EFF statement on slow pace of affirmative action

26 April 2016

The EFF notes the findings of the Commission for Employment Equity, which released its annual report for 2015 yesterday. The commission has found that the racial transformation in top managment position in the private sector is regressing.

The report showed that whites represented 70% of top management in 2014, falling to 68.9% last year. Improvements that have been seen are only on the basis of 1%. For instance African representation rose from 13.6% to 14.3% in 2015. As regards gender, the report found that male domination has remained unchanged.

Affirmative Action is essentially about contesting existing job opportunities in an economy that is already owned by whites. Twenty two years into democracy, these statistics attest to the fact that the white population is not interested in sharing wealth and in sharing leadership of business with black people.

The Commission's report demonstrates that our economy is led by white racists who only see blacks as consumers whose only contribution is as cheap and daily disposable labour. It is a fact that they trade and do business in a country whose majority is black people, yet they despise the very people who make them rich.

Many black professionals work hard after even studying harder in order to grow, but because of the color of their skin it does not happen. White led companies are not scared to transform because there is no loss they suffer. They continue with business because they can even trade amongst each other. At times, even the government overlooks the fact of race and racism. A perfect example is in the fact that most senior councils that represent the government in legal battles are white males.

The EFF believes that the only solution to a racist economy which excludes and marginalized black people is economic freedom. Blacks need to beg whites for a place in the economy of a country of their birth. It is a shame that to this day, twenty two years after democracy we have not created new industries in which black people's skills, talents and gifts are appreciated.

Additionally, it is a shame that white dominated companies like Naspers, BHP Billton, SAB, ABSA, KPMG, Woolworths to name a few continue to live off the black market but does not recognize black peoples as capable to run and own them.

The EFF economic emancipation program is the only solution as it will disarm the commanding heights of the economy from the racist anti-black hands they are in at the moment into the hands of the people.

Issued by Mbuyseni Quintin Ndlozi, National Spokesperson, EFF, 26 April 2016