The Casual Workers Advice Office has strongly criticized the recent ruling by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA), which upheld Dis-Chem's dismissal of an employee unable to meet the physical demands of her role due to cancer treatment. The decision, favoring the Saltzman family-led company, has drawn sharp condemnation.
Refilwe Matinketsa, who had been employed as a picker at Dis-Chem since March 2019, was dismissed in April 2024 after it was determined that her medical condition prevented her from fulfilling her job requirements.
Matinketsa's battle with cancer left her needing a stoma, a small bag used to collect bodily waste, which meant she could no longer lift heavy items-a key part of her role.
Dis-Chem's handling of employee health issues raises ethical questions"This pharmacy giant, with 319 stores across South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana, and total assets amounting to R10.7 billion ($593 million), has refused to find a permanent light-duty job for a female cancer survivor, even after years of loyal service," the Casual Workers Advice Office stated in a scathing critique.
