Court ruling prevents retired coffin manager from assisting rival firm.
The Labour Court in Johannesburg has barred a former depot and sales manager from working with a competing coffin and casket business after finding that he breached a restraint of trade agreement by helping establish a rival company that targeted his former employer's customers.
Acting Judge Sean Snyman ruled in favour of GNG Marketing and Distribution CC, finding that former employee Frederik Pieter Jeremia De Beer had infringed the company's protectable business interests by becoming involved with DB Caskets and Domes (Pty) Ltd, a business started by his sons shortly before his retirement.
The dispute arose after De Beer retired at the end of February 2026 following nearly 18 years with the company, where he managed its Polokwane depot. During his employment he had signed a restraint of trade agreement preventing him from competing with the business, soliciting its customers or disclosing confidential information for two years after leaving the company.
GNG Marketing approached the Labour Court on an urgent basis, alleging that De Beer had begun helping establish a competing casket business, was using his extensive customer relationships developed over almost two decades, and had access to confidential business information that could benefit the new enterprise.
