The National Public Service Workers Union (NPSWU) has secured a powerful victory for one of its long-standing members, Mr Mchunu, who officially returned to work at Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital in Gauteng on Monday the 18th August 2025. This case represents more than just an individual triumph; it demonstrates the union’s determination to protect workers’ rights, hold employers accountable, and restore justice when due process is ignored.
The case began in 2019, when Mr Mchunu was unfairly declared to have “absconded” from his post. The hospital’s human resources department failed to follow the correct procedures. No official telegram was sent to trace him, no meaningful effort was made to establish his whereabouts, and the available documentation was inconsistent and unreliable. Despite these serious flaws, by September 2020, the hospital moved ahead and issued a formal termination of service letter. For many workers, such a decision would have been final and devastating, but for NPSWU, it marked the beginning of a determined fight for justice.
From the moment the termination notice was received, NPSWU stepped in to challenge the flawed decision. The union, through its Gauteng provincial structures, escalated the matter through various internal appeals and even engaged the office of the MEC for Health to intervene. Between 2021 and 2023, NPSWU’s persistence revealed glaring contradictions within the hospital’s HR records. Critical documents were missing, others contradicted one another, and in many instances, the processes followed were simply unlawful. These discoveries ensured that the case could not be buried and that Comrade Mchunu’s rights were kept alive in the appeals process.
The turning point came on 31 July 2025, when the Labour Relations Directorate officially confirmed that NPSWU’s appeal had succeeded. The hospital was instructed to reverse the abscondment decision and reinstate Mr Mchunu. On 4 August 2025, Thelle Mogoerane Hospital began the administrative process to cancel the previous ruling, and less than two weeks later, on the 18th of August 2025, Mr Mchunu walked back into the hospital to resume his duties, reclaiming both his dignity and his livelihood after nearly six years of uncertainty.
For Mr Mchunu, this victory was deeply personal. Speaking on his return, he expressed heartfelt gratitude for the union’s unwavering support, saying: “Without the union’s support, I would never have made it back. They never gave up on me.” His words reflected the human cost of the ordeal – years of stress, financial strain, and uncertainty for both himself and his family. His reinstatement stands not only as a legal victory but also as a restoration of stability, pride, and hope.
For NPSWU, this case reinforces the union’s reputation as the true defender of public service workers in South Africa. With a proven success rate of over 85 percent in labour disputes, the union continues to demonstrate that no worker should stand alone when facing unjust treatment. This outcome is also a clear reminder to employers that due process is not optional; it is a legal requirement, and any attempt to bypass it will be challenged with determination.
The reinstatement of Mr Mchunu is a victory for all workers, symbolizing what can be achieved when solidarity, persistence, and strong representation come together. NPSWU calls on every worker in the public service to join the union and become part of a movement that never abandons its members and always fights for fairness. This case proves once again that together we will fight, and together we will win.
NPSWU Motto – Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value
For any Enquiries:
Ayabonga Ngubane
PR & Communications Officer
Email: communications@npswu.org
Contact: 079 032 4768