After years of litigation against the Justice Department's policy of excluding whites from appointments, Solidarity notes Minister Ronald Lamola has appointed Martin Kroukamp as a senior magistrate.

The appointment was signed by the Minister on 10 October and is also effective from that date, the union says in a statement on the Politicsweb site.

It adds: ‘The appointment follows years of litigation undertaken by Solidarity against the Department of Justice. As a result, Kroukamp was excluded from promotion for 12 years based on his race until the Equality Court on 16 August 2021 ruled that Kroukamp be appointed to the post.’

Anton van der Bijl, Solidarity’s head of legal matters, says the message sent out by the ruling is clear ‘and the government should take note that this type of discrimination will not be tolerated and that the correct action is indeed enforceable by a court of law’.

According to Solidarity, Kroukamp’s case will also pave the way for future litigation regarding appointments by state departments.

‘Kroukamp was appointed in an acting capacity in this position for a decade as the department refused point-blank to appoint him permanently because of the colour of his skin. It is absurd that race dictates appointments. Solidarity regards this ruling and appointment as a victory against this type of discrimination, and we will continue to fight for justice to be done for similar cases as well,’ Van der Bijl concluded.

Full statement on the Politicsweb site