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Itayi Gwaunza is a Senior Executive/Partner at ENSafrica in the employment department.

He specialises in large employment law matters and advises clients on employment law issues, including personal appearances for trials, applications and arbitrations at the Labour Court, Labour Appeal Court, the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Bargaining Councils.

He advises Boards of Directors, Boards of Trustees, Board Committees, Executive Committees and Management Committees on high-level employment law matters, including dispute resolution and litigation involving Executives and Directors, restructurings and organizational redesigns. He has initiated and chaired several disciplinary proceedings, performance hearings and grievance proceedings for clients. Itayi advises clients on collective labour law issues, including wage negotiations, mutual interest disputes, strikes and strike management, and he has been involved in dialogue and negotiations with trade unions. He has appeared several times in the Labour Court to interdict strikes and/or to interdict strike-related violence. He has provided advice regarding all aspects of employment law and legislation, including the Labour Relations Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the Employment Equity Act, the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, the Occupation Health and Safety Act etc. Itayi has been an Acting Judge in the Labour Court and has written several Judgments.

Itayi advises clients on the employment law aspects in commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, share sales and disposals, business disposals, re-organizations, business rescue processes and proceedings and restructurings.  He has been involved in large commercial transactions and due diligences, locally and globally with international clients and law firms.

Itayi has advised clients in relation to matters before the Press Council in relation to complaints against media houses.

Itayi has advised clients on Employment Law in several African countries outside South Africa, including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo etc.  

He has written articles on issues such as labour brokers, employment equity, the employment of foreigners, third party service providers, independent contractors, sexual harassment and social security.

Itayi has drafted contracts that are relevant to employment law and has drafted policies, procedures, rules, regulations, codes of conduct etc. Itayi has presented at seminars and conducted training on various topics, including managing discipline, performance, ill-health, retrenchments, sexual harassment, collective labour law, employment equity etc. 

Itayi is recognised as a leading/recommended lawyer by: 

• Best Lawyers® 2021, 2020 – Labour and Employment Law (South Africa)