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The South African Human Rights Commission received a complaint that an employment agency, PAG, was allegedly advertising for job applicants on racial and gender lines, in that it called for applications from, inter alia," young white male", "white, preferably female" candidates.

Such practice is prohibited, both in terms of recent legislation (The Promotion of Equality and the Prevention of Discrimination Act No 4 of 2000) and the SA Constitution, Section 9(4), which reads:

"No person may unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, ... marital status,...colour,... age, ...."

The SAHRC is the constitutional body tasked with promoting human rights, amongst them equality. The Commission is investigating the complaint and in pursuance thereof, has issued a subpoena calling on the employment agency to appear before it to answer these allegations and to produce various documents. Thereafter the Commission will determine what further steps to take.

The subpoena hearing will take place at the Johannesburg offices of the SAHRC, in the Board Room at Old Trafford 3, (Ground Floor), Isle of Houghton, at 10:00 on Tuesday 20 March 2001.

Contact: MC Moodliar at 011 484 8300/ 083 409 8285

Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission, 19 March 2001