⚡ Quick answer A CCMA case runs: the employee refers the dispute (30 days for dismissal); you receive the referral and a set-down notice; conciliation — a private settlement meeting — happens first, and most cases settle there; if not, dismissal disputes go to arbitration, often the same day (con-arb), where the employer must prove fairness with documents and witnesses; the commissioner issues a binding award within 14 days. There is no appeal — only narrow Labour Court review. Preparation is the entire game: the discipline file built before the dispute decides most outcomes. The envelope arrives — a CCMA case, with your company named as respondent — and most…