SAHRC and SACP concerned “over green” card saga in Worcester

Mbasa Gqokoma
12 March 2015

The South African Human Rights Commission said at this stage it has not received a formal compliant to investigate the green card saga in Worcester.

A report last week alleges that gardeners in Worcester have to apply for a green card in order for them to be eligible to apply for work in certain neighbourhoods in the area.

The Commission said it takes concern that the establishment of such a system would constitute a discriminatory practice which impacts upon the constitutional rights of the workers.

SA Human Rights Commission Isaac Mangena says the Human Rights Commission had investigated these similar matters and conducting public hearings in 2004 and in the report concluded that it will not condone that conduct that really resembles these community practises and deny people their fundamental freedom. We really need to act and found out why these communities have decided to do this.

Meanwhile the South African Communist Party in the Western Cape has called on government to urgently investigate what it describes a disgusting practise.

SACP Provincial Spokesperson Masonwabe Sokoyi said the implementation of the “dompass” in Worcester adds further evidence to a growing trend of working class repression in the province.

Sokoyi said “we view the green card as the second coming of the dompass and again we are however disappointed but not surprised by the comment made by MEC Dan Plato that he is aware of the situation and he could not do anything to make sure that conduct does not take place at all”, Sokoyi added.