Stokwe v Member of the Executive Council, Department of Education Eastern Cape Province and Another (LP131/03 , P131/03) [2005] ZALC 2; [2005] 8 BLLR 822 (LC); [2005] JOL 14331 (LC); (2005) 26 ILJ 927 (LC) (23 March 2005)

72 Reportability

Brief Summary

Labour Law — Promotion — Discrimination — Applicant applying for promotion to principal position at Despatch Primary School — Interview process resulting in equal scores for applicant and second respondent — School Governing Body (SGB) changing preference order based on language concerns and community opposition — Court finding that the decision was influenced by discrimination based on race and gender, and that the applicant was unfairly denied promotion — Promotion awarded to the applicant.

IN THE LABOUR COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA
HELD AT PORT ELIZABETH  
REPORTABLE 
CASE NO: P131/2003           
DATE HEARD:  22/3/2005
DATE DELIVERED: 23/3/2005
In the matter between
THANDIWE CYNTHIA STOKWE                APPLICANT
and
THE MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION               
EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE                  1ST RESPONDENT
MR D JACOBS                            2ND RESPONDENT
                                                                                                                      
JUDGMENT DELIVERED BY
THE HONOURABLE MADAM JUSTICE PILLAY
                                                                                                                      
PILLAY D, J
[1] The   applicant   applied   for   promotion   to   the   post   of   principal   at  
Despatch Primary School on 8 March 2001. She was interviewed  
by   the   Interviewing   Committee   (IC)   in   terms   of   paragraph   3.3   of  
Chapter   "B"   of   the   Personnel   Administration   Measures   ("PAM").  
She and D Jacobs, the second respondent, were two of the four  
candidates   who   were   interviewed.   The   applicant   and   the   second  
respondent scored equally during the interview. As there was a tie,  
the chairperson of the IC, Mr Wannies, urged the members to make  
a   final   choice.   He   adjourned   the   meeting   so   that   the   IC   could  
consider  its  decision.  During  the  adjournment  the  record  of  each  
candidate in relation to their previous interest in the community was  
considered as the involvement of the community in the shortlisting  
process was very important.
[2] Mr   Wannies   testified   that   the   applicant   was   better   qualified   in  
psychology   than   the   second   respondent.   This   resulted   in   the  
1

applicant   being   preferred   by  the   IC   over  the   second   respondent.  
The   IC   ranked   the   applicant   first,   the   second   respondent  
second and the acting principal, Mr Mattrass, third and forwarded  
the   list   to   the   School   Governing   Body   (SGB)   for   it   to   make   a  
recommendation in terms of paragraph 3.3(i) of Chapter B of the  
PAM   to   the   first   respondent.   The   SGB,   which   is   established   in  
terms of section 16(1) of the South African Schools Act No. 84 of  
1996,   (SASA)   included   the   members   of   the   IC.   It   held   an  
emergency meeting on 23 April 2001 to consider the preference list.  
[3] Mr Wannies, the sole witness for the respondent, conceded that a  
delay of six weeks from 8 March 2001, when the IC submitted its  
list   to   the   date   when   the   SGB   made   a   recommendation,   was  
unusual. From Mr Wannies's evidence it emerged that during those  
six weeks the SGB had great difficulty in convening. The teacher  
representative on the IC disclosed to other staff that the applicant  
was   the   preferred   candidate.   The   staff   were   opposed   to   her  
appointment.   They preferred Mr Mattrass. The teachers staged a  
boycott of the SGB meeting. A meeting was held with parents to  
galvanise support to resist the recommendation of the applicant for  
the post. 
[4] On seeing that the applicant bore an African name, members of the  
SGB raised their own concern about her ability to speak Afrikaans.  
According to Mr Wannies, he allayed their fears in this regard.
[5] The   reason   the   SGB   changed   the   preference   order   so   that   the  
applicant   ranked  second   and  the  second   respondent   was  placed  
first was allegedly because a "hands­on" person was better suited  
to the needs of the position than one who was more qualified in  
psychology. 
[6] This reason does not appear anywhere in the minutes of the SGB's  
meeting of 23 April 2001. Contrary to Mr Wannies's evidence, the

