Sipho Dlamini’s practice at the Bar draws on two decades as an attorney and thirty years of experience in South African labour relations, spanning collective bargaining, institutional labour relations and the adjudication and resolution of workplace disputes.
A member of Pitje Group of Advocates in Sandton, Sipho practises principally in labour law and dispute resolution. His areas of practice include collective bargaining, workplace governance, administrative and regulatory law, and constitutional and human rights matters.
His experience encompasses the development of labour policy, the negotiation and implementation of collective agreements, and the determination of disputes. As Legal Education Officer at the National Union of Mineworkers, he contributed to labour legislation and policy development during the negotiations that shaped the Labour Relations Act. He subsequently headed labour relations in the North West and Mpumalanga provincial governments over a period of nine years, serving as lead negotiator in bargaining council proceedings. He was a founding member and lead representative of the Health and Welfare Sector Bargaining Council.
At the Development Bank of Southern Africa, he managed labour relations within the structures of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. He also completed commissioner training through the CCMA.
Since 2007, Sipho has served as a commissioner and panellist in bargaining councils and other dispute resolution forums, including the CCMA, the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council and the Transnet Bargaining Council. His experience extends to dispute resolution panels for the Gautrain, Medupi and Kusile projects. He is also a court-annexed mediator and serves as a mediator and adjudicator for the Community Schemes Ombud Service. He holds a certificate of mediation competence and has completed a programme offered by the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) and City, University of London.
He has furthermore chaired disciplinary inquiries and grievance proceedings for government departments, state-owned entities and private-sector employers, including Armscor, Eskom, Transnet and Nedbank. He has also represented employees and employers in such proceedings.
This combination of representative, negotiating and adjudicative experience informs his approach to counsel’s work: careful attention to the factual record, procedural fairness and the legal issues on which a dispute turns.
Labour Law· Alternative Dispute Resolution· Collective Bargaining and Negotiation· Employment and Workplace Governance· Administrative and Regulatory Law· Constitutional and Human Rights Law· Contractual Disputes and Civil Litigation
- 01Labour Law
Advice and representation in dismissal, unfair labour practice and collective disputes; reviews of arbitration awards and appeals.
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Labour law is the principal focus of Sipho’s practice. He advises and represents employees, trade unions and employers in matters before the CCMA, bargaining councils and the Labour Court. His work includes dismissal and unfair labour practice disputes, reviews of arbitration awards, retrenchment consultations and collective disputes. He brings to these matters thirty years of experience in labour relations, including collective bargaining, representation and adjudication.
- 02Alternative Dispute Resolution
Conciliation, mediation, arbitration and adjudication, with experience as both a representative and an independent dispute resolver.
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Sipho has served as a commissioner and panellist in bargaining councils and other dispute resolution forums since 2007. He is a court-annexed mediator and serves as a mediator and adjudicator for the Community Schemes Ombud Service. This experience informs his preparation and representation of parties in alternative dispute resolution proceedings, as well as his advice on the appropriate forum and prospects for a negotiated resolution.
- 03Collective Bargaining and Negotiation
Advice and representation in collective bargaining, wage negotiations and disputes concerning collective agreements.
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Sipho advises on bargaining strategy, the negotiation of collective agreements, and their interpretation, application and enforcement. His experience includes serving as lead negotiator for provincial government in bargaining council structures and as a founding member and lead representative of the Health and Welfare Sector Bargaining Council. He brings an understanding of both the bargaining process and the institutional framework within which parties must reach and implement agreement.
- 04Employment and Workplace Governance
Disciplinary inquiries, grievance procedures, workplace policies and codes of conduct.
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Sipho chairs disciplinary inquiries and grievance proceedings and represents employees and employers in these matters. His experience spans government departments, state-owned entities, banking and mining. He also advises on workplace policies, codes of conduct and disciplinary procedures, with particular attention to substantive and procedural fairness.
- 05Administrative and Regulatory Law
Advice and representation concerning the exercise of public power and the review of administrative and regulatory decisions.
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Sipho’s practice includes administrative and regulatory matters, particularly where public decision-making intersects with employment and institutional governance. His experience in provincial government and development finance informs his understanding of the statutory and institutional frameworks within which public bodies exercise their powers.
- 06Constitutional and Human Rights Law
Advice and representation on fundamental rights, socio-economic rights and constitutional issues arising in employment and administrative disputes.
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Sipho’s practice includes constitutional and human rights matters, with particular emphasis on their application in employment and public administration. His approach draws on his contribution to labour legislation and policy development during South Africa’s democratic transition, his community legal education work and his subsequent experience in labour relations and dispute resolution.
- 07Contractual Disputes and Civil Litigation
Advice and representation in contractual and civil disputes arising from employment relationships and institutional arrangements.
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Sipho advises and represents parties in disputes concerning contracts of employment, service agreements and institutional arrangements, including proceedings in the High Court and arbitration. His work encompasses the interpretation and enforcement of contractual obligations and the remedies available for breach.
Contributed to labour legislation and policy development; engaged with government on legislative matters during the drafting of the Labour Relations Act.
Led labour relations for provincial departments; lead negotiator in formal bargaining council structures; managed public sector labour disputes.
Represented the North West Department of Health at provincial and national level; represented the Department of Health and Developmental Social Welfare in the North West Provincial Chamber.
For the North West Department of Health and, later, the Mpumalanga Department of Local Government and Traffic.
Managed labour relations within the structures of the New Partnership for Africa's Development; completed commissioner training through the CCMA.
Dispute resolution services within institutional environments; advice on labour disputes, regulatory compliance and governance.
- Commissioner, Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, Johannesburg
- Panellist, Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council
- Panellist, Transnet Bargaining Council
- Panellist, South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council
- Dispute resolution panels, Gautrain, Medupi and Kusile projects
- Court-annexed mediator, panel of the Department of Justice
- Mediator and adjudicator, Community Schemes Ombud Service
Admissions
- Advocate of the High Court of South Africa
Qualifications
- BA (Law), University of Natal, Durban
- Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Relations, University of Natal, Durban
- LLB, North-West University, Potchefstroom
Memberships
- Pitje Group of Advocates, Sandton
- Black Lawyers Association
- Industrial Relations Association of Southern Africa, former executive member
- South African Society for Labour Law, former executive member
- Society of Part-Time Commissioners, former leadership
Languages
English | Afrikaans | isiZulu | isiXhosa | Setswana | Sepedi | Sesotho | isiNdebele | siSwati | Tshivenda
- Chambers
- Pitje Chambers, 5 Wessels Road, Rivonia, Sandton
- Chambers tel
- +27 10 055 3457
- Mobile
- +27 79 456 3369
- sipho@adv-dlamini.co.za
Briefs are accepted through instructing attorneys.