Solidarity has also initiated a legal process on behalf of white male candidates who were not included in the airline’s cadet pilot programme because of the colour of their skin.
Dirk Hermann, Deputy General Secretary of Solidarity, says they want to find solutions to constitutional issues through dialogue. ‘The Employment Equity Act forbids quotas of any kind in order to protect the non-designated group’s constitutional right to equality and dignity. In any affirmative action process, rights must be balanced. The SAA cannot go about selectively with the Employment Equity Act. Solidarity cannot think of a better organisation than the HRC to facilitate such a dialogue. This matter is essentially a constitutional and human rights issue and, as such, concerns everyone in the country. The HRC must not only investigate human rights violations, but also take preventive action. If the parties come to an agreement, it will serve as an example to South Africa that disputes can also be resolved outside a court.”
Solidarity’s legal bid started last week on behalf of white male candidates who were excluded from the cadet programme. They have asked the SAA to provide reasons why Daniël Hoffman, Dirk Kotze and several other white male candidates were excluded from the cadet programme.
A number of these candidates were invited to undergo psychometric testing, but thereafter did not receive any feedback and were only informed earlier this month by e-mail that their applications had been unsuccessful. “We are not aware of a single white male candidate who advanced to the next phase of the selection process,” said Solidarity.
Hoffman (22), who obtained a BSc (IT) degree in Geographic Information Systems cum laude at the University of the Free State last year, was invited to undergo psychometric testing last year. However, he subsequently heard nothing about his application and was informed in response to his e-mail enquiries that that no further information was available. On 8 June he was informed by e-mail that his application had been unsuccessful. Hoffmann, who is currently studying towards an Honours degree in Geography, says he would like to know if the selection process was fair and legitimate. ‘Even if they had accepted just one white male, I would have felt that there had been a possibility for me to get into the programme and that the eight months had not been completely wasted.’
Kotze (21), who is currently studying towards a National Diploma in Civil Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), was also invited in November last year to undergo psychometric testing. He, too, did not receive any further information afterwards and was also informed by e-mail on 8 June that his application had been unsuccessful.
The trade union launched a huge campaign against the airline last year, after white men’s applications had been rejected outright when they entered their race in the online application form. Solidarity resumed the campaign when it came to light that the airline had not selected any white male candidates for its cadet programme.
Hermann says there can hardly be a more perfect case study of a young South African’s right to dignity than this case. ‘Solidarity launched a campaign against the SAA last year when it came to light that white men’s applications for the cadet programme were turned down instantly when they entered their race in the online application form. The SAA thereafter lifted the ban on applications of white male candidates for its cadet programme. A number of white male candidates participated in the process and were under the impression that they could fulfil their dream. They were even flown to Pretoria where they stayed in a hotel and underwent various tests. At the end of this process they were still turned down because of their race. The process was dishonest and created unreasonable expectations and, in so doing, violated the young persons’ right to dignity and equality.’
The public can send letters of protest regarding SAA quotas by means of the webpage, www.stopkwotas.co.za, to the SAA. Alternatively, they can SMS the word ‘Kwota’ to 34388. An SMS will be charged at R2 and will be added to the protest messages. The campaign can also be followed on Twitter at #StopSAA.
Also visit the Anti Affirmative Action page on Facebook.
