“So as a prelude whites must be made to realise that they are only human, not superior. Same with Blacks. They must be made to realise that they are also human, not inferior”. – Steven Biko
Okay, let me start off the article by apologising, I am doing so because this is going to be an intense and maybe a little offensive article and I think my last on the subject *could be my first as well, not sure* But I would not be doing myself and my new found revolutionary spirit *mmmh-clears throat (as I find this extremely funny) forgive me for laughing at my own jokes* justice if I don’t write this! This is after all for our kids……..
I read an article that was truly shocking, interesting, frustrating, angering, annoying and sad, all at the same damn time *pick an emotion* in the report a bleak picture of transformation in the workplace was painted, with the top management structures, nationally still being dominated by whites at 70%, with blacks at 13.6%, Indians 8.4%, coloureds 4.7% and foreigners 3.4% (http://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/bleak-job-equity-picture-as-whites-still-dominate-1.1890966#.VbdvU6P8JHY) this is frustrating because it means we are struggling with transformation in the country! It is shocking and annoying because reality is, one party is unwilling to move for unity and peace sake! And sad because the more they delay, the more the divide occurs, does this mean racism will never end? Does this mean we will constantly be in a state of us and them?
Amazingly you will hear so many detractors of AA, EE and all other sorts of laws put in place to try and right the injustices against 80% of the population, failing to understand purposefully that affirmative action is not about demanding that someone without talent be given a position but about asking the powerful to notice the unnoticed *and you my friend! Are the unnoticed, yes you darkie working hard in your lil corner! I’m talking to you*. Pierre De Vos said in his article In black and white: the truth about ‘unconstitutional’ race quotas in universities, “Ironically, many of the children and grandchildren of those white Afrikaners who benefited from unfair racial discrimination in the past and who, in turn, today enjoy educational and financial privileges because their parents benefited from racial oppression and discrimination, now fight against the implementation of redress measures in the name of non-racialism. Talk about Orwellian (n adjective describing the situation, idea, or societal condition that George Orwell identified as being destructive to the welfare of a free and open society, Don’t worry I got youJ ) double-speak”.
According to the report in the Western Cape, white males 63.8% were over-represented in top management, followed by Mpumalanga 60.2%, Eastern Cape 59.4% and Free State 59.2%, all this is despite the coloured group making up 50.2% of the total economically active population, followed by blacks at 31.7%, whites 17.1% and Indians 1% *The figures were for economically active people*. And now you will hear all the racists or uninformed going “but black people are not equipped for management? Not properly qualified?” Whatever excuse they can come with to try and shield their prejudices. I have heard too many horror stories of black professionals in corporate South Africa! Too many and I refuse to believe that all those people could not handle the space or were not achievers! See, the problem with Corporate SA is, it has proven time and again that it doesn’t want US! You will find so many of them unlearned as much as you are and not as hardworking, but at the top and you are told, “You are not good enough or smart enough” *Yes! With your cum laude degree in hand and hard earned experience*, because you are not part of the “boys club”……..The boys club, camping, yachting, golfing and all those things that they get to do together over the weekend, wherein you are not invited and will never be, thus it being a cycle of them being comrades and YOU on the outs! WELCOME TO CORPORATE SA CHAPS!!!!!!!!
Okay, now for the offensive bits, I am of the opinion that Indian (and Chinese but that’s not offensive as they are not black! I’m sorry, I’m unapologetic about that) people must be removed from the black classification, See from 1994 to 2014, skilled black professionals increased by 3% versus Indian/Asian professionals who increased by 26%, Black unemployment was standing at 40% versus 18% of the Indian/Asian population group. About 20% of all blacks with degrees were unemployed versus about 6% of Indian/Asian. All this with Africans at 80% *yes I had to say it again to make my point!* and Indian/ Asian at 2.5%, SOUTH AFRICA! ALIVE WITH POSSIBILITIES, RIGHT? *Only if you are not black I guess* I don’t dislike Indian people *hell I don’t even dislike White people* I am just being honest, the reality is white people find it easier to socialize with Indian people than black people and therein lies the conundrum!!!! For their EE or AA rating, they would rather hire them than US! A sad but true story….
“The Department of Labour is in the process of finalising its first-ever court case in order to ask the labour court to force companies‚ especially bigger corporations‚ to comply with the Employment Equity Act or face a fine”. Thobile Lamati‚ the Director-General‚ said that “some 1‚400 employers across the country had failed to submit their employment equity reports despite this being a requirement by the law”. This came as the Commission for Employment Equity announced white males continue to dominate management positions in the South African economy‚ while the appointment of Africans into those positions is “moving at a snail’s pace”. “There is no effort to embrace the spirit of employment equity. “In terms of the SA economy at management level‚ it is still business as usual as it was prior to democracy.
According to the report‚ 70% of whites remain in leadership positions while Africans only have 13.6% representation in top management!
Now, for the last offensive bit, we need to also be honest as black people about how many of our brothers and sisters are failing to mentor and pull one up! Yes I said it….we have a tendency to want to be the only ones shining, once you make it, you close doors for everyone else! WHY? So, that you can act and feel big at KONG? OR SWAY? WHY? I mean really, you find one black dude sitting on ten boards at the same damn time! As long as you are part of the boys club screw everybody right? You made it! *Blah! Blah! Blah!* that is a huge part of why all the laws are not working, we are our own worst enemies…..failing to see the big picture! See, you are failing to help me now and next I will be failing to help your kids when I’m fat and powerful……
Also, we need to start our own companies fellas…..we need to hire our own and appreciate black excellence, we need to fight government to stop giving the black child a mediocre education that will keep them in poverty! Education that will enslave them to being employees and never the innovators or bosses! Also, we need to be honest when we look at ourselves and fellow colleagues, are they giving more than I am giving? AM I truly honestly deserving of the accolades? *actually screw this part! Some of them are not deserving but fuc*ers still getting that ever elusive promotion* Point is, if this shyt doesn’t get resolved now, we will always carry an US and them in the corporate space! Be A BLACK RENEGADE always go against the system and do the unexpected! Excel always! Lift others up! Stand up and stand out! Don’t fit in at your own detriment! I am of the opinion that all black people must be revolutionaries in the space that they have occupied *Not for ourselves but for our kids and to get the ball of change happening*
By Nthabiseng Lucia Tselapedi
