White SA workers take employer to court over racism

Cape Town - Ten correctional service employees have taken the department to the Labour Court, claiming that they have been overlooked for promotions because they are not black.

Pieter Davids, a senior correctional services official told eNCA that white men had no chance of being promoted of the next five years in the department.

According to Davids, who is one of the complainants, the national Employment Equity plan discriminates against white and coloured South Africans.

He describes himself as one of the department's top achievers, and has applied for a promotion on more than one occasion, much like other complainants.

However, due to correctional services's affirmative action plan, a black candidate was chosen.

Davids turned to labour mediation body the CCMA but was unsuccessful and conceded that certain groups were disadvantaged under apartheid.

During cross-examination, Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza pointed out that it was inevitable that previously advantaged South Africans would suffer under the current Employment Equity plan even if they are qualified for the job.

He said it was not fair to say that white men would never be promoted, as the current guidelines would be revised in 2014.

Meanwhile, the correctional services employees involved in the case were worried they'd be persecuted.