Chantell De Gouveia

Associate

Chantell De Gouveia is an Associate in our Employment Law practice. She is a practising attorney with over 6 years of experience. Chantell is tenacious and diligent with a passion for leadership. Chantell has managed several teams and appeared in numerous matters in various areas of law across the country.

+27 (0)11 562 1343

chantell.degouveia@cdhlegal.comJohannesburg

Chantell De Gouveia

About Chantell

She joined CDH's Employment Law practice as an Associate in 2024.

Areas of expertise

Employment Law Mining & Minerals

Experience

Chantell attends to matters within various tribunals, CCMA, and the Labour Court, representing various corporate clients.
Drafting pleadings for review applications and arbitrations. Drafting of legal opinions related to employment law.

Credentials

Education

Registered with the Legal Practice Council
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) - University of the Witwatersrand (WITS)
Admitted as an Attorney: 2018
Obtained my right of appearance in the High Court of South Africa: 2018

LANGUAGES

English

News

Cash short, excuses shorter: Employer’s right to demand accountability

Cash short, excuses shorter: Employer’s right to demand accountability

Can an employer dismiss employees for gross negligence where cash shortages arise under their watch, even if the employer cannot prove exactly how the shortages occurred? The Labour...

Labour Appeal Court confirms enforceability of restraints following dismissal

Labour Appeal Court confirms enforceability of restraints following dismissal

In our alert titled “ Does the dismissal of an employee affect a restraint of trade? ” dated 7 April 2025, we considered the Labour Court’s decision in Backsports (Pty) Ltd v Motlhanke...

Year‑end bonuses: What employers need to know

Year‑end bonuses: What employers need to know

As the year draws to a close, questions around year-end bonuses arise. In South Africa, the law does not prescribe a general legal obligation on employers to pay a bonus. As always,...

Does a mental health issue excuse workplace performance issues

Does a mental health issue excuse workplace performance issues

Ayesha Karjieker and Chantell De Gouveia, Associates in the Employment Law practice, were recently featured on Hot FM and SAfm, respectively, where they discussed an important question:...

Lessons on dismissal for incapacity due to ill-health

Lessons on dismissal for incapacity due to ill-health

In SACCAWU obo Bologo v JD Group (Pty) Ltd 8 BALR 904 (CCMA) the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) upheld the dismissal of a long-serving salesperson for...

Are polygraph tests still useful in employment disputes?

Are polygraph tests still useful in employment disputes?

In the recent case of Poggenpoel and Another v Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Others (C253/2022) ZALCCT 69 (1 September 2025), the Labour Court dealt with,...

Contempt, targets and the dispute over Employment Equity: Solidarity v Minister of Employment and Labour

Contempt, targets and the dispute over Employment Equity: Solidarity v Minister of Employment and Labour

On 28 June 2023 Solidarity and the erstwhile Minister of Employment and Labour concluded a settlement agreement, mediated by the CCMA, as part of a complaint lodged with the International Labour...

High Court dismisses urgent application challenging Employment Equity targets

High Court dismisses urgent application challenging Employment Equity targets

On 28 August 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed an urgent application by the National Employers’ Association of South Africa (NEASA) and Sakeliga seeking to interdict and suspend...

A mental health condition does not automatically shield an employee against a performance-based dismissal

A mental health condition does not automatically shield an employee against a performance-based dismissal

In this matter, the applicant challenged his dismissal at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, arguing that he was dismissed because of his mental health condition...

Inconsistent application: A roadblock to enforcing restraint agreements

Inconsistent application: A roadblock to enforcing restraint agreements

To enforce a restraint of trade agreement, it must be reasonable. The recent decision of Altron Nexus (Pty) Ltd v Fowler and Another (2024/112022) ZALCJHB 507 (6 December 2024) turned...

All articles by Chantell

Cash short, excuses shorter: Employer’s right to demand accountability

Cash short, excuses shorter: Employer’s right to demand accountability

Can an employer dismiss employees for gross negligence where cash shortages arise under their watch, even if the employer cannot prove exactly how the shortages occurred? The Labour...

Labour Appeal Court confirms enforceability of restraints following dismissal

Labour Appeal Court confirms enforceability of restraints following dismissal

In our alert titled “ Does the dismissal of an employee affect a restraint of trade? ” dated 7 April 2025, we considered the Labour Court’s decision in Backsports (Pty) Ltd v Motlhanke...

Year‑end bonuses: What employers need to know

Year‑end bonuses: What employers need to know

As the year draws to a close, questions around year-end bonuses arise. In South Africa, the law does not prescribe a general legal obligation on employers to pay a bonus. As always,...

Lessons on dismissal for incapacity due to ill-health

Lessons on dismissal for incapacity due to ill-health

In SACCAWU obo Bologo v JD Group (Pty) Ltd 8 BALR 904 (CCMA) the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) upheld the dismissal of a long-serving salesperson for...

Are polygraph tests still useful in employment disputes?

Are polygraph tests still useful in employment disputes?

In the recent case of Poggenpoel and Another v Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Others (C253/2022) ZALCCT 69 (1 September 2025), the Labour Court dealt with,...

Contempt, targets and the dispute over Employment Equity: Solidarity v Minister of Employment and Labour

Contempt, targets and the dispute over Employment Equity: Solidarity v Minister of Employment and Labour

On 28 June 2023 Solidarity and the erstwhile Minister of Employment and Labour concluded a settlement agreement, mediated by the CCMA, as part of a complaint lodged with the International Labour...

High Court dismisses urgent application challenging Employment Equity targets

High Court dismisses urgent application challenging Employment Equity targets

On 28 August 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed an urgent application by the National Employers’ Association of South Africa (NEASA) and Sakeliga seeking to interdict and suspend...

A mental health condition does not automatically shield an employee against a performance-based dismissal

A mental health condition does not automatically shield an employee against a performance-based dismissal

In this matter, the applicant challenged his dismissal at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, arguing that he was dismissed because of his mental health condition...

Inconsistent application: A roadblock to enforcing restraint agreements

Inconsistent application: A roadblock to enforcing restraint agreements

To enforce a restraint of trade agreement, it must be reasonable. The recent decision of Altron Nexus (Pty) Ltd v Fowler and Another (2024/112022) ZALCJHB 507 (6 December 2024) turned...

All articles by Chantell

Does a mental health issue excuse workplace performance issues

Does a mental health issue excuse workplace performance issues

Ayesha Karjieker and Chantell De Gouveia, Associates in the Employment Law practice, were recently featured on Hot FM and SAfm, respectively, where they discussed an important question:...

All podcasts by Chantell

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