Pretoria - The Department of Correctional Services has welcomed a decision by the Labour Court on Thursday to postpone a case brought against the department by trade union Solidarity.
The case relates to the promotion of a member of Solidarity, Herman Denysschen. The union instituted the case on his behalf.
Solidarity claims that the department refused to promote Denysschen even though he was the best candidate for the position and chose to leave the position vacant rather than appoint a white man.
The case was postponed to September this year by which time the department would be more than ready to present a compelling case to the court in defence of its pursuance of equity targets, Correctional Services spokesman Manelisi Wolela said.
Correctional Services rejected suggestions or allegations of racial discrimination.
"The department is definitely defending its decision on making/not making the appointment to ensure a sustained balance of racial groups at both macro and micro levels of its administration.
"We believe strongly that this has nothing to do with discrimination as appointments made holistically have included all racial groups, as informed by a need to maintain a delicate and dynamic balance to meet our equity targets," he added.
Dirk Hermann, deputy general secretary of Solidarity, was disappointed with the postponement.
"It is a great pity because now Denysschen and other South Africans will have to wait at least four months for justice in this matter," Hermann said.
