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Solidariteit begin reuse-regsaksie teen die SAPD

Die vakbond Solidariteit het vandeesweek gesê hy gaan eersdaags met ʼn reuse-regsproses teen die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) begin. Die proses behels onder meer ʼn dringende hofaansoek teen bevorderings en aanstellings gebaseer op die SAPD se huidige regstellendeaksieplan. Solidariteit is van mening dat dié plan op ’n kwotastelsel neerkom en dat daar in die proses onbillik teen sy lede in die polisie diskrimineer word.

Solidariteit het verlede week reeds die minister van polisie, Nkosinathi Nhleko, asook die waarnemende polisiekommissaris, lt.genl. Johannes Khomotso Phahlane, in ʼn skrywe vermaan dat geen aanstellings en bevorderings in die polisie op grond van die huidige plan (geldig vanaf 2015 tot 2019) moet geskied nie. Hierop het die minister en die waarnemende kommissaris gereageer deur te sê dat hulle sal voortgaan om aanstellings en bevorderings op die plan te skoei.

Volgens Anton van der Bijl, hoof van Solidariteit se Sentrum vir Billike Arbeidspraktyke, is die vakbond nou genoodsaak om die hof op ʼn dringende basis te nader om sodoende die werking van die plan nietig te laat verklaar. “Die SAPD se huidige regstellendeaksieplan is soortgelyk aan die polisie se vorige regstellendeaksieplan wat reeds in Januarie vanjaar deur die arbeidshof ongrondwetlik verklaar is. Die huidige plan kom dus in wese op dieselfde onbillike diskriminasie neer en behoort daarom ongeldig verklaar te word,” sê Van der Bijl. 

Van der Bijl sê die doel van Solidariteit se regsaksie teen die polisie is nie net om die huidige regstellendeaksieplan aan te vat en om die werking daarvan te probeer negeer nie, maar dit is ook die begin van ’n reuseveldtog teen al die SAPD se onbillike arbeidspraktyke. “Die publiek verdien ʼn effektiewe polisiediens waar die beste persoon, ongeag sy of haar ras of geslag, bevorder en aangestel word. Ons kan eenvoudig nie langer toekyk hoe persone suiwer op grond van ʼn rigiede, numeriese kwotastelsel vir aanstellings en bevorderings beoordeel word nie. Ons meen voorts dat aanstellings en bevorderings in die polisie op grond van meriete moet geskied,” sê Van der Bijl.

VIDEO: Johan Kruger, adjunkbestuurshoof van Solidariteit,
gee meer agtergrond oor die saak. Klik hier.

Anton van der Bijl
Hoof: Sentrum vir Billike Arbeidspraktyke, Solidariteit

 

Solidarity begins major legal process against the SAPS

Trade union Solidarity this week said it will begin a major legal process against the South African Police Service (SAPS). The process includes, among other things, an urgent court application against promotions and appointments made based on the SAPS’s current employment equity plan. Solidarity contends this plan amounts to a quota system and that its members are being unfairly discriminated against in the process.

Last week, Solidarity warned Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko as well as acting Police Commissioner Lt Gen Johannes Khomotso Phahlane, that no appointments or promotions should be made in the service in terms of its current plan (valid from 2015 to 2019). In response, the Minister and the acting Police Commissioner said they would continue to make appointments and promotions on the basis of the plan.

According to Anton van der Bijl, Head of Solidarity’ s Centre for Fair Labour Practices, the trade union has no choice but to approach the court as a matter of urgency to declare the effect of the plan null and void. “The SAPS’s current affirmative action plan is similar to the Police’s previous affirmative action plan declared unconstitutional by the Labour Court in January this year. Therefore, the current plan amounts in essence to the same unfair discrimination and should thus be declared invalid,” Van der Bijl said. 

Van der Bijl says the purpose of Solidarity’s legal action against the police service is not only to challenge the current affirmative action plan and to try to negate its impact,but to begin with a major campaign against all the police’s unfair labour practices “The public deserves an efficient police service where the best persons, regardless of race and gender, are promoted and appointed. We simply cannot stand by and watch how persons are assessed purely based on a rigid, numerical quota system for appointments and promotions. Moreover, we contend that appointments and promotions in the police service should be based on merit,” Van der Bijl said.

VIDEO: Johan Kruger, Deputy General Secretary of Solidarity, gives more information on the case. Click here.

Anton van der Bijl
Head: Labour Court Division, Solidarity

 

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