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Johannesburg - It doesn't make any sense to empower those who are already empowered. This applies to black people as well.
So says Jimmy Manyi, chairperson of the Commission for Employment Equity, during an interview on Friday. These comments came in response to the furore surrounding his statements that white women have been sufficiently empowered.
Manyi explained his position and said that the absence of a sunset clause in the Employment Equity Act could result in black people being empowered to a larger extent than was intended by the Employment Equity Act.
"The fact is that economically active white women have exceeded their allocated percentage by more than 100%, even by conservative estimates.
"It is merely good etiquette to ask SA if white women should still be empowered."
Manyi said that the report backing his point of view on the issue would be issued in September.
He said that the Commission for Employment Equity is authorised to formulate regulations that entrench the goals of the Employment Equity Act. The commission will use the report to review the inclusion of white women as empowerment candidates.
The Employment Equity Act's aim is to redress the imbalances of the past, he said.
According to Rentia Landman, leader of the FF+ Women, white women have been overlooked for high-level positions because the dominant culture advantages men.
Enquiries at companies showed that white women have not been appointed on the basis of gender but on merit.
Landman says that the race quotas that the goverment forces on employers is the biggest reason why administration standards are sinking to low levels. The ANC's transformation ideology has caused almost irreparable damage.
Manyi should look at lower level posts where white people are underrepresented, she says. "Limiting the role of white women in the economy will result in further disruptions to employment practice and will have counter productive results that will affect all South Africans."
Willie Spies the FF+ labour spokesperson says that Manyi's statements are unnecessary and insensitive and is not in keeping with the office of someone who is supposed to be the torch bearer of equality in the workplace.
- Sake24