Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

Stellenbosch HR Manager promotes victimisation at the cost of service delivery, says AfriForum

Soundbite: Morné Mostert (English)

Soundbite: Morné Mostert (Afrikaans)

AfriForum will further investigate the discriminatory practices within Stellenbosch Municipality. This follows a video circulating on social media in which Alexander Kannemeyer, the Human Resources Manager of Stellenbosch Municipality, allegedly suggests making life “difficult” for white employees until they resign so that they can be replaced by the municipality’s preferred candidate.

AfriForum emphasises that a municipality’s primary focus should always be service delivery and they must therefore appoint the best personnel for the job. When senior officials propose race-based victimisation instead of merit-based appointments, it undermines employees’ rights and also directly threatens service delivery to the public.

The community will ultimately suffer the most if the municipality insists on their race-based vendetta to either exclude or force out the best candidates. Service delivery will inevitably decline if the best candidates for a position are not appointed and ultimately the community will pay the price.

Making an employee’s life “difficult” also constitutes harassment and is prohibited under the Employment Equity Act (55 of 1998) Code of Good Practice and the Labour Relations Act (66 of 1995). It creates a hostile work culture and exposes the municipality to CCMA and Labour Court claims for constructive dismissal and damages.

It is the duty of a human resources manager to protect legal and fair employment practices. Kannemeyer’s failure to comply with this obligation has put the Stellenbosch Municipality in a negative light. According to AfriForum, this action shows that Kannemeyer cannot be trusted to make legal and impartial decisions and he should be removed from his position, following a legal process.

The South African Constitution (section 9) and the Employment Equity Act (55 of 1998) prohibit unfair discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race. Kannemeyer’s alleged comments could therefore amount to unfair discrimination.

“Municipalities exist to deliver services, not to play politics with jobs,” says Morné Mostert, Manager of Local Government Affairs at AfriForum. “When senior managers propose unlawful victimisation, it undermines both the Constitution and the public’s right to reliable service delivery.”

AfriForum reiterates that service delivery depends on merit, accountability, and fairness, and it will continue to defend these principles wherever they are threatened.