meeting of 23 April 2001. Contrary to Mr Wannies's evidence, the  
minutes   recorded   that   the   motivation   for   the   change   was   the  
language question ("taalkwessie").
[7] The   applicant   in   the   meantime   waited   to   be   informed   about   the  
outcome   of   the   application   for   promotion.   About   June   2001,   she  
called the school and learnt that there was a problem with the filling  
of the post.  She was directed to the Department. She eventually  
spoke to Mr Kani, the district manager. In the meantime, Mr Kani  
2

had written to the Acting Regional Director recording his rejection of  
the   recommendation   of   the   second   respondent   as   it  
amounted to discrimination based on language.
[8] Mr Ngamlana, an education development officer (EDO) employed  
by   the   Department   informed   the   applicant   that   an   independent  
panel had been established to review the recommendation of the  
SGB. The applicant was by this stage desperate. Her workplace at  
the time was in Patensie and her home was in Magxaki, a distance  
of some 35 kilometres from each other, connected by gravel and  
unserviced roads. She had two young daughters to return home to  
every   day.   When   she   was   invited   to   an   interview   by   the   review  
panel   she   reluctantly   acquiesced   simply   to   expedite   the  
appointment process. She was also assured that the panel would  
be independent of the   Department   and   the   SGB.   The   interview  
itself, she was told, would deal with ways of addressing the specific  
problems of a school which had been without a principal for a long  
time.
[9] The   SGB   on   the   other   hand   initially   agreed   to   support   the  
establishment   of   the   review   panel.   However,   on   further  
consideration, it withdrew its support as it realised that there was no  
statutory basis for such a procedure. 
[10] The review panel interviewed the applicant on 7 August 2001. The  
panel consisted of three White male Afrikaans speaking principals  
from other primary schools around the area. They were J C Nortier,  
A F Vosloo and J H Bester. The panel may have been sufficiently  
independent   of   the   Department   in   the   sense   that   they   were  
institution and not office based educators. It may also have been  
independent   of   the   SGB   for   Despatch   Primary   School   as   the  
panellists did not serve on that structure. However, as the interview  
progressed it became clear that the panel was far from impartial.

progressed it became clear that the panel was far from impartial. 
[11] From   the   outset,   the   panellists   fostered   a   tense   and   hostile  
atmosphere by insisting that the interview proceed in Afrikaans. The  
applicant  refused  to speak  Afrikaans.  She maintained that it  was  
her constitutional right to conduct the interview in one of the official  
languages. She could choose to speak in Xhosa if she wanted to,  
but in order to meet the panellists halfway, she had agreed to speak  
in English. She was asked to translate "continuous evaluation" into  
Afrikaans. She refused to do so pointing out that she was advised  
3

to   prepare   herself   for   an   interview   that   would   deal   with   ways   of  
addressing   problems   at   the   school.   The   panel persisted that  
the school was an Afrikaans medium school, she should therefore  
not have applied for the position if she could not speak Afrikaans. 
[12] The applicant replied that being an Afrikaans medium school meant  
that Afrikaans was the medium of instruction in the subjects taught  
at the school. It was not the medium of management of the school.  
She   spoke   Afrikaans   well   enough   having   been   born   in   the  
predominantly   Afrikaans   speaking   town   of   Graaff­Reinet,   having  
taught Afrikaans, having evaluated grade 12 orals and scripts for  
the district, having taught in Cockscomb, a rural English/Afrikaans  
medium school  which had both Coloured and African learners  
and having studied at Fort Hare and passed Afrikaans 1. She was  
reluctant to be interviewed in Afrikaans because she felt that the  
panel might use technical terminology which she may not grasp and  
would thereby disadvantage herself. Eventually the panel continued  
the interview in English.
[13] She was challenged about how she, as a woman, would cope if she  
were to compete against a man and whether she was bold enough  
to do so. These questions infuriated her. She was told that 50% of  
the   staff   wanted   her   and   the   other   50%   did   not   want   her.   That  
information   was,   in   her   opinion,   irrelevant   to   the   purpose   of   the  
interview   and   biased   against   her   seeking   the   appointment.   The  
more than one hour long interview left her feeling abused.
[14] She   was   cross­examined   about   why   she   did   not   object   to   the  
composition of the panel and walk out during the proceedings. She  
responded that she simply wanted to co­operate to complete the  
process.   She   was   desperate   and   not   in   any   position   to   bargain  
about the composition of the panel.

