The Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana says the allegations by
Freedom Front Plus leader Corne Mulder that affirmative action was an
?undisguised? affirmative action are totally unfounded.
Minister Mdladlana said the enactment of the Employment Equity Act
by the ANC government was necessitated by the need to redress the
country?s labour market backlog caused by the legacy of apartheid and
other discriminatory laws and practices.
?It?s a known fact that our government inherited a country with
disparities in the employment force and income within the national
labour market. Those disparities have for years disadvantaged the
majority of black South Africans and could not be redressed by only
repealing the discriminatory laws?, said Minister Mdladlana.
?The ANC government felt it necessary to legislate the Employment
Equity Act so as to eliminate unfair discrimination in the workplace
and also to ensure that the effects of discrimination are redressed for
the common promotion of the country?s economy and efficiency in the
workplace?, he added.
Minister Mdladlana emphasised that the ANC government has no
intention of reversing the Employment Equity Act, which he said, forms
part of the party?s broader transformation agenda.
It?s a well known fact that black people in this country were
oppressed for 300 years and during that time they could not own land or
participate in the country?s economic activities while at the same time
they were denied access to education?
?Therefore I find it totally unacceptable that the Freedom Front
Plus should come today and say the ANC must repeal the Employment
Equity Act and place a cut-off date on affirmative action. We cannot be
expected to undo the injustices that happened over hundreds of years
within such a short space of time?, said the Minister.
Minister Mdladlana said the ANC in its history of struggle has never
fought against South African white citizens but against the racist
policy of apartheid.
"Parties like the Freedom Front should never be voted into power as
they will continuously whip up racist emotions. To accuse the ANC
government of discriminating against white matriculants is a very
dangerous racist campaign card. The ANC will never discriminate against
white children, but will ensure that the South African society is fully
transformed,? said Minister Mdladlana.
?As ANC government we remain resolute on our commitment to the
eradication of the vestiges of apartheid and ensuring that the country
is fully transformed and we will continue to pursue this agenda until
we are fully satisfied that we have attained our key objective of ?a
better live for all?, he concluded.
