As South Africa commemorates Women’s Month and reflects on the progress towards gender equity and inclusivity, the German car manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA), has been accused of appointing unqualified white males for positions previously designated for black female employees.
The accusation came after MBSA allegedly hired two white males in roles previously for black female South Africans.
Insiders claimed the changes came after the arrival of the new CEO Mark Reine.
The company’s General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Thato Mntambo, refuted the allegation saying they were without merit.
“Mercedes-Benz South Africa remains deeply committed to social responsibility and transformation. As an equal opportunity employer, we rigorously adhere to sound recruitment and labour practices,” said Mntambo.
Mntambo was contacted after Mercedes Benz headquarters in Germany referred this publication to him.
Currently, the unemployment rate of women (37%) is higher than joblessness among men (32%) in South Africa, and black women are the most likely to face unemployment.
Sources at MBSA said one of the appointed white males was known not to have the requisite qualifications and was handpicked without the position being advertised. He was allegedly recruited based on his friendship with the managing director.
“Black South Africans with more experience and qualifications were ignored,” said the sources who claimed that the position designated for black female South Africans which was filled by two white males, was for a Media PR and Manager.
The insiders said the positions were held by women, specifically black women, until the appointment of Reine as the chief executive officer in 2021.
The women responsible for the roles had been deployed to another department. The source said, the man, lacking experience, did not last and quickly resigned. Instead of the company advertising the position, the company quietly appointed another white male in the role.
“No one understood his appointment because the people who were in that role were qualified, they were university graduates. Even worse, he is not experienced,” the source said, adding that the media had also complained about him because he was arrogant.
This is not the first time Mercedes-Benz has made the headlines for negative news.
The Stuttgart Higher Regional Court earlier this year found that the company staff had deliberately fitted unauthorised devices to rig emissions levels in some models.
The “Dieselgate” scandal, revolving around the revelation that automakers were cheating when it came to emissions tests, first rocked Volkswagen in 2015 and then spread to other car manufacturers.
The Stuttgart ruling came after Germany’s Federal Association of Consumer Organisations (VZBV) filed a lawsuit in 2012 to help owners of certain Mercedes-Benz diesel vehicles to claim damages.
The case applied to various models, from Mercedes GLC and GLK ranges, that had been subject to recalls.
The device installed in the vehicles made them seem less polluting in lab tests than they were on the road. This meant that the vehicles did not meet the promised environmental standards.
The company is also in the process of retrenching more than 700 workers in its manufacturing plant in East London, South Africa. MBSA said this was due to declining global demand for its C-Class sedan and other challenges including a weak economy.
The announcement came at a time when exports of South African-produced vehicles have declined significantly compared to 2023 and new vehicle sales into the domestic market are also lower, largely due to SA’s poor economic conditions and the current high interest rates.
-IOL
In other news – Photos: Zodwa Wabantu head over heels in love with new Ben 10 boyfriend
Controversial South African exotic dancer, and reality television star, Zodwa Wabantu is excited about her new Ben 10 despite the criticisms faced due to her love life.
Over the past few years, the entertainer has changed boyfriends multiple times, and these men are much more younger than her, hence the name Ben 10. Taking to Instagram, Zodwa shared cute photos taken with her new lover, but his face was not revealed in the snaps. Read More
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