about the composition of the panel. 
[15]      It   was   prudent   of   the   applicant   not   to   walk   out   of   the  
interview because if she had done so, she would have had difficulty  
in   challenging   the   decision   of   the   panel.   The   panel   could   have  
taken refuge under cover of the fact that the applicant, by walking  
out, deprived herself of the opportunity of presenting her case fully  
to   them.   It   could   have   absolved   itself   of   any   shortcomings   in   its  
decisions.
[16] The applicant heard that Mr Jacobs was subjected to an interview  
4

by the review panel. However, there was no direct evidence about  
this and the content of his interview.
[17] The applicant proceeded to lodge a complaint about the interview to  
Mr Kani. Mr Kani advised her to put it in writing and submit it before  
08:00   the   next   morning.   She   did   so.   The   applicant   detailed   her  
complaints against the review panel under the broad headings of  
the very tense atmosphere at the interview, discrimination in terms  
of gender, sex and colour, the questions being too biased and the  
unrepresentative   composition  of   the   review   panel.   She   submitted  
the letter timeously. To date she still awaits a response.
[18] She also awaits a written response to her application for promotion  
advising her in terms of paragraph 3.4 of Chapter "B" of the PAM  
that she was unsuccessful. 
[19] Unknown to the applicant at the time, Mr Kani wrote on 27 August  
2001 to the Acting Regional Director in the following terms:
"Kindly receive final recommendation for the
principal's post at Despatch Primary School.
The   language   problem   has   been   resolved  
much   as   it   is   not   in   the   satisfaction   of  
everybody. Also attached please find a letter  
from a neutral committee that we requested  
to assist us in this regard." ( Sic)
[20] The   applicant   had   no   knowledge   of   the   language   problem   being  
resolved. Nor was she aware of the contents of the letter from the  
"neutral committee", that is the review panel. 
[21] The review panel's letter merely declares Mr Jacobs to be the more  
suitable   candidate   for   Despatch   Primary   School   with   its   unique  
problems   and   parent   community.   It   gives   no   reasons   for   this  
conclusion. 
[22] That,   in   essence,   is   the   sequence   of   events   that   led   to   the  
launching of this application.
[23] The   second   respondent   did   not   oppose   the   claim.   The   applicant  
testified on her own behalf. The second respondent called only one

testified on her own behalf. The second respondent called only one  
witness. Despite indicating earlier in the proceedings that it may call  
5

a total of about three witnesses, no one but Mr Wannies was called.  
As the chairperson of the IC and the SGB,   Mr   Wannies   had  
direct knowledge about decisions taken within those structures. He  
did not have any direct knowledge about the decision taken by the  
Head of Department. No evidence was led about what  information  
was placed before  the Head of  Department  and  how  or why the  
decision to appoint Mr Jacobs was made.
[24] The applicant challenges her non­promotion substantively on the ground that she  
was   discriminated   and   procedurally   on   several   grounds.   The   constitutional  
grounds on which the  applicant's case  was  argued was based on sections  9,  
23(1) and 195(1)(j) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act No. 108  
of 1996. Section 23(1) is linked to the residual unfair labour practice provisions  
relating   to   unfair   discrimination   and   failure   to   promote   prior   to   the   2002  
amendment.   Section   195   refers   to   the   basic   values   and   principles   governing  
public   administration.   When   making   appointments   of   educators,   Heads   of  
Department must have regard to subsection (1)(j) to develop an administration  
that is broadly representative of South Africans. 1
Discrimination 
[25] An applicant, who alleges discrimination must prove the fact of the discrimination.  
The onus then shifts to the respondent to prove that the discrimination is fair. 2  If  
the   discrimination   is   on   a   specified   ground   then   unfairness   is   assumed. 3
Thereafter it rests on the respondent to justify the unfair discrimination. 4   It is  
common cause that a Coloured male was preferred over the applicant, an African  
female. Whether such preference has the purgorative element of discrimination,  
must be determined from an analysis of all the facts. 
[26] The issue of language did not arise during the processes leading up  
to   the   IC's   decision   to   nominate   the   applicant   as   the   preferred

to   the   IC's   decision   to   nominate   the   applicant   as   the   preferred  
candidate on the list. The advertisement for the post merely stated  
that   Despatch   Primary   School   was   an   Afrikaans   medium   school.  
Afrikaans   was   not   prescribed   as   a   qualifying   requirement   for  
appointment. Contrary to the practice in non­appointment disputes,  
the advertisement for the post was not produced to the court. The  
1 Section 7 of EEA.
2Leonard Dingler Employee Representative Council v Leonard Dingler (Pty)
Ltd & Others 1997 (19) ILJ 285 (LC).
3 Harksen v Lane NO & Others 1997 (11) BCLR 1489 (CC) at para 53(b)(1).
4 Dupper, O & Garbers, Christopher Employment Discrimination: A
Commentary in SALL - edited by Thompson & Benjamin at CC 1-30.
6

court therefore had to rely on the evidence of the applicant in this  
regard,   which   was   not   seriously   challenged.   The   IC  
was satisfied about her proficiency in Afrikaans.
[27] The issue of language reared its head at the SGB only when the  
members   realised   that   an   African   was   being   appointed.   Mr  
Wannies's   evidence   is   that   he   succeeded   in   assuaging   their  
concerns   about   the   applicant's   proficiency   in   Afrikaans   is   not  
supported by the minutes of the SGB meeting. The minutes clearly  
record   that   the   motive   for   the   change   in   the   preference   list  
submitted by the IC was "die taalkwessie". Wannies's evidence that  
the true reason for the change, namely that the SGB preferred a  
hands­on principal to one who was better qualified   in  
psychology,   does   not   feature   anywhere   in   the   minutes.   Wannies  
could  not  explain this omission of  the most important  part of  the  
decision   i.e.   the   reason   for   the   appointment   of   the   second  
respondent and the non appointment of the applicant.
[28] Also not minuted was the fact that there was a vote and what the  
results   of   it   were.   On   the   probabilities,   I   am   of   the   view   that  
language and race motivated the decision of the SGB. Mr Wannies,  
as   chairperson   of   the   SGB,   struck   me   as   being   sufficiently  
experienced   and     knowledgeable   to   realise   that   pegging   the  
language as a reason for the non­promotion of the applicant could  
be   discriminatory.   Hence   his   valiant   but   weak   attempts   at  
constructing a version for the court. 
[29] On   Mr   Wannies's   own   version,   the   applicant   was   proficient   in  
Afrikaans. The SGB had assumed that, as an African she would not  
be   proficient   in   Afrikaans.   Such   stereotyping   is   an   obvious  
manifestation of bias and prejudice and is a typical form of unlawful  
discrimination.

manifestation of bias and prejudice and is a typical form of unlawful  
discrimination. 
[30] Reference   is   also   made   in   the   minutes   to   the   various   meetings  
between   the   SGB,   the   parents   and   the   teachers.   Mr   Wannies  
denied that these meetings had any impact on the SGB's decision.  
He   himself   did   not   feel   pressured   by   the   parents’   and   teachers’  
resistance to the promotion of the applicant.
[31] Even if I accept his evidence, the decision of the SGB is not his  
alone. As none of the members of the SGB testified, there is no  
evidence   of   what   motivated   the   other   members   of   the   SGB.  
7

MrWannies's evidence stands uncorroborated on a material issue.  
His evidence as a whole is unconvincing   about   the   reasons  
for the SGB changing the IC's preference list.
[32] Turning to the decision of the Head of Department to appoint Mr  
Jacobs, I must, in the absence of any reasons advanced by the first  
respondent,   find   that   the   first   respondent   failed   to   discharge   the  
onus   of   justifying   the   appointment   of   Mr   Jacobs   and   thereby  
avoiding the unfair discrimination claim.
[33] The first  respondent  must have used  the  recommendation of  the  
review panel in arriving at its decision to appoint Mr Jacobs since it  
commissioned its establishment. Its decision is also consistent with  
the panel's recommendation. 
[34] From   the   uncontroverted,  clear  evidence   of   the  applicant,   I   must  
accept   that   the   review   panellists   were   prejudiced   against   her  
because of her race, sex, gender, colour and language preference.  
They   discriminated   against   her   on   these   grounds.   Their   conduct  
was unprofessional, appalling and wholly discordant with the values  
of a democratic constitutional order. 
Procedures
[35] Mr   Randall,   for   the   applicant,   conceded   that   the   SGB   could   change   the  
preference list of the IC. I agree. The function of recommending to the HOD the  
appointment of educators at the school vests in the SGB. 5 IC’s are established in  
the   PAM   to   assist   the   SGB   in   shortlisting   and   interviewing   candidates   for  
appointment.6 The SASA does not define powers of the SGB’s. Consequently, it  
is also silent about their power to delegate their functions. As the establishment  
of the IC is obviously for practical reasons, 7 the delegation by the SGB to the IC  
of its function is effectively administrative deconcentration 8 or the IC acts as the  
agent of the SGB. 9  The IC is accountable to the SGB who retains the authority

agent of the SGB. 9  The IC is accountable to the SGB who retains the authority  
to make a recommendation to the HOD. 10   As such, the SGB must exercise its  
discretion rationally and objectively. Unjustified discrimination, which I have found  
5 Section 20(1)(j) of SASA.
6 Para 3.3 of Chapter B of PAM.
7De Ville at 145.
8 Wiechers, Marinus: Administrative Law; Butterworth Publishers, 1985 at 54
9 De Ville, JR: Judicial Review of Administrative Action in South Africa ;
Butterworths at 142.
10 Para 3.3(i) of Chapter B of PAM.
8

above, is not a rational basis to change the decision of the IC. In the absence of a  
valid basis for changing the preference list of the   IC,   I   agree   with   Mr  
Randall, that the SGB could not change the list. 
[36] Mr  Randall also suggested that the SGB did not have the benefit of interviewing  
the   candidates   and   therefore   was   not   in   as   good   a   position   to   assess   their  
suitability. Insofar as this suggestion implies that the SGB should also interview  
candidates in every  case  where it intends to change the decision of the  IC,  I  
disagree. 
[37] The members of the IC also serve on the SGB. They can share  
their experiences with those members of the SGB who did not have  
the benefit of having attended the interview. This is the procedure  
contemplated in paragraph 3.3 of Chapter "B" of the PAM. It is also  
a   necessary,   practical   approach   to   ensure   that   the   appoinment  
process is not duplicated and protracted and that posts are filled  
expeditiously.
[38] Whether   an   SGB   conducts   an   interview   of   the   candidates  
recommended   by   the   IC   depends   on   the   information   it   has   and  
whether further information is then required. It may not warrant the  
interview of all the candidates, but only those candidates who can  
provide the additional information.
[39] Having found as I did that the SGB's reason for changing the list  
was a veneer for its prejudice, interviewing the applicant would not  
have cured their defective reasoning. If the members of the SGB  
were   genuinely   concerned   about   who   was   objectively   the   best  
candidate   for   the   post,   they   could   have   interviewed   the   second  
respondent and the applicant themselves instead of allowing their  
discretion to be fettered by the Department.
[40] It   was  common  cause  that  there   is  no   legislative  support   for   the  
establishment of the review panel. The Department appears to have

establishment of the review panel. The Department appears to have  
conceived it as a deadlock breaking mechanism. On receipt of a  
recommendation for promotion from the SGB, the Department must  
satisfy   itself   that   the   agreed   upon   procedures   were   followed   and  
that   its   decision   complies   with   the   Employment   of   Educators   Act  
No. 76 of 1998, (EEA), the SASA and the Labour Relations Act No.  
66   of   1995   (LRA).   The   Department   may   decline   the  
recommendation   of   the   SGB   in   certain   circumstances.   These  
circumstances are identified in section 6(3)(b) of the EEA to include:
9

"(i) any   procedure   collectively   agreed  
upon
or determined by the Minister for the
appointment, promotion or transfer has not
been followed; ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
(iv) sufficient proof exists that the recom­
mendation of the said governing body or
council, as the case may be, was based on 
            undue influence; or
(v) the recommendation of the said governing
body or council, as the case may be, did
not have regard to the democratic values
and principles deposed to in section 7(1)."
[41] If the department rejects the recommendation of the SGB, it must  
refer the matter back to the SGB for a fresh recommendation.
[42] In   Highfeld   District   Council   v   Commission   for   Conciliation,   Mediation   &  
Arbitration11  it was held that procedural fairness must be judged by what has  
actually   been   done   and   not   necessarily   by   what   the   terms   of   a   contract   of  
employment,   or   a   code   of   conduct   might   contain. 12    The   Public   Service,  
however,   is   far   more   regimented.   The   obvious   reason   for   this   is   that   public  
authorities are also regulated by administrative law. (Contrast with the High Court  
decision of DANIELS, J, in   Feinberg v African Bank   Ltd & Another 13  who held  
that a disciplinary inquiry conducted in the private sector was also reviewable).  
Where a procedure and remedy is prescribed either by legislation or collective  
agreement in the public service, the public authority has to apply it. Conversely, if  
there is a vacuum, the public authority may devise an appropriate procedure or  
remedy.   In   this   case,   there   was   no   procedural   or   remedial   vacuum.   The  
procedure it should have followed was to refer the matter back to the SGB for  
another recommendation.
[43] Devising  ad hoc  procedures for individual cases also has inherent risks. Having  
regard to the emphasis in paragraph 3.4 of Chapter "B" of the PAM to “agreed

