SAPS sacrifices service delivery for gender quotas, Solidarity approaches Labour Court
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has turned its back on service delivery by pursing employment equity targets, leading to several vacant posts, the trade union Solidarity said today. Directors and regional commissioners of the SAPS have indicated that approximately 70 posts are vacant as a result of a strict gender quota that the SAPS is enforcing at present. Solidarity is supporting two members who do not qualify for promotion in the SAPS owing to gender quotas.
The National Commissioner of the SAPS turned town recommendations based on merit for posts and indicated that the SAPS must reach a quota of at least 45% female employees.
"Posts are either filled by candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements, or a left vacant. Service delivery and the minimum requirements of a post must be taken into account when employment equity is applied," according to Dirk Groenewald, head of Solidarity's Labour Court Division.
Solidarity represents a member who has been an SAPS employee since 1988 and who is currently a Lieutenant Colonel. He applied for a managerial post on the rank of Colonel. The member concerned was informed later that year that the post had not been filled owing to a lack of representation of women. The SAPS indicated, however, that he had been the most suitable candidate for the post.
Solidarity also represents a member who has been employed in the SAPS since 1982 and who has 12 year's experience for a post on the rank of Colonel for which he has applied twice. On both occasions he was identified as the best candidate for the posts, but other candidates, who did not meet the minimum requirements, were appointed.
"The SAPS's affirmative action policy and gender targets encroach on employees' constitutional responsibility to render services efficiently and to combat crime," explained Groenewald.
Solidarity has had eight other cases pending against the SAPS since October last year. These cases relate to unfair discrimination, where appointments and promotions were based strictly on race and did not serve the bests interests of the broad community. In the past financial year, whites were appointed in only 0,06% of vacancies in four divisions in the SAPS.
"Affirmative action has already taken a toll on service delivery and the SAPS has now shifted its focus to the aggressive implementation of gender quotas."
Solidarity has already referred the two cases to the Labour Court. The SAPS opposed the cases and the trade union is awaiting the dates of the pre-trial conferences.
Statement issued by Dirk Groenewald, Head: Solidarity Labour Court Division, October 13 2010
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
