RACE-based affirmative action has again been in the spotlight after reports that Eskom is considering laying off hundreds of white engineers and artisans.
Based on a document (since published on Politicsweb), union Solidarity has calculated that Eskom will have to lay off 1 081 white engineers and 2 179 white artisans. This will make it compliant with strict new government requirements that these job categories become “completely reflective of the national and regional demographics” by March 31 2020.
An Eskom spokesperson has categorically denied that whites will be retrenched, but it is difficult to see how the corporation can avoid this if it has to comply with government directives.