a love tryst with her boss floundered, is off the hook for now after the Western Cape High Court denied an attempt to evict her from staff accommodation.
Former Pioneer Fishing employee Lauren Masimla is appealing the lawfulness of her dismissal. This followed the ending of her romantic relationship with the company’s COO, Pieter Greeff, which according to Masimla was the reason she was let go. Pioneer Fishing litigated to have Masimla evicted from company-provided accommodation in St Helena Bay, ahead of a legal bid in the Labour Court over whether or not her dismissal was legal. Masimla’s lease agreement stated that her right to live in the house was tied to her employment. Masimla was dismissed in June 2023. Four months later, she was given notice to vacate the house.
Eviction proceedings were tabled in the Vredenburg Magistrate’s Court in March 2024, which ruled that the eviction process should not proceed until the dismissal dispute had been settled in the Labour Court. In the High Court, Acting Judge Roy Barendse indicated that he would make no presumptions around the reasons, lawfulness and fairness of Masimla’s dismissal. He did, however, dismiss Pioneer Fishing’s appeal against the lower court’s ruling. Barendse pointed out that that forcing Masimla to leave before the Labour Court made a decision would be unfair, especially if she won her case. The eviction matter will only be placed on the roll again after the judgment in the Labour Court matter has been received.”
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nicole McCain at News24 (subscription / trial registration required)
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