Hello, Khalil. What is the date of hire for your employee friend? Are you flexible and can you wait a few days in Joburg? Do you live near there or elsewhere?
Here's what I can tell you:
Embargo dates are Jul7, Nov 27, Dec 1,20, 21, 28, 29. Jan 1,2. More to follow for 2014.
JNB/ATL is payload optimized, which means it can go out with empty seats and buddy pass riders will be first to be denied boarding. The station mgr is a stickler for on-time so sometimes he cuts off all nonrevs so he won't have to wait for paperwork on them. You have to wait at the desk to get boarding pass, then run to PP control and security with everyone else to get on.
You are only allowed one checked bag and standard carry-on allowance. I'd try to do carry-on only.
I wouldn't travel on dates around embargoes--there will be extra buddies.
What are your target dates for travel?