Campaign against Bidvest due to ‘no whites’ programme

Solidarity is intensifying its campaign against Bidvest due to its school bursary programme excluding white children.

The campaign started in July 2025 after Bidvest’s school bursary programme, which benefits employees’ children from Grade 4 to Grade 12, was criticised as racist.

Bidvest said full-time employees can apply for the program if they earn less than R15,300 per month before deductions.

The Bidvest bursary covers school fees, stationery from Waltons, school uniforms, and assistance with extra classes.

However, it was not open to white employees. “You must be African, Coloured or Indian” to apply, the Bidvest brochure stated.

Trade union Solidarity chief executive, Dirk Hermann, wrote an open letter to Bidvest chief executive, Mpumi Madisa, arguing that it is wrong in every aspect.

“A white employee earning less than R15 300 has precisely the same challenges with their children as a black employee,” he said.

“What Bidvest is doing for black children is noble, but what the company is doing to white children is racist,” he said.

He stated that the United Nations’ guidelines on race-based programs stipulate that class, rather than race, should be used. “Absolute race-based programs are illegal,” he said.

Julian Gwillim from Aprio Strategic Communications responded to Hermann on behalf of Bidvest, explaining that the Bidvest Education Trust is behind the bursary.

The Bidvest Education Trust was previously known as the Dinatla Trust, established in 2003 as a CSI shareholding structure that formed part of Dinatla.

In line with the B-BBEE Act 53 of 2003, the Trust was formed for the sole purpose of uplifting Historically Disadvantaged Individuals who are employees of the Bidvest Group.

“It has been operational for over 22 years and very successful in changing the lives of our employees and their families,” Gwillim said.

He added that as a South African company, the Bidvest Group will continue to work toward advancing workplace equality and inclusion.

It will also work towards broadening the economic participation of Black people – African, Coloured and Indian – in the South African economy.

“We not only comply with, but fully endorse and support, the principles and objectives of the policies and laws of our country that are fundamental to achieving our collective economic and social ambitions,” Gwillim said.

Solidarity intensifies campaign against Bidvest

Solidarity gave Bidvest until 25 July 2025 to rectify the discriminatory programme. However, the company did not respond to this deadline.

Last week, Solidarity lodged complaints with the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Commission and the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).

The UN and SAHRC complaints are focused on Bidvest’s school program that excludes white children, which Solidarity argues is racist.

“With these official complaints, Solidarity aims to expose the immoral and unlawful conduct of Bidvest,” the trade union said.

Solidarity said white employees, regardless of their needs, are excluded from receiving support through this program.

It believes that the program constitutes a serious violation of the fundamental rights that every South African should enjoy under the Constitution.

“This program is illegal, immoral, racist, and discriminatory. Such a policy does not correct any injustices of the past and creates division in the workplace,” Hermann said.

“Solidarity would propose a class-based rather than a race-based upliftment approach, as such an approach takes economic need into account.”

He argued that Bidvest’s rigid race-based policy sends the message that white employees do not deserve upliftment solely because of their skin colour.

Solidarity said the Bidvest program contravenes the Constitution’s provisions regarding the right to human dignity, the right to equality, and the right to fair labour practices.

Solidarity called on the SAHRC to ensure that Bidvest immediately changes its policy to a fair and inclusive program.

Daily Investor asked Bidvest for comment regarding this issue, but it did not respond.