Correctional officer's dismissal upheld by Labour Court after sexual harassment incident.
The Labour Court in Gqeberha has upheld the dismissal of a Northern Cape correctional officer who sexually harassed a female colleague after offering to drive her home following a night shift, ruling that the misconduct was so serious that an apology could never replace formal disciplinary action.
Judge Edwin Tlhotlhalemaje dismissed an application brought by former Department of Correctional Services employee S Louw, who sought to overturn an arbitration award that had confirmed his dismissal.
Louw had been employed as a Grade 2 Correctional Officer at the De Aar Correctional Centre since 2008. He was dismissed in March 2022 after a female colleague accused him of sexual harassment following an incident that occurred on the night of February 15, 2021.
According to evidence before the Labour Court, the complainant had completed her shift and discovered that other colleagues had already left the facility. A supervisor instructed Louw to drive her home. During the journey, however, Louw allegedly deviated from the route and drove in the opposite direction.