regard to the emphasis in paragraph 3.4 of Chapter "B" of the PAM to “agreed  
upon   procedures”   and   in   section   6(3)(b)(1)   of   the   EEA   to   “collectively   agreed  
upon   procedures”,   a   public   authority   should   as   far   as   possible   implement  
procedures   only   after   having   endeavoured   to   collectively   agree   on   them.   The  
emphasis is on "collective" because if agreements are reached with individuals,  
the public authority will have to justify its decision to enter into such an agreement  
11 (2003) 24 ILJ 517 (LAC).
12 Contrast with Denel v Vorster (2004) 25 ILJ 659 SCA.
13 (2004) 10 BLLR 1039 (T)
10

on objective grounds. It must also be willing and able to act consistently in all  
such   cases.   This   is   not   easy   to   accomplish,   not   least   because   even  
within a single public entity, authority may be exercised by different individuals.  
These   agreements,   when   published,   create   certainty   and   predictability   of   the  
rules, practices, procedures and remedies that govern the public authority.
[44] The   court   has   no   evidence   as   to   what   information   was   placed  
before the Head of Department on the basis of which a decision  
was taken to appoint Mr Jacobs. But paragraph 3.5 of Chapter "B"  
of the PAM requires the employer to ensure that accurate records  
are kept of proceedings dealing with the interviews, decisions and  
motivations   relating   to   the   preference   list   submitted   by   school  
governing bodies and other structures.
[45] The employer is not defined in the PAM, but the EEA defines it as
follows:
"’Employer’ in relation to any provision of
Chapter 4, 5 or 7 which applies to or is
connected with ­
­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
(b) an educator in the service of the
provincial department of education,
means the Head of Department."
[46] The Head of Department must therefore have been seized with all  
the records of the interviews, decisions and motivations relating to  
the preference list submitted by the SGB. In any event, if it made a  
decision   without   these   records,   its   decision   would   be   manifestly  
irregular.
           
[47] On studying the record, the Head of Department should have  realised that sub­
section (i), (iv) and (v) of section 6(3)(b) of the EEA (quoted above) applied. The  
review panel was not a collectively agreed upon procedure. As is manifest from  
the   SGB's   minutes   there   might   have   been   undue   influence   exerted   by   the  
teachers and parents that resulted in the SGB changing the list. The minutes of  
the IC and the SGB reveals that neither of these structures had regard to the

the IC and the SGB reveals that neither of these structures had regard to the  
democratic   values   and   principles   contemplated   in   section   195(1)   of   the  
Constitution. There was no evidence at all that either structure considered the  
need   to   redress   the   imbalances   of   the   past   in   order   to   achieve   broad  
representation.14  In   those   circumstances   the   Department   could   not   have  
satisfied itself in terms of paragraph 3.4 of Chapter "B" of the PAM. Its remedy  
was therefore to decline to make the recommendation and request the SGB to  
14 Section 7(1)(b) of the EEA
11

make another recommendation in terms of section 6(3)(c) of the EEA. 
[48] In   the   circumstances,   the   Department   had   no   basis   in   law   or  
fairness to appoint the review panel or to defer its decision making  
to   it.   The   filling   of   the   post   was   procedurally   and   substantively  
unlawful and unfair.
Remedy
[49] The order that the applicant sought in the Notice of Motion was in  
the following terms:
"6.1 Directing   the   respondent's   decision  
to   appoint   the   said   Jacobs   to   the  
post   of   principal   of   the   Despatch  
Primary School be reviewed and set  
aside as irregular and discriminatory.
6.2.1 Directing the respondent to consider the appointment of the principal's  
post at the Despatch Primary School afresh.
6.2.2 Directing that the respondent appoint the applicant as principal of the  
Despatch Primary School."
[50] My   concern   about   directing   the   first   respondent   to   consider   the  
filling of  the  principal's post  afresh is firstly,  the delay that  would  
ensue   in   finalising   the   appointment.   The   first   Respondent   would  
have   to   request   the   SGB   to   make   a   fresh   recommendation.  
Secondly, I am not convinced that the applicant's candidature would  
be considered fairly, objectively and dispassionately by the SGB. 
[51] Thirdly, the options open to the court were to either uphold the decision of the IC  
as the SGB had no rational basis for changing it.  Or, the court could substitute  
the decision of the SGB if it was satisfied that the SGB was unlikely to bring an  
independent  mind  to   bear  on  the  matter   if  it  was  called  upon   to  consider  the  
application afresh. 15  Either option would mean that Mr Jacobs, the third party,  
who was not responsible for the flawed process, might have to be removed from  
his post. That could also cause disruption at the school.
[52] I expressed these reservations to the parties after the matter was

