THURSDAY, 10.30AM
The way has been cleared for non-merit-based affirmative action appointments in the civil service, after Parliament’s public service committee on Wednesday agreed to amend relevant legislation.
The committee agreed to an amendment of the Public Service Laws Amendment Bill which would allow affirmative action appointments to be made without merit being an overriding principle. Committee chair Salie Manie said the decision has to be viewed in the light of a failed attempt last year by Justice Minister Dullah Omar to overlook white males for promotion to senior positions. Omar was stymied when white male prosecutors took him to court, claiming they were victims of racial discrimination.
Proposing the amendment, African National Congress MP Maria Rantho said if the words ”race, gender and disability” are not added to the clause calling for a public service ”broadly representative of the SA people”, it might be open to ”various interpretations”. Rantho said it is imperative to drop merit as the overriding principle in the appointment of public servants.