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A woman who was "badly tormented by her ancestors" had to be reinstated in her post, even if she took a month's leave without her employer's permission, the Labour Appeal Court has ruled.

Three judges from the Labour Appeals Court delivered their verdict, saying the judgment was "something new".

Johannah Mmelodi, who had already worked for the Kievitskroon Country Estate for eight years, attended in her own free time a course to become a traditional healer.

After completing the course, she asked for a month's unpaid leave to attend another course, to become a sangoma.

Her employers turned down her request, and she attended the course regardless, but not before dropping off a sick note from a traditional healer at her employer's office.

The sick note stated that she was being "badly tormented by her ancestors".

After she returned to work, she was subjected to a disciplinary hearing for absenteeism and fired.

The CCMA found that Mmelodi's dismissal was unfair, and they reinstated her in her post.

The company appealed, and the Labour Appeals Court ruled in Mmelodi's favour, saying South Africa was a land of many cultures and that traditional Western culture could not be allowed to dominate the African culture of many of the country's inhabitants.

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Fri May 24 10:51:22 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 19, 2012

Nokozile

yaa neh!!!!!!
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Oct 19, 2012

RobinH

"badly tormented by her ancestors". Accepted as valid in a rational society!!??? Pardon while I pick my jaw up off the floor.


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Oct 19, 2012

Tlakenyobehle!

but they cant write most of them mosdance so u mean she will give me a pen an paper to do
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Oct 19, 2012

iPhone4

Is there a registered body like HPCSA for Sangomas?
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Oct 19, 2012

Missjoy

Big up to CCMA and Labour court
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Oct 19, 2012

RobinH

lol @ iPhone>>>> Very amusing!
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Oct 19, 2012

MophemeKoPitori

LKK "badly tormented by her ancestors" it's indeed an ancestor terminology.
She should have gone to Venda for a powerful sangoma for muthi so that no-one messes with her....EVER
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Oct 19, 2012

MommaC

Why are her tormented ancestors making their problems her employer's problems?
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Oct 19, 2012

Blackstone.lebs

That's a step in the right direction. Well done CCMA and Labour Appeals Court.
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Oct 19, 2012

Mosquer

The sick note stated that she was being "badly tormented by her ancestors".

Corrections: tormented by evil spirits
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