Table of Contents
Topic 10: Unfair Discrimination and Affirmative Action. ...................................................................3
10.1 Important Topics ..........................................................................................................................3
10.2 The Constitutional Framework ....................................................................................................3
Section 9: Equality...........................................................................................................................4
Unfair Discrimination (section 9(3-5)) .............................................................................................4
Affirmative Action ............................................................................................................................5
Interaction between discrimination and affirmative action ..............................................................5
10.3 Unfair Discrimination: EEA ..........................................................................................................6
EEA amendments in 2014. .............................................................................................................6
Basic prohibition section 6(1) of EEA. .............................................................................................6
10.4 Understanding Unfair Discrimination ...........................................................................................6
1. Differentiation (Employee to prove) ............................................................................................7
2. Differentiation = Discrimination (direct or indirect) ......................................................................7
3. Is the Discrimination Unfair? .......................................................................................................8
10.5 Defeating a discrimination case ..................................................................................................8
Section 11: Onus Provision .............................................................................................................8
Inherent requirement of the job. ......................................................................................................9
Affirmative Action ............................................................................................................................9
The General fairness defence .......................................................................................................10
10.6 Unfair Discrimination: Equal Pay ...............................................................................................10
Section 6(4-5) of EEA: Equal Pay .................................................................................................10
Prohibition of unfair discrimination within the ‘terms and conditions’ of employment. ..................10
Employer’s arguments to defend ‘equal pay discrimination’ .........................................................10
Naidoo Case ..................................................................................................................................11
10.7 Unfair Discrimination: Sexual Harassment ................................................................................12
Section 6(3) of EEA .......................................................................................................................12
Definition .......................................................................................................................................13
Test for harassment ......................................................................................................................13
Liability of the employer in terms of s60 of the EEA. ....................................................................13
Campbell Case ..............................................................................................................................14
10.8 Dispute Resolution Jurisdiction for Unfair Discrimination. ........................................................15
10.9 Affirmative Action in terms of the EEA: General Principles.......................................................15
Chapter III of the EEA ...................................................................................................................15
Affirmative Action measures ito section 15 ...................................................................................16
Employment Equity Plan ...............................................................................................................16
Testing compliance with the Act by a designated employer (section 42) .....................................16
,10.10 Affirmative Action: Targets and Quotas. .................................................................................17
What is a target? ...........................................................................................................................17
What is a quota? ...........................................................................................................................17
Prohibition on use of quotas in s15(3) of EEA ..............................................................................17
Solidarity v Correctional Service Case (CC) .................................................................................17
10.11 Appropriate standard for adjudicating Affirmative Action. .......................................................20
Criticism of the Van Heerden rationality test: ................................................................................20
Other suggestions .........................................................................................................................21
10.12 A right to Affirmative Action? ...................................................................................................21
Requirements to benefit. ...............................................................................................................21
10.13 Affirmative Action and Unfair Discrimination ...........................................................................21
Tests for Unfair Discrimination ......................................................................................................21
Test for Harassment ......................................................................................................................22
Tests for Affirmative Action ...........................................................................................................23
, Topic 10: Unfair Discrimination and Affirmative Action.
10.1 Important Topics
o Unfair discrimination
o The constitutional elements of unfair discrimination (s9(3) and 9(4)) are
to be implemented through legislation.
o In terms of labour law, the legislation that gives effect to these rights is
the Employment Equity Act.
▪ If there is a claim for unfair discrimination, the EEA is the first port
of call.
o Section 6 of the EEA is the point of departure:
▪ 6(3): sexual harassment
▪ 6(4): equal pay
▪ 2014 amendments: dispute resolution
o Affirmative Action
o Sound knowledge of the organising principles adopted by the EEA
▪ Focus on the substance of these organising principles.
10.2 The Constitutional Framework
o General
o Sec 9 regulates the right to equality
o Definition/Vision of equality: s9(2) – substantive (not only formal)
o ‘the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms’
o Formal equality is typically seen as equality of treatment
o Substantive equality is the equality of outcomes
o Prohibits unfair discrimination s9(3)-(5)
o We do not prohibit discrimination, we prohibit unfair discrimination.
o Also makes provision for affirmative action measures s9(2)
o Van Heerdan: AA is not an exception to equality, it is part and parcel
of equality.
▪ This case made it clear that affirmative action should not be
seen as an exception to equality.
o NB: Constitutional jurisprudence very important for unfair discrimination (not
defined in EEA); not so much for AA (regulated in detail in EEA)
o Although the EEA prohibits unfair discrimination, it does not contain
a definition for unfair discrimination.
