February 26, 2010

The RheinMetal Denel Munitions (RDM) training programmes not open to whites were aimed at addressing transformation in the industry, the company said on Friday, according to a report in the Business Report.

Its comment came after criticism on Thursday from the trade union Solidarity.

“If the company decided to set certain targets for racial representation in its training programmes it would be one thing, but completely excluding white students from the programme portrays a racist message because the selection is based simply on race,” said Solidarity spokesman Jaco Kleynhans.

RDM, a Denel entity, said in a statement on Friday that the programmes were also aimed at creating an empowered workforce, which was adaptable to change, and where performance and delivery were drivers for success.

It said the defence industry continued to face significant challenges in terms of lack of representivity in the industry and the shortage of technically-skilled previously disadvantaged individuals.

“This will see certain training programmes being open only to African, Indian and coloured applicants with the hope of creating a pool of skilled candidates for RDM,” it said.

“With a shortage of transformation candidates available in the marketplace, it is hoped that these trainees will become potential employees of the company and address the representivity challenges,” said RDM human resources and transformation general manager Duduzile Letseli

On Thursday, Solidarity said RDM had advertised learnership positions for chemical operators and apprenticeships for artisanships in instrumentation, fitters, fitter and turners, draughtsmen and electricians.

The positions were available in the company’s training programme in Wellington, Boksburg and Boskop. “In terms of two notices from RDM regarding the company’s artisan programme, only black, Indian and coloured students may apply to be included in the programme as artisans,” said Kleynhans.

He said that in order to achieve points on learnerships for Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment, candidates should have matric with maths or science, be “Black ACI (African, Coloureds, Indian)” and preferably of rural origin. Women were encouraged to apply.

The advertisements were distributed internally among staff members, but were open to the public.

Kleynhans accused the company of “unfairly” basing its approach to the training programme on race, because of the complete exclusion of white students.

“RDM’s human resources department has indicated that six applications had been received for a position, but that no appointment could be made because all the applicants were white.”

He said Solidarity had raised the matter with the company at a Labour Forum meeting, but that RDM refused to amend the notice to include white students, and refused to discuss the matter further. – Sapa

Source: Business Report