Sacked | Boss spotted worker protesting on TV after calling in sick

A worker who was spotted on TV at a protest, after calling in sick, has been sacked after a lengthy legal battle.

Benneth Mathebula was employed by the SA Revenue Service (SARS) - South Africa’s equivalent to HMRC - when he told bosses he was too ill to work. However, during his absence, a supervisor spotted him on television at a protest in the city of Sandton.

Mathebula was among a crowd of EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters, a left-wing protest group) members on television, marching against pharmacy chain Clicks, which had produced a hair advert which the EFF said was racist.

The incident occurred in 2020, with Mathebula being sacked in 2021. But due to years of legal yo-yoing, a court has only just ruled that Mathebula can be dismissed. The decision overturned a previous judgement from 2021 that Mathebula should be reinstated to his role and given full back pay.