Topic 10: Unfair Discrimination and Affirmative Action. ...................................................................3
10.1 Important Topics ..........................................................................................................................3
10.2 The Constitutional Framework ....................................................................................................3
Section 9: Equality...........................................................................................................................4
Unfair Discrimination (section 9(3-5)) .............................................................................................4
Affirmative Action ............................................................................................................................5
Interaction between discrimination and affirmative action ..............................................................5
10.3 Unfair Discrimination: EEA ..........................................................................................................6
EEA amendments in 2014. .............................................................................................................6
Basic prohibition section 6(1) of EEA. .............................................................................................6
10.4 Understanding Unfair Discrimination ...........................................................................................6
1. Differentiation (Employee to prove) ............................................................................................7
2. Differentiation = Discrimination (direct or indirect) ......................................................................7
3. Is the Discrimination Unfair? .......................................................................................................8
10.5 Defeating a discrimination case ..................................................................................................8
Section 11: Onus Provision .............................................................................................................8
Inherent requirement of the job. ......................................................................................................9
Affirmative Action ............................................................................................................................9
The General fairness defence .......................................................................................................10
10.6 Unfair Discrimination: Equal Pay ...............................................................................................10
Section 6(4-5) of EEA: Equal Pay .................................................................................................10
Prohibition of unfair discrimination within the ‘terms and conditions’ of employment. ..................10
Employer’s arguments to defend ‘equal pay discrimination’ .........................................................10
Naidoo Case ..................................................................................................................................11
10.7 Unfair Discrimination: Sexual Harassment ................................................................................12
Section 6(3) of EEA .......................................................................................................................12
Definition .......................................................................................................................................13
Test for harassment ......................................................................................................................13
Liability of the employer in terms of s60 of the EEA. ....................................................................13
Campbell Case ..............................................................................................................................14
10.8 Dispute Resolution Jurisdiction for Unfair Discrimination. ........................................................15
10.9 Affirmative Action in terms of the EEA: General Principles.......................................................15
Chapter III of the EEA ...................................................................................................................15
Affirmative Action measures ito section 15 ...................................................................................16
Employment Equity Plan ...............................................................................................................16
Testing compliance with the Act by a designated employer (section 42) .....................................16
,10.10 Affirmative Action: Targets and Quotas. .................................................................................17
What is a target? ...........................................................................................................................17
What is a quota? ...........................................................................................................................17
Prohibition on use of quotas in s15(3) of EEA ..............................................................................17
Solidarity v Correctional Service Case (CC) .................................................................................17
10.11 Appropriate standard for adjudicating Affirmative Action. .......................................................20
Criticism of the Van Heerden rationality test: ................................................................................20
Other suggestions .........................................................................................................................21
10.12 A right to Affirmative Action? ...................................................................................................21
Requirements to benefit. ...............................................................................................................21
10.13 Affirmative Action and Unfair Discrimination ...........................................................................21
Tests for Unfair Discrimination ......................................................................................................21
Test for Harassment ......................................................................................................................22
Tests for Affirmative Action ...........................................................................................................23
, Topic 10: Unfair Discrimination and Affirmative Action.
10.1 Important Topics
o Unfair discrimination
o The constitutional elements of unfair discrimination (s9(3) and 9(4)) are
to be implemented through legislation.
o In terms of labour law, the legislation that gives effect to these rights is
the Employment Equity Act.
▪ If there is a claim for unfair discrimination, the EEA is the first port
of call.
o Section 6 of the EEA is the point of departure:
▪ 6(3): sexual harassment
▪ 6(4): equal pay
▪ 2014 amendments: dispute resolution
o Affirmative Action
o Sound knowledge of the organising principles adopted by the EEA
▪ Focus on the substance of these organising principles.
10.2 The Constitutional Framework
o General
o Sec 9 regulates the right to equality
o Definition/Vision of equality: s9(2) – substantive (not only formal)
o ‘the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms’
o Formal equality is typically seen as equality of treatment
o Substantive equality is the equality of outcomes
o Prohibits unfair discrimination s9(3)-(5)
o We do not prohibit discrimination, we prohibit unfair discrimination.
o Also makes provision for affirmative action measures s9(2)
o Van Heerdan: AA is not an exception to equality, it is part and parcel
of equality.
▪ This case made it clear that affirmative action should not be
seen as an exception to equality.
o NB: Constitutional jurisprudence very important for unfair discrimination (not
defined in EEA); not so much for AA (regulated in detail in EEA)
o Although the EEA prohibits unfair discrimination, it does not contain
a definition for unfair discrimination.
