Is it time to scrap equity targets?

eNCA

07-05-2025

JOHANNESBURG - The debate on whether to scrap or keep the Employment Equity Amendment Act rages on.
The Act was introduced to address historical disparities and promote equitable representation in the workplace.
This has been a contentious issue for years.
In 1998, South Africa signed the Employment Equity Act into law and was later amended to the Employment Equity Amendment Act (EEAA) on 12 April 2023.
Despite its intended purpose, many have questioned the implementation of the EEAA, with some accusing the governing party of prioritising a certain population group.
This time, eNCA's social media platforms are buzzing following our viewers' question on the Democratic Alliance taking the EE Amendment Act to the High Court.
"Why are black-dominated government sectors failing? President Ramaphosa, in his SONA speech, said municipalities are failing because of a lack of technical skills.
The ANC needs to fix the real skills problem, which is a skills deficit among the country's black people.
In many cities and towns across the country, roads are not maintained, water and electricity supply are often disrupted, refuse is not collected, and sewage runs in the streets.
In part, this is because many municipalities lack the technical skills and resources required to meet people's needs," says @ish18_e on X.
@FireyFastFreddy believes the DA has done the right thing by challenging the Act in court. "It's legitimate. I think employing certain groups to make up the numbers is a dangerous ploy".
Glynis Salzer on Facebook says, " Unemployment figures prove it hasn't worked, as does the lack of monetary growth, investment, etc".
"The act is also useless because even if you are qualified, without connections, you won't be employed. They are just bluffing us with the nice useless acts," says Bra Charlie on Facebook.
However @Gabojust on X slammed the DA saying, "Race remains a highly charged topic in our country three decades after the end of white minority rule. The DA's leadership and the party have a reputation for defending the interests of the white minority, which it denies.'
@luckymaake4 on X says "A lot of things that the DA wants to achieve will come at the expense of the previously disadvantaged. Because of our history, whatever is implemented will disappoint the previously disadvantaged or the previously advantaged. It is difficult to satisfy everyone".
Explaining his understading of the Act, Manix Sanga Muyala on Facebook said, " To my own understanding, employment equity is a mechanism to try and bring a balance between those who were oppressed and the oppressors . Can anyone tell me what other system is in place to uplift those who were oppressed?"
The DA is challenging the constitutionality of the new draft employment equity targets.
The amendments are proposed in the recently gazetted Employment Equity Amendment Act.
The party argues that the previous version of the EE Act struck an appropriate balance between fostering transformation and protecting the rights of undesignated groups.
It says the previous EE Act was flexible, prohibited quotas, and empowered employers to set targets based on their specific circumstances.
The DA says the draft law is tagged incorrectly and should be declared invalid.