No. In South Africa, the concept of at-will employment is not recognised.
This means that employers cannot terminate employees without providing due notice and a valid reason, except during the probationary period.
Proper procedures and legal requirements must be followed when terminating an employee’s contract.
During the probationary period, employers have more flexibility and can terminate employees for any reason that is not protected by anti-discrimination laws.
However, once the probationary period ends, employers can only terminate employees for reasons such as misconduct, poor performance, or operational requirements specific to the employer.