[52] I expressed these reservations to the parties after the matter was  
argued and invited them to get a fresh mandate on an apropriate  
remedy that would avoid involving the SGB again, if I were to grant  
an order in terms of paragraph 6.1 of the relief sought. The parties  
returned   the   following   morning   to   inform   me   that   the   matter   had  
been settled. They asked that the settlement be made an order of  
the court. The terms of the settlement were as follows:
15 Baxter 681-684; De Ville pg 337 fn 352.
12

"The  parties agree that the  
matter   be   settled   on   the   following  
terms:
1. That the applicant be appointed to a  
post   level   4   position   within   the  
Nelson  Mandela Metropole in terms  
of the Employment of Educators Act.
2. That   the  first  respondent  implement  
this   settlement   within   60   days   as  
from date hereof.
3. That   the   first   respondent   pay   the  
applicant's costs.
[53] In devising this settlement the parties relied on section 8(1)(c) of the  
EEA   relating   to   the   transfer   of   educators.   The   settlement   was  
reached in order to address the difficulty of devising an appropriate  
order.   I   gathered   from   the   settlement   that   the   respondent   was  
equally keen to dispose of the dispute finally.
[54] The court was prepared to record that the matter was settled but it  
was not convinced that it could make such a settlement an order.  
The legislation for the appointment of educators and the filling of  
posts is meticulously detailed and has been consistently enforced  
by   the   courts.   The   process   involves   the   advertising   of   the   post,  
shortlisting,   interviews   and   selection   of   the   preferred   candidates.  
Any employee who covets the position to which the applicant is to  
be transferred, may legitimately object if the post is filled without the  
procedures being followed. 
[55] Section 8(1)(c) of the EEA provides as follows:
"1. Subject   to   the   provisions   of   this  
chapter
­­­­­­­­­­­­­
(c) the Head of Department may  
transfer   any   educator   in   the  
service   of   the   Provincial  
Department   of   Education   to  
any   other   post   in   that  
department.” 
(My underlining)
13

[56] Sections 6 and 7 of the   EEA   relating   to   powers   of   the  
employer and the appointment and filling of posts respectively fall  
within the same chapter as section 8 of the EEA.
[57] The   representatives   for   the   parties   persisted   in   chambers   that  
section   8   must   cater   for   the   transfer   of   educators   in   exceptional  
circumstances. I am persuaded that that must be so. Section 8(1)
(c) must exist for a reason. The plain meaning of the word “transfer”  
in   the   section   does   not   exclude   the   movement   of   educators   on  
promotion by order of the court. However, it was necessary to set  
out fully the facts, circumstances, submissions and reasons for my  
findings in this case, for neither section 8(1)(c) nor this judgment  
should be construed as a licence for remedying every unlawful or  
unfair promotion effected in the public service. 
[58] An   order   of   court   escapes   the   limitations   of   section   8(1)(c).   The  
exceptional   circumstances   I   find   in   this   case   is   that   the   IC   did  
identify the applicant as the best candidate for the job. But for the  
discrimination, she would have been promoted.
[59] Accordingly the order that I grant, which is by agreement of the
parties, is in the following terms:
1. The applicant is to be appointed to a post level 4
position within the Nelson Mandela Metropole in terms
of the Employment of Educators Act.
2. The first respondent is directed to implement paragraph 1
of the order within 60 days as from date hereof.
3. The   appointment   in   terms   of   paragraph   1   hereof   shall   be  
effected   in   terms   of   section   8   of   the   Employment   of  
Educators Act No. 76 of 1998.
4. The first respondent is to pay the applicant's costs.
                       
___________                  
Pillay D, J
FOR THE APPLICANT: Mr. M Randell
INSTRUCTED BY: Michael Randell Incorporated
14

FOR THE RESPONDENT:
INSTRUCTED BY: State Attorney
15