An acting magistrate in Bloemfontein was allegedly not shortlisted for a post because of his race.
According to News24, Richard Lawrence had been an acting magistrate since 2015 and had applied for a post in Petrusburg in 2018. He had been the acting head of the Petrusburg office since 2016.
Lawrence was not shortlisted, despite being recommended by his superiors. This led to Lawrence approaching the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein to challenge the decision.
The High Court found for Lawrence but the Magistrates’ Commission, which was one of the respondents, took the matter to the Supreme Court of Appeal, where the matter is currently being heard.
Dirk Groenewald, acting for the Magistrates’ Commission, said that the shortlisting procedure had been complied with and it was important to appoint people who would accelerate transformation.
News24 quoted Groenewald as saying: ‘We are not unduly and unfairly limiting white individuals, in general, from applying … but in this instant, they needed transformation. With transformation, persons who were previously advantaged would be affected.’