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The Department of Employment and Labour has published two significant Government Notices, announcing both the expansion of essential services and the launch of new investigations into the designation of critical public sector services. These developments, issued by the Essential Services Committee (ESC), are set to shape the landscape of labour relations and public service continuity across South Africa.

Expanded Essential Services Designation (GN 3334 of 2025)

Effective 27 June 2025, the ESC has broadened the scope of services officially recognised as essential under the Labour Relations Act, 1995. The most notable changes include Department of Defence.

A comprehensive list of civilian personnel services supporting the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) are now designated as essential. These include:

• The Secretariat for Defence
• Intelligence and Financial Management Divisions
• Parachute seamstresses and packing services (South African Army)
• Military intelligence, logistics, technical, marine, and hydrographic services (South African Navy)
• South African Military Health Service
• Cryptographic and maintenance services within SANDF

Additional Newly Designated Essential Services

• Primary healthcare services in tertiary institutions
• Lifeguarding services protecting beach bathers from shark attacks
• Port services: marine navigation, pilotage, towage, berthing, and cargo handling (limited to hazardous goods such as explosives, flammable substances, and pharmaceuticals)
• Security, firefighting, and emergency services at ports
• State Information Technology Agency (SITA) services: hosting, data centres, wide area network, end-user computing, and security
• Border Management Authority: law enforcement, agricultural, environmental, and immigration functions
• Bulk material services supporting power generation (excluding certain administrative functions)

These designations ensure uninterrupted operation of critical infrastructure and public safety services, reinforcing the country’s resilience in times of industrial action or emergencies.

New Investigations into Essential Services (GN 3335 of 2025)

Simultaneously, the ESC has launched a series of investigations to determine whether additional services should be designated as essential, or if existing designations require modification or cancellation.

Services Under Investigation

• Regulation and control of medicines and medical devices: Including clinical trials and in vitro diagnostics, primarily by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).
• Local government services: Traffic, health, security, water and sanitation, and waste collection services.
• Municipal health and cemetery services: With a focus on whether clinics and cemeteries should remain under the essential services designation due to changes in municipal structures.
• Tailing dam maintenance: Specifically, the roles of mud guards and team leaders, with a shift towards identifying the essential nature of the services rather than job titles.

Public Participation and Hearings

The ESC has scheduled public hearings in Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Witbank, Durban, and Cape Town throughout August 2025. Stakeholders and interested parties are encouraged to submit written representations by 1 August 2025 and may request to make oral submissions either in person or virtually.

An information session will be held on 23 July 2025 at the CCMA National Office in Johannesburg and online. Interested parties should confirm attendance by 18 July 2025.

Contact for Submissions & Enquiries:

Zamangwevu Moshani

Email: ZamangwevuM@ccma.org.za

Fax: 086 660 6132

These notices reflect the Essential Services Committee’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding the uninterrupted delivery of vital public services, adapting to evolving needs, and ensuring robust public participation in the process. The expanded designations and new investigations underscore the importance of essential services in maintaining national security, health, and public welfare across South Africa.

View the official government communication below: