ANC to lodge complaint against ‘dompas’

The green cards are used as a system to identify people looking for employment

THE ANC says it will lodge a complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission to urgently investigate the issuing of “green cards” to employees and job seekers in Worcester – the majority of them black and coloured.

The green cards are used to identify people looking for employment – a system both the ANC and DA labelled a “dompas”. Job seekers and workers in certain areas were issued with cards bearing their photographs and personal details.

ANC national spokesman Zizi Kodwa said the DA-run Breede Valley municipality was “reintroducing the dompas system” in South Africa.

The dompas was a demeaning instrument of racial segregation, sought to ensure that the movement of black people was limited.

“This is exactly what is happening in Worcester, where gardeners are forced to carry the dreaded green pass in order to gain access to employment,” he said.

The DA condemned the green card practice in the strongest terms, saying it was a direct contravention of the constitution.

“When it comes to the DA and the protection of white privilege, the more things change, the more they stay the same,” Kodwa said.

DA spokesman Marius Redelinghuys said police served under the national government, and the police minister should be held accountable for issuing green cards.

“We support the call by the department (of Community Safety) for Commissioner (Arno) Lamoer to put an immediate stop to the green card project and to conduct an investigation.”

Community Safety MEC Dan Plato said he had discussed the issue with Lamoer, who assured him that he would designate a senior SAPS official to fully investigate. Lamoer could not be reached for comment yesterday despite several attempts.

Worcester Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairman Guido Opperman said they had opened an investigation. “It is not a dompas. The project was started with the sectors of the community. The CPF is against any form of racism,” Opperman said.

The green cards were issued to “service providers” looking for employment. “No one is forced to get the card.”