Thato Maruapula

Thato joined Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr in June 2017 as a vacation student and was subsequently offered Practical Vocational Training for the year 2020, which he accepted. Thato then joined Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr as a Candidate Attorney in January 2020 and gained experience in our Employment Law, Dispute Resolution, and Pro Bono & Human Rights practice areas. Thato was retained as an Associate in 2022 in our Employment Law Practice. Thato left CDH and rejoined in 2024 as an Associate. He was promoted to Senior Associate in 2026.

• Small- and large-scale retrenchments for both local and multinational companies.
• Assisting clients with disciplinary, poor performance and incapacity hearings.
• Chairing disciplinary, poor performance and incapacity hearings.
• Defending unfair dismissal and unfair labour practice disputes on behalf of employers.
• Assisting clients with workplace investigations into allegations of misconduct, bribery and sexual harassment.
• Urgent applications in the Labour Court.
• Drafting various pleadings in the Labour Court.
• Appearing at the CCMA.
• Acting on behalf of an employer in an inquiry in terms of section 65(1) of the Mine Health and Safety Act 29 of 1996.
• Advising clients on retrenchment proceedings in terms of section 189 of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995.
• Commercial due diligence investigations with a focus on the Target Company's employment law practices
• Reviewing and drafting employment agreements, including employment agreements and/or contracts of Senior Employees;
• Reviewing and drafting mutual separation, non-disclosure, and confidentiality agreements;
• Reviewing and drafting internal policies and procedures.