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Today, the trade union Solidarity requested South African Airways (SAA) to provide reasons why two white applicants for its cadet programme were rejected within minutes of being submitted. Solidarity further requested the SAA to reveal all information about applications that were approved, specifically regarding race and gender.

Johan Kruger, spokesperson of Solidarity, said that the trade union is acting on behalf of Clarice Berteyn and Bradley Lane in this case. According to Kruger, Berteyn and Lane submitted the necessary documents, including an assignment, but were notified within minutes that their applications were rejected. “Both comply with the requirements and Berteyn, as a woman, is part of the designated group and both candidates already have private pilot licences. Solidarity requested SAA to provide reasons, in writing, why their applications were rejected. We also asked the airline to make the content of successful candidate’s applications available to us.”

Kruger said that Solidarity had recently received many queries from people who are still struggling to apply for the SAA cadet programme online. The trade union also requested the SAA to appoint a person to deal with queries about its cadet programme and any complaints regarding online applications.

Two weeks ago Solidarity launched a public campaign against SAA after it was revealed that white applicants’ applications for the cadet programme on the airway’s website were immediately rejected while black applicants with the same profiles’ applications were accepted. SAA sent a lawyer’s letter to Solidarity stating that it would lift the ban on applications from white male students for its cadet programme.

Solidarity calls on white applicants that meet the requirements to let the trade union know if they still cannot apply for the cadet programme or if they are discriminated against later in the selection process. This can be done at www.stopkwotas.co.za.