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Programme Director

Chief Director Provincial Operations in KZN, Mr Edward Khambula DEL: Chief Director Labour Relations, Mr Thembinkosi Mkalipi

CCMA: Regional Senior Commissioner in KZN, Mr Dube

Employers, employees, trade unions, academics, and members of civil society Media industry

Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning and a warm welcome to you all.

It is an honour and a privilege to welcome you all to this annual Employment Equity roadshow hosted jointly by the Department of Employment and Labour and the CCMA. I thank you all for having taken time in your busy schedules to join us in this august event.

This roadshow today in KZN, is one of the many EE roadshows that we have already conducted in all other eight provinces since 18 July 2023, and it creates an opportunity and a platform to share information; exchange experiences and best practices, including empowering each other on the latest policy developments in the EE space.

Ladies and gentlemen – I want to believe that you are aware that there has been a media frenzy and misinformation since the signing into law of the EE Amendment Act, 2022 by the President in April 2023; and subsequently the publication of the proposed Sector EE targets for public comment in May 2023.

Some media articles reflected the views of certain opposition parties and social media posts, which intentionally misconstrued the facts around the objectives of the EE amendments and the Sector EE targets in order to mislead the public, including dividing our labour market and communities as whole, along racial lines.

It is against this backdrop that this roadshow today presents to you all, an opportunity and a platform to receive first-hand information and clarifications on the EE Amendments and the proposed Sector EE targets; provide feedback on the 2022 EE status of the labour market as reflected in the 23^rd Commission for Employment Equity Annual Report.

In addition, the CCMA will share with you the EEA case law not limited from the cases handled by the CCMA, but from the Labour Courts and the Constitutional Court as well. These case laws are critical in providing guidance on the interpretation of the EEA and its practical application in your various workplaces.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I remind you that knowledge is power, but speaking from of a point of no knowledge or little knowledge on any subject is more dangerous and catastrophic.

I therefore, urge all of you to sit back; pay attention; and enrich your knowledge with the informative and interesting content of this workshop. I now declare this workshop officially opened and wish you successful deliberations.

Thank you very much for gracing our workshop with your presence!​

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