Church, trade union and community leaders call on state to cease its policy of unfair affirmative action

On Thursday afternoon various church (see below), trade union and community leaders voiced strong criticism of an approach to affirmative action that is aimed at ensuring that the national racial demographics are reflected across South Africa, regardless of province or region. More than 15 church, trade union and community organisations pledged their support for Solidarity's affirmative action case against the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) during a press conference held at the Cape Town Labour Court.

Johhny Jansen, founder member and former president of Popcru and deputy director in the DCS, voiced the organisations' grievances on their behalf. Jansen said the state's approach to affirmative action disrespects South Africa's rich cultural diversity, but wants a South Africa that looks the same everywhere. "This policy results in absolute ceilings being applied to minorities should they, according to the national racial demography, be overrepresented anywhere.

The Western Cape serves as a good example of the consequences of this irrational approach to affirmative action. Nationally, coloured South Africans constitute about 10% of the racial demography, but in the Western Cape they represent approximately 53% of the demographic composition. Should national racial demographics be applied to the Western Cape, it would mean there are approximately one million coloured South Africans too many in the Western Cape. According to this approach, they will not have rights where they live, but will have to relocate to other provinces in order to have rights. By implication, a massive social engineering programme and forced relocations would be required to achieve the state's affirmative action objectives."

According to Jansen affirmative action is developing into a purely mathematical approach and has everything to do with race, but little to do with corrective action. "The person is taken out of affirmative action and replaced with statistical calculations. An approach whereby people are excluded from promotion purely on the grounds of their race, affects their right to dignity and equality.

In this way, minorities are alienated from the political system. We speak out against the Department of Correctional Services' approach to affirmative action which gives tangible expression to this policy in practice. We express solidarity with the employees of the Department of Correctional Services who had the courage to pursue the matter.

They are not doing it for themselves, but for the sake of the principles of equity, fairness and equality, which are the underlying values of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. They deserve the support of all South Africans, regardless of race."

Jansen wished the DCS employees everything of the best in their selfless sacrifice to defend the tenets of the Constitution in court. "Their success in court will change the face of affirmative action in the public service forever and will prevent these racial practices from spilling over into the private sector. We want to express our disappointment at the fact that it is necessary to take the government to court to stop these affirmative action practices. We demand that the government and the Department of Correctional Services stop these unfair practices."

Issued by Solidarity, May 2 2013

DCS's affirmative action court case and the implementation of affirmative action in the Western Cape

The Deputies for Government Affairs of the Reformed Churches note with concern the manner in which affirmative action is implemented in the Western Cape, in particular by the Department of Correctional Services.

The deputies are also concerned about the fact that the national demography is applied as a quota in the Western Cape.

As a result, the right to dignity, equality and justice of the coloured community, in particular, is being denied.

In view of these affirmative action practices, the deputies wish to address certain points:

Peace

The deputies are extremely concerned about the levels of alienation, frustration and even anger among the coloured community in the Western Cape.

No system should provoke such feelings.

The deputies are aware of the tension between race groups in the Western Cape.

This tension surfaced during the Department of Correctional Services' court case.

Peace among people is a command of Scripture, and should be pursued by all. The way in which affirmative action is implemented emphasises the differences between people.

The ultimate objective of affirmative action should indeed be to bring about peace and harmony, not to cause tension and friction.

The deputies call upon churches in the Western Cape to play an active role in facilitating a process to restore peace and tolerance between communities in the Western Cape.

Equality

From a Christian ethical point of view, equality of people is an important Biblical principle that should be pursued in any society.

If the pursuit of equality deprives others of their equality, then such pursuit cannot be justified.

Justice

As is the case with equality, the pursuit of justice, too, is an important principle. The righteousness that God gives must lead to a life of righteousness among people.

To deprive people of opportunity simply because of the colour of their skin cannot be regarded as justice.

Love

The commandment of love is central to the quest for justice and fairness. 

Christian love that flows from the love of Jesus seeks the interest of the neighbour.

For this reason, Christian love does not only have a spiritual dimension, but must find concrete expression in the mutual relations between people. 

Churches have a responsibility to see to it that the community places love in the centre, also when it comes to the implementation of affirmative action.

Calling

In the Christian work ethic career is regarded as the fulfilment of calling. God gives talents and gifts to enable people to work.

No system may deprive a person of his/her right to pursue his/her calling.

Therefore, absolute exclusion based on race cannot be justified.

In view of the above, the deputies are appealing to the Department of Correctional Services and to government to review their affirmative action practices.

Churches are also called upon to become more involved in ensuring that the command of Scripture is obeyed and that true love, equality and justice prevail, and we appeal to churches to help facilitate processes to ensure peace and harmony between communities.

Statement issued by Rodney van Wyk, on behalf of the deputies, May 2 2013

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