Reasonable attempt is a letter/s or telegram and contact with family.

Thereafter hearing and disciplinary procedures and enquiry into why the employee did not pitch and what the problems were.

You are supposed to process this only if employee is present? Assume back and looking for job. Apparently its common and you are supposed to continue paying salary until you dismiss through hearing. It usual that they come back when bucks run out as no salary in bank and then the fun starts.

Key is also having the letter of appointment setting out end of contract details.

So I had the letter of appointment and a disciplinary hearing (employee not there) and a final scenario that said emloyee assumed to not be coming back assumed resignation (this is where I was told it is not so) . This was all considered ok - We just had not tried to contact. So I got "nice try" award and some sympathy.

You are placed in a position that asks - Will you take them back or do you want to pay them out notice pay etc. Niether puts you on a road to a full unfair dismissal scenario.

Fortunately then, the person lied as to their reasons for not pitching back at work and blamed the ccma for giving bum advise. End result was I had to pay some notice period of a few days R200.