70 police posts not filled because of affirmative action - Solidarity
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has not filled around 70 posts because of affirmative action. These facts have emerged from police minutes that will be used as evidence in a new affirmative action lawsuit between Solidarity and the SAPS. The case will be heard today, 8 November, in the Labour Court in Braamfontein.
Dirk Groenewald, Head of Solidarity's Labour Court Division, says the union is acting on behalf of Lieutenant Colonel Bernard van der Westhuizen, who was refused promotion on the grounds of gender. ‘He was refused promotion because of the implementation of a policy in terms of which 50% of police employees at each job level must be male, and 50% must be female. The SAPS's affirmative action plan is centred on an absurd and rigid numbers-based approach. With this case, we want to demonstrate the full ramifications of the recent Labour Appeal Court ruling in the Renate Barnard case, in terms of which it is justifiable to leave posts vacant and to rigidly implement racial demographics.'
Groenewald said that in Barnard's case one post was withdrawn, whereas in Van der Westhuizen's case at least 70 posts have not been filled. ‘It must have a negative impact on service delivery. The irony is that we will be going to the Labour Court to prevent the police from not filling posts on the very same day that inquiries into police efficiency are being carried out by among others the Farlam Commission.'
The media are invited to attend the court proceedings:
Date: Thursday 8 November 2012