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THE most telling kick in the teeth to South Africa’s transformation process in its almost 20 years of life has been the rampant corruption during President Jacob Zuma’s presidency.
He has had little time to address issues of lack of transformation in the country’s economic sectors because he has had to put out fires fuelled by widespread vice under his reign.
Zuma has most probably fired more senior government executives than the two previous presidents (Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki) combined. This shows the extent of corruption under his rule.
Shortly into his presidency, he unveiled the Black Economic Empowerment Advisory Council amid extensive financial media coverage.
And many thought he would speed up transformation by publicly making statements that show he detests those that deliberately refuse to transform.
But lo and behold, there was a protracted lull after the launch of the Advisory Council.
The lull continued until he made a relatively weak speech recently, criticising fronting when he was invited to make a speech at the BEE Summit in Johannesburg.
But the undermining of transformation continues to haunt the country, unless urgent steps are taken to stop this.
This week it emerged that South African employers were unwilling to “make a leap of transformation" and implement provisions of the Employment Equity Act.
These accusations, according to Business Day, were made by Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant in the National Assembly.
Business Day quoted Oliphant as having said not much headway had been made, with white males continuing to dominate in top and middle echelons of companies.
Elleck Nchabeleng, the chairperson of the labour portfolio committee, was also worried about the inclination to "rubbish" South Africa’s transformation efforts.
Nchabeleng was quoted as saying business had not invested in the transformation agenda, and the high levels of inequity in the country were a source of uncertainty.
"If things continue like this we might have to consider making compliance with employment equity a precondition of doing business with the state," he told Business Day.
South African employers are not meeting the employment equity goals they set for themselves.
I personally believe that the rejection of transformation has become a racial thing which will be the most potentially dangerous socio-demographic tendency of the coming five years.
I may be wrong, but I think changing demographics in sectors of the economy have stirred in some South African whites a larger racial awareness, an increasing sense that they are under siege and noisier demands for the end of transformation.
I strongly believe this. I think to evade a damaging white reaction at a time when the society is diversifying speedily, President Zuma should stand up and reject these tendencies with the contempt they deserve.
He should also explain the necessity of transformation in South Africa and threaten those who reject change, if needs be.
Is there clear proof that South African whites are damaged by transformation? No.
Over almost two decades of transformation in South Africa, there are still companies that have all-white front desks. I can take anyone who wishes to one or two of these sites.
White people in South Africa still make up the massive mainstream of many JSE-listed and private firms. Just look at the JSE report which came out this week.
Have blacks (Africans, Coloured and Indians) reached equality with other races in the country in terms of employment and income? Not even close.
I hope President Zuma’s ministers can stop corruption so that he can focus on those that stall transformation in South Africa.
- Fin24
*Mzwandile Jacks is a freelance journalist. Opinions expressed are his own.
He has had little time to address issues of lack of transformation in the country’s economic sectors because he has had to put out fires fuelled by widespread vice under his reign.
Zuma has most probably fired more senior government executives than the two previous presidents (Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki) combined. This shows the extent of corruption under his rule.
Shortly into his presidency, he unveiled the Black Economic Empowerment Advisory Council amid extensive financial media coverage.
And many thought he would speed up transformation by publicly making statements that show he detests those that deliberately refuse to transform.
But lo and behold, there was a protracted lull after the launch of the Advisory Council.
The lull continued until he made a relatively weak speech recently, criticising fronting when he was invited to make a speech at the BEE Summit in Johannesburg.
But the undermining of transformation continues to haunt the country, unless urgent steps are taken to stop this.
This week it emerged that South African employers were unwilling to “make a leap of transformation" and implement provisions of the Employment Equity Act.
These accusations, according to Business Day, were made by Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant in the National Assembly.
Business Day quoted Oliphant as having said not much headway had been made, with white males continuing to dominate in top and middle echelons of companies.
Elleck Nchabeleng, the chairperson of the labour portfolio committee, was also worried about the inclination to "rubbish" South Africa’s transformation efforts.
Nchabeleng was quoted as saying business had not invested in the transformation agenda, and the high levels of inequity in the country were a source of uncertainty.
"If things continue like this we might have to consider making compliance with employment equity a precondition of doing business with the state," he told Business Day.
South African employers are not meeting the employment equity goals they set for themselves.
I personally believe that the rejection of transformation has become a racial thing which will be the most potentially dangerous socio-demographic tendency of the coming five years.
I may be wrong, but I think changing demographics in sectors of the economy have stirred in some South African whites a larger racial awareness, an increasing sense that they are under siege and noisier demands for the end of transformation.
I strongly believe this. I think to evade a damaging white reaction at a time when the society is diversifying speedily, President Zuma should stand up and reject these tendencies with the contempt they deserve.
He should also explain the necessity of transformation in South Africa and threaten those who reject change, if needs be.
Is there clear proof that South African whites are damaged by transformation? No.
Over almost two decades of transformation in South Africa, there are still companies that have all-white front desks. I can take anyone who wishes to one or two of these sites.
White people in South Africa still make up the massive mainstream of many JSE-listed and private firms. Just look at the JSE report which came out this week.
Have blacks (Africans, Coloured and Indians) reached equality with other races in the country in terms of employment and income? Not even close.
I hope President Zuma’s ministers can stop corruption so that he can focus on those that stall transformation in South Africa.
- Fin24
*Mzwandile Jacks is a freelance journalist. Opinions expressed are his own.
