This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
Pretoria News reports that a Gauteng teacher who was accused of racism has won a case brought against her at the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC).
The arbitrator ruled this week that Anneke Smit, who was fired from her job as a teacher at Hoërskool Montana in Pretoria North, was falsely accused of racism, suspended and unfairly dismissed in September 2021. The arbitrator also ruled that Smit should receive 10 months’ damages and that she could return to the school in her position as a teacher on 1 August. Anlia Archer, spokesperson for Solidarity which represented Smit, accused Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi of personally rejecting her application to appeal. She also said: "During the hearing it was also found that the charges against her, as well as the procedure followed in respect of Ms Smit’s dismissal were unfounded and she should therefore be reinstated in her post. It is outrageous that a teacher’s life and work were snatched from her simply because of false charges of racism being brought against her.” Archer explained that in Smit’s case the word “polisiemannetjie” (the Afrikaans diminutive for policeman) was taken as ‘police monkey’ and hence an investigation was instituted against her resulting in her dismissal. She went on to comment: “Quasi-racism cannot be the charge every time someone is unhappy with an interaction that took place in the classroom. In this case, a whole family’s life was disrupted by one false accusation.”
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mashudu Sadike at Pretoria News
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page