30 January 2026
The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) welcomes the decision of the Labour Court in Johannesburg ordering the Motus Group not to retrench any of the 273 members of FEDUSA’s affiliate, the Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA), and to suspend consultations on possible alternatives to retrenchment until 3 February 2026. On that date, two urgent applications brought by MISA will be heard
by the Labour Court.
This decision follows MISA’s filing of a second urgent application in the Labour Court in Johannesburg. The application called on the Motus Group to halt the retrenchment process, prevent any further acts of retaliation, and ensure full compliance with the consultation requirements set out in section 189 of the Labour Relations Act.
During proceedings, the Court heard that Motus Group had insufficient time to prepare a response to MISA’s second urgent application, which had been served on the company the previous day.
Judge Reynaud Daniels postponed the matter to allow Motus Group’s legal representative to obtain instructions from the company and asked whether the Motus Group was willing to halt retrenchments and stop engaging MISA members on retrenchment issues, stating that this would not cause any prejudice to the Motus Group.
Judge Reynaud Daniels further ordered that this application be heard together with MISA’s first urgent interdict application. In that application, MISA seeks to prevent the Motus Group from unilaterally changing the terms and conditions of employment of the 273 MISA members affected by a section 189 restructuring process in terms of the Labour Relations Act. Both applications will be heard on 3 February
2026.
END.