A former Standard Bank teller, Nomfundo Khumalo, has lost her appeal at the Labour Court in Johannesburg following her dismissal for misconduct involving the misappropriation of 50c. Khumalo, employed as a teller since November 2017, was sacked after a surprise cash check revealed discrepancies in her till.

On December 20, 2021, the day after returning from a two-week leave, Khumalo underwent a routine till inspection. The check showed she had R31 in R1 coins, despite recording only R11, with an additional unaccounted R20 in her till tray. CCTV footage further revealed Khumalo placing a 50c coin in her pocket while attempting to balance her till, an action deemed manipulative by her employer.

Suspended and charged with misconduct, failure to follow procedure, and dishonesty, Khumalo faced a disciplinary hearing at Standard Bank in March 2022. Although acquitted of one charge, she was found guilty of misconduct and misappropriation, leading to her dismissal.

Khumalo challenged the decision at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), claiming the discrepancies resulted from seizures she suffered the previous day, which impaired her performance. She argued she had mistakenly omitted a tray of R20 in R1 coins and denied taking the 50c. However, Commissioner Thandiwe Tshayan upheld the dismissal, citing compelling CCTV evidence.

In her Labour Court appeal, Khumalo argued her dismissal was unfair, noting her clean record for over a year and her health issues, including hospitalisation and medical advice to avoid stressful duties. Acting Judge Ndivhuho Tshisevhe rejected her appeal, stating the CCMA’s findings, based on the CCTV evidence, were sound and did not warrant interference.

Khumalo’s application was dismissed, affirming the CCMA’s ruling.