After 22 years of democracy in our country, it is disappointing to observe that there is still lack of transformation regarding employment equity as highlighted in the report of Commission of Employment Equity 2014/15.
In South Africa there are still institutions that have taken a conscious decision not to transform and support employment equity and we still have:
– 70 % of whites occupying the positions at the top management level,
– 79 % of males occupying the positions at the top management level, almost four times representation than their female counterparts, and
– only 2% of persons with disabilities occupying top management level.
It is the responsibility of all who aspire to progressive ideals such us those enshrined in the Freedom Charter and the Preamble of the Constitution of Republic of South Africa to join hands and take institutions that are against transformation to task.
It cannot be correct that there are no harsh actions taken against institutions perpetuating imbalances of the past. Whilst we rally around fighting fraud and corruption we must also declare being against transformation a crime. We must unite in fighting for social justice and elimination of vast inequalities created by apartheid and the system of national oppression. There must be measures in place to deal with the anti-transformation agendas before the marginalised completely lose patience.
As a nation we must collectively agree that those who have unduly benefited from the injustices of the past and still reaping the rewards of being previously advantaged during apartheid must find it in their hearts to voluntarily share with the previously disadvantaged or else there must be laws to force them to share what they have benefited from Apartheid which was declared a crime against humanity by the United Nations.
We need to stand up as a nation and take the anti-transformation agenda by its horns.
*Rakolote is Provincial Convener of the Progressive Professionals Forum in North West and a member of the International Association for Public Participation in Southern Africa.
He writes in his personal capacity
