Hlophe And 31 Others v Swaziland Television Authority [2003] SZIC 30 (22 October 2003)


IN THE INDUSTRIAL COURT OF SWAZILAND


HELD AT MBABANE CASE NO. 155/2000 (A)


In the matter between:


SWAZILAND TELEVISION AUTHORITY APPLICANT


and


LWAZI HLOPHE & 31 OTHERS RESPONDENTS


In Re:


LWAZI HLOPHE & 31 OTHERS APPLICANTS


and


SWAZILAND TELEVISION AUTHORITY RESPONDENT


CORAM:


NDERINDUMA: PRESIDENT


JOSIAH YENDE: MEMBER


NICHOLAS MANANA: MEMBER


FOR APPLICANT: S.SHONGWE


FOR RESPONDENT: M.MKHWANAZI


RULING ON STAY OF EXECUTION


24/04/02


The Applicant has demonstrated that it has an arguable appeal before the Industrial Court of Appeal on some issues of law even though a lot of grounds raised were factual and thus not appealable.


The decretal amount awarded to the Applicants is large and it is in the interest of justice that payment is stayed pending the determination of the appeal. However, the stay is granted only on condition that the total sum is


2


deposited in an interest bearing trust account jointly held by counsel for the parties.


As concerns the issue of re-engagement, Section 15 (5) of the 1996 Industrial Relations Act, provided a procedure to be followed where the court has re-instated or re-engaged an employee in terms of Section 15 (2) (a) and (b).


The factual considerations that go into the determination of an award of reinstatement or re-engagement are set out under Section 15 (3) and these are issues of fact that cannot constitute grounds of appeal to the Industrial Court of Appeal


The Applicant has failed to follow the procedure aforesaid and has also not demonstrated that it would suffer irreparable harm if it were to re-engage the Applicants pending appeal.


The court in the circumstances of the case, declines to grant a stay in respect of the court's order for re-engagement


The Members Agree.


NDERI NDUMA


JUDGE PRESIDENT- INDUSTRIAL COURT

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