Most employment contracts are indefinite contracts.

This means that when an employee starts working for the employer, no-one knows when the contract will end but it is expected that the employment will continue until the employee reaches the retirement age of the company.

An indefinite contract can only be ended in the following ways:

• By dismissal or termination of the contract of employment as a result of misconduct of the employee, or the incapacity of the employee or on account of retrenchment
• When the employee reaches the normal retirement age laid down by the company or the industry
• By the death of the employee.