Johannesburg – The Registrar of Labour Relations’ efforts to deregister the Public Service Association (PSA) had been put on hold.
The Registrar threatened to deregister the PSA because of alleged failures to comply with the Labour Relations Act, including governance, financial reporting, record‑keeping, and constitutional compliance.
Reacting to the threat, the PSA, represented by LM Malan, SC, and R Bosman, instructed by Bwman Gilfillan Inc, approached the Labour Court on an urgent basis to halt the intended deregistration.
On Monday, 24 August 2026, the Labour Court ruled in favour of the PSA, which sought an urgent interdict to stop the Registrar from deregistering the union, which represents more than 245 000 members.
Judge B Whitcher ruled that the Registrar’s Notice of intention to “Cancel the Registration” of the PSA as a trade union, published in the Government Gazette under R7626 on 29 June, is suspended.
The registrar, represented by MM Mojapelo SC, and EB Ndebele, instructed by the State Attorney, has been interdicted and restrained from acting in terms of and/or enforcing the Notice, ruled the judge.
The PSA said it was vindicated by the judgement.
“The judgement is important as it protects the PSA and the Union’s more than 250 000 members and made serious findings concerning the Registrar’s conduct,” the PSA said.
“The Court accepted evidence that the PSA’s leadership is democratically elected through the Union’s branches and Congress, with the voting process overseen by an independent service provider.
“The Court found that this process accords with the democratic process contemplated by the Labour Relations Act (LRA) and that the Registrar’s primary assumption regarding PSA’s governance was false.
“The judgement also confirms that the PSA’s finances are subjected to rigorous scrutiny.”
See full judgement below:
