­South Africa's MTN has been ordered to reinstate nine former employees who were sacked in late 2010, according to a statement from the Communication Workers' Union (CWU).

Citing an order from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration, the union added that MTN had also been ordered to pay each of the workers compensation equivalent to a years wages.

The company had claimed that the nine employees had lied about their membership of the union, and dismissed them. However the union argued that they were members, and had documents proving membership at the time of the dispute.

The company was also accused of blacklisting the employees making it impossible to find work in the sector.

Seven of the employees are expected to return to work with the company at the end of the month after two of the nine said that they were seeking employment elsewhere.