"The complaint of Mr. Jimmy Manyi, chairperson of the Commission on Employment Equity, that affirmative action is taking place at a too slow pace in South Africa, is unsuitable. South Africa needs all its expertise on all employment levels to effectively overcome the current economic recession and that is why the government should place a moratorium on the application of affirmative action. Merit should apply with the filling of all positions, and nothing else," Mr. Pieter Groenewald, Parliamentary spokesperson on Labour for the Freedom Front Plus says.

"In the latest annual report of the Employment Equity Commission, Mr. Manyi emphasizes the 61% of white men who are still in management positions, but it is widely known that the annual employment equity reports are not undertaken in any scientific way. There should also be looked at middle and lower level management positions to determine what the composition of the workforce is on these levels. South Africa has a shortage of artisans and the government should rather focus on this and improve training, rather than being worried about affirmative action," Groenewald said.

Statement issued by Pieter Groenewald, Freedom Front Plus, parliamentary spokesperson on labour, August 24 2009

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