'Cop hindered employment goals'
2009-11-17 12:32
Johannesburg - A woman police officer was not made a superintendent as there were already too many white women at that salary level, the Labour Court in Johannesburg heard on Tuesday.
Captain Renate Barnard was not discriminated against, but a decision was taken not to appoint her to a superintendent position because of "an over representation of white females in that salary level", an officer in the Saps's career management unit testified.
Senior superintendent Johannes Phetholo Ramathoka said appointing Barnard to salary level nine would have hindered the police's aim of meeting employment equity targets.
Barnard had applied for the post in the priority and ordinary complaints unit - tasked with dealing with public complaints and investigating cases the public said police were not giving attention to.
"The national commissioner, on deciding not to appoint anyone for the post, felt her appointment did not reflect representivity. He wanted to ensure that all units adhered to the Employment Equity Act, in line with equity plans of the SAPS and its business unit," he said.
He disputed Barnard's assertion that she was not appointed because of her skin colour, because two black candidates recommended by the interview panel were also not appointed.
"No one was appointed from the selected candidates, even those who would have represented representivity, so I don't think she was discriminated against," said Ramathoka.
Barnard's lawyer Johan Grogan SC was expected to cross examine Ramathoka later on Tuesday.
On Monday Grogan, representing Barnard on behalf of trade union Solidarity, told the court Barnard was discriminated against.
"Had the applicant not been white, she would not have been subjected to differentiation, and the fact that she is white is the dominant cause for the pertinent differentiating treatment she received from the respondent."
- SAPA