BIOGRAPHY OF
LEON PIETER GROBLER
(28 September 1954 – 26 December 2015)
Leon Pieter Grobler was born in Johannesburg. He matriculated (Grade 12) and thereafter joined the Department of Justice. At the Department of Justice he started at entry level - learning all the foundation knowledge required for his planned career in Law. Part of his skills was to master Human Resources Management, where he gained valuable insight into this specialised field and which also triggered his interest in Labour Relations and Labour Law. He completed his legal degree and was first appointed as State Prosecutor and later as the youngest Magistrate for the Northern KwaZulu-Natal area.
Leon’s main interest, Labour Relations and Labour Law, eventually lead to his appointment as National Manager (Labour Relations) at IMATU, a union organising in the local government sector. IMATU was, at that stage, still a part of FEDSAL/FEDUSALabour Federation structure, where his unique skills were identified. He was tasked to represent FEDUSA nationally at NEDLAC and internationally (as part of the 170 million members strong ITUC) at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Leon joined UASA – The Unionin 2002 as Chief Operations Officer (COO) and continued with his work at FEDUSA and NEDLAC. Apart from his Legal qualifications, he was also qualified in Human Resources as well as an Arbitrator for IMSA, as Master Negotiator, as well as a variety of Senior Managerial training courses, at SBL. There is also a “Leon Grobler Achievement Trophy” for FEDUSA’s CCMA Commissioner Training candidates.
Leon served as an EXCO member at the Services Seta as well as the Chairman of the Governing and Strategy Committee, a Trustee at Sentinel Retirement Fund, as well as being a member of various committees. He was a Board member of the Diamond Regulator, a MANCO and NEC member of FEDUSA as well as FEDUSA’s Chief Negotiator at the Labour Market Chamber and also serving as a Non-Executive Director at the CCMA. His first and foremost responsibility, however, was to serve the UASA members,which he did with distinction as COO. He was also part of the UASA MANCO, REMCO and EXCO.
Leon was indeed a well-qualified person with a good understanding of people management and a person with unique skills that will be deeply missed by all his colleagues and friends. Leon’s lasting legacy will actually be that he will be leaving an endearing presence in the South African Labour Law and labour constituency behind, that many generations, still to come, will benefit from.