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Johannesburg - The state-owned arms subsidiary Denel excluded whites from its learnerships and training programmes, trade union Solidarity said on Thursday.
Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans said the Denel entity RheinMetal Denel Munitions (RDM) advertised learnership positions for chemical operators and apprenticeships for artisanships in instrumentation, fitters, fitter and turners, draughtsmen and electricians.
The positions were available in the company's training programme in Wellington, Boksburg and Boskop.
"In terms of two notices from RDM regarding the company's artisan programme, only black, Indian and coloured students may apply to be included in the programme as artisans," said Kleynhans.
According to the advertisements, in order to achieve points on learnerships for Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment, candidates should have matric with maths or science, be "Black ACI (African, Coloureds, Indian)" and preferably of rural origin.
Women were encouraged to apply.
Playing the race card
The advertisements were distributed internally among staff members, but were open to the public.
Kleynhans said the company's approach to the training programme was unfairly based on race, because white students were completely excluded from the programme.
"RDM's human resources department has indicated that six applications had been received for a position, but that no appointment could be made because all the applicants were white."
Kleynhans said Solidarity raised the matter with the company at a Labour Forum meeting but RDM refused to amend the notice to include white students, and refused to discuss the matter further.
"By now also playing this race card in its training programmes, RDM is completely excluding white students from the programme," he said.
"If the company decided to set certain targets for racial representation in its training programmes, it would be one thing, but completely excluding white students from the programme portrays a racist message because the selection is based simply on race."
Comment from RDM could not immediately be obtained.
- Sapa
