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Solidarity to take M-Net to HRC

Admire Moyo
By Admire Moyo, ITWeb's news editor.
Johannesburg, 30 Nov 2015
Solidarity says it is morally obliged and legally entitled to take action against M-Net over its alleged racist practices.
Solidarity says it is morally obliged and legally entitled to take action against M-Net over its alleged racist practices.

Trade union Solidarity intends to file a class complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (HRC) against M-Net's alleged discriminatory Magic in Motion internship programme.

Solidarity last week accused pay-TV operator M-Net of discriminating unfairly against white people. This after M-Net indicated, in a recent advertisement, that only black, Indian and coloured candidates may apply for a paid internship programme offered by M-Net's Magic in Motion Academy.

"Our complaint to the HRC is based on the prohibition by law of quotas and absolute limitations as well as the reservation of jobs," says Dirk Groenewald, head of Solidarity's Centre for Fair Labour Practices.

"The explanation M-Net offered to Solidarity is unacceptable and serves as confirmation that they are excluding all white persons, and therefore, they are acting in breach of the law," Groenewald explains.

After initially indicating the racism allegations emanated from a "misunderstanding", M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle has since moved to quash the racism allegations, saying there is nothing untoward about the company's internship programme.

Phahle says the Magic in Motion Academy is M-Net's corporate social investment programme. "This internship programme allows potential applicants from the designated groups to be up-skilled in order to compete on a level playing field within the electronic media environment."

According to Groenewald, the Constitutional Court already upheld the legal restrictions on the implementation of affirmative action.

"It is totally unacceptable that M-Net supports and implements such discriminating practices. We will request the HRC to give its urgent attention to the matter and will also argue that M-Net should do away with those practices."

Groenewald says this matter cannot simply be left at that. "We are morally obliged and legally entitled to take action. We also have a social obligation to stand up against those racist practices."

In a letter addressed to Phahle and Bobby Heaney, Magic in Motion Academy director, Solidarity alleges the internship programme "is based solely on considerations of race, therefore, no white person will be considered for the internship".

The trade union adds the internship amounts to nothing less than job reservation, absolute barriers and quotas, all of which are prohibited by the Employment Equity Act, as well as the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, and the Constitution of SA.

"We hereby demand that you open the internship to all South African citizens irrespective of their race."

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