Council changes recruitment processes
DA-led Stellenbosch Municipality says it has reviewed its internal appointments processes to avoid another situation where qualified appointments could be bypassed.
This after Zenobia Campbell, a coloured applicant received a settlement of R750 000 from the municipality.
Her appointment was removed and replaced by Melissa Nel, a white candidate who did not meet the criteria.
Asked if Nel was still employed in the position, spokesperson Stuart Grobbelaar would only say that appointments were made after recruitment and selection processes based on assessments.
“This dispute follows an appointment made in November 2016 by a former employee, Dupre Lombaard, who is no longer in service of the municipality. The recruitment process has since been changed to prevent similar situations in future. We are running an internal process around this matter and we do not comment on these internal processes.”
The Cape Times has established through the municipality’s website that Nel was still listed as the Snr LED Officer: Rural Development.
Attempts for comment unsuccessful by deadline. were
Campbell had been battling with the municipality for two years following her application for an advertised post of Senior LED Officer in 2016.
Her court application said she applied for two advertised positions in August 2016, was shortlisted for both posts and interviewed on October 25, 2016.
“I can only hope my struggle helps to expose the racism that was prevalent in denying me a position because they felt an unqualified white person was superior to me.
“That I find unacceptable and someone must still be held accountable for that,’’ said Campbell.