Solidarity calls for moratorium on affirmative action appointments due to spending on consultants

Trade union Solidarity today called on the government to impose a moratorium on the implementation of affirmative action in order to prevent the public service from losing expertise. This came after the Auditor-General's performance audit found that state departments had spent billions of rands on consultants (see report - PDF).

The report comes as no surprise, seeing that the government is obsessed with absolute racial representation at the expense of effective service delivery. Dirk Groenewald, spokesperson for Solidarity, said the government's exorbitant spending on consultants is partially the result of unfair affirmative action that leads to the loss of expertise, competence and experience in the public service.

‘The state should dispense with its obsession with race and focus on its obligations as set out in section 195(1)(b) and 1(i) of the Constitution, namely cost-effectiveness and employment practices based on ability, objectivity and fairness. State departments will leave positions vacant for the purpose of affirmative action, or make appointments purely on the basis of race and not on the basis of ability in order to achieve the objectives of absolute racial representation. Consultants are then appointed to do the work.

The Auditor-General's report proposes that state departments review their internal vacancies and capacity regularly and, among other things, evaluate the possible impact the moratorium on the filling of vacancies has on service delivery.'

Groenewald said the Renate Barnard case, in which the Labour Appeal Court ruled that employers may leave positions vacant for the purpose of affirmative action, shows how the idea of absolute racial representation is rated higher than the state's obligations as set out in section 195 of the Constitution.

Solidarity has already lodged court papers with the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein to appeal against this ruling. The Departments of Police and Correctional Services were two of the eight departments who had collectively spent R24,6 billion on consultants in three years. Solidarity has already brought affirmative action lawsuits against both these departments

‘State departments' spending on consultants moreover leads to taxpayers not only having to pay public officials' salaries, but also having to pay up for these officials' incompetence and practices like unfair affirmative action. The poorest members of the South African population are ultimately the ones who are the worst affected by the consequences of poor service delivery and who are disenfranchised.'

Statement issued by Dirk Groenewald, Spokesperson: Solidarity, January 25 2013

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