How many warnings before dismissal in South Africa?

There is no fixed number. The law asks whether discipline was progressive and the sanction fair for the offence.

South African law does not set a number of warnings. The Code of Good Practice: Dismissal (GN 3470, which replaced Schedule 8) asks employers to use progressive discipline: counselling, then a verbal warning, a written warning and a final written warning for repeat minor misconduct.

Serious misconduct, such as theft, assault or gross dishonesty, can justify dismissal for a first offence, but only after a fair hearing.

Warnings usually stay valid for a set time stated in the disciplinary code, often 6 months for written warnings and 12 months for final written warnings. An expired warning should not be relied on.

Source: LRA s188; Code of Good Practice: Dismissal (GN 3470, Gazette 53294)