We’re not ending affirmative action – Manuel

‘It\'s there (the Act). In practice, it frequently is poorly used. It is sadly abused, but it\'s there and the intent of the Act is abundantly clear,’ Manuel told MPs yesterday. He was responding to the United Party of SA\'s Stan Simmons, who said it appeared there was a growing realisation that affirmative action in its present form did not ‘service its intended objective of equality in the workforce’. He called for a complete review of affirmative action, as it was worsening the problems of capacity and polarisation, doing more harm than good. Full report on the News24 site

However, a call has been made for a moratorium on employment equity in scarce skills to entice white South Africans back to the country and to ‘stabilise’ the crippling shortage of engineers and skilled artisans. According to a Cape Times report, this is one of several proposed initiatives that Transport and Public Works MEC Marius Fransman hopes will help ease the skills shortage facing the Cape. Fransman said he had recently presented a report on developing skills for the 21st century to Cabinet. In it, he had highlighted the possibility of such a moratorium. A homecoming campaign is also being planned to entice South African engineers in the UK back. The past few years has seen an exodus of white skilled labour. ‘I am calling for a moratorium, so when we do advertise posts, you can continue to appoint white scarce skills. I have a preference for a moratorium over the next three years to stabilise the province\'s situation. Full Cape Times report

A tough equity line is being pursued in KZN where Finance Minister, Zweli Mkhize, has warned business to meet nationally-set equity targets or lose out on lucrative provincial government contracts. ‘To companies who refuse to transform and support government\'s transformation policies and targets, the message is that the provincial government will not do business with you,’ Mkhize was quoted as saying in a report on the IoL site. He said that analysis had shown that there was an increasing trend of BEE suppliers, but that their suppliers ‘have not embraced our policies of meaningful and sustainable black economic empowerment’. Mkhize also issued a warning that the provincial government would investigate any suspected cases of fraud ‘without fear or favour’. ‘This government will not tolerate any form of fraud or corruption on the part of any public servant or elected official, no matter how senior, irrespective of political affiliation or any form of association.’ Full report on IoL site