Commission to probe ‘green cards’ saga

THE SOUTHAfrican Human Rights Commission ( SAHRC) has confirmed that it will be investigating the Worcester “green cards” saga even though formal complaints have not been lodged.

SAHRC spokesman Isaac Mangena said: “So far no complaints have been made, but as the commission we are allowed by the constitution to take up matters where we suspect the rights of the people are being violated.”

Mangena said representatives from the commission would head to Worcester today to start preliminary investigations, which will include talking to all parties involved in the matter.

The Green Card Referencing Project was allegedly started by the Sector Four Forum, which is part of the Community Police Forum.

Local job seekers, such as gardeners, were forced to apply for the cards in order to be allowed access to 10 of Worcester’s upper-class suburbs, when job scouting.

The small green plastic cards bear a mug-shot photo of the card holder and his or her personal details.

On Tuesday, the DA and the provincial department of Community Safety called for the provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Arno Lamoer, to put a stop to the matter and conduct an immediate investigation.

DA parliamentary spokesman Marius Redelinghuys said: “The issuing of these green cards by police has all the hallmarks of the apartheidera dompas system.”

Mangena said: “On the surface it constitutes discrimination to the workers’ right to equality, dignity and freedom of movement.”

He referenced a similar case handled by the commission in 2004.

“In the past we heard complaints about the boom gates and gated communities which restricted people from entering certain communities.”

He said after investigating that matter, the SAHRC found that the boom gates and gated communities resembled “past discriminatory practices”. “It denied people the fundamental right to dignity. The property might have been theirs but their policies did not overrule the constitution.”