PSA slapped with 60-day ultimatum as labour registrar moves to deregister union

The Public Servants Association (PSA), which claims to represent hundreds of thousands of public servants across South Africa, is now under direct threat of deregistration after the Registrar of Labour Relations launched proceedings to strip the union of its registration, citing alleged failures to meet basic statutory reporting and governance obligations.

Registrar of Labour Relations Lehlohonolo Molefe has published a notice in the Government Gazette making clear his intention to deregister the union. The notice accuses the PSA of failing to comply with several provisions of the Labour Relations Act, including requirements on financial reporting, record keeping and the submission of membership information.

According to the Registrar, the union has allegedly failed to maintain even the most basic compliance with sections governing audited financial statements, membership records and annual reporting obligations. The notice also states that the organisation is not operating in line with a constitution that complies with the requirements of the Labour Relations Act.

The PSA has been given 60 days to explain why its registration should not be cancelled before the Registrar makes a final decision.

Responding to the move, PSA General Manager Reuben Maleka flatly rejected the allegations and said the union has been locked in a drawn-out dispute with the Registrar’s office since 2021. He insisted the organisation has repeatedly tried to resolve the issues raised and claimed that amendments to its constitution had already been submitted after a Labour Appeal Court judgment, only to be rejected.

The PSA warned that deregistration would have serious consequences for public servants, arguing that the union remains one of the country’s largest representatives of government employees and plays a central role in collective bargaining within the public service.

Labour law observers have warned that if the Registrar pushes ahead with deregistration, the matter will almost certainly end up in court, triggering a long and messy legal battle and leaving the union’s governance and operations in limbo.

The PSA represents approximately 245,000 public servants and is a major affiliate of the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa). It also takes part in negotiations within the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council, where organised labour bargains with government over wages and conditions of service.

For now, the deregistration process remains at the notice stage, with the Registrar expected to consider any representations submitted before deciding whether to go ahead and cancel the union’s registration.