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Trade union Solidarity today announced that it intends to file a class complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (HRC) about M-Net’s discriminating Magic in Motion internship.

This comes after this pay channel earlier indicated that only black, coloured and Indian persons would be considered for an internship opportunity. This opportunity excludes all white persons.

“Our complaint to the HRC is based on the prohibition by law of quotas and absolute limitations as well as the reservation of jobs,” Dirk Groenewald, Head of Solidarity’s Centre for Fair Labour Practices, said.

“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 explained.

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 explained.

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,” Groenewald said.

Issued by Solidarity