Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - Solidarity will again challenge government's affirmative action practices when it questions in court on Thursday why a white candidate was not given a job in the prisons department, the union said on Tuesday.
"The case deals with correctional services' refusal to promote a white male and member of Solidarity, Mr Herman Denysschen, despite the fact that he was the best candidate," the union said.
The union would ask the court to rule on the balance between affirmative action and an efficient public service, after it was decided rather to leave the position vacant than appoint him.
The case, in the Labour Court, cites Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour who was minister at the time. A judgment would affect current minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Solidarity said.
The case was the second in a series of 10, which Solidarity began with the case of Captain Renate Barnard of the South African Police Service.
The police were currently appealing the Labour Court's finding that she be promoted.
Solidarity explained that Denysschen had applied for a promotion in the logistics department of correctional services.
His application was turned down on the grounds of affirmative action even though an interview panel, where 75% of those conducting the interview were black, recommended him for the position, said Solidarity.
The advertisement stated that anyone could apply for the post and the human resources department said appointments in positions in logistics had to be allowed from non-designate groups due to a scarcity of skills and the number of vacant posts.
"The way in which correctional services handles affirmative action is no longer a policy, but an ideology that is pursued at the expense of efficiency. In this specific case, Denysschen possessed a scarce skill that was not readily available, but the department had an obsessive racial view of affirmative action," said Dirk Hermann, deputy general secretary of Solidarity.
The case was set down to begin at 10am.- Sapa
