Latest news with #BEEE
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Uh, am I not African, Mr Ramaphosa?
If entire population groups cannot understand their place in society, how can they participate meaningfully in it? My family has lived in South Africa for more than 13 generations and has stretched across at least three race classifications, and yet I am not seen as an African. I may dance to Amapiano, watch rugby, attend spinning events, or share a curry with my neighbours, but we are constantly reminded that we are not the same. We may choose to all see ourselves as South Africans, but when we stand in line to fill in paperwork or listen to politicians speak, we are reminded that there is no such thing. The box of aggressive racial classification that so haunted and divided South Africa during Apartheid continues, and was given a pass by President Cyril Ramaphosa this week Speaking just days after Africa Day was celebrated across the continent, Ramaphosa claimed that citizens of all races have 'equal claim to this country' and that everyone is 'African first and foremost'. But then defended the government's use of the word 'African' to legally identify black South Africans. After making his stand, he comically used the word 'black' to describe the group from then on, as if he himself was not comfortable using the word in the context his party's government had agreed to. He noted several examples of the word 'African' being used alongside 'coloured,' 'Khoi,' 'white,' 'Indian,' or 'Asian,' including on BEE policy documents and official census records, where 'Black African' is used. If official and historical statistics can identify a group as black African, then why can't they likewise see someone as white or Indian African? Discrimination? While Ramaphosa pointed to classification as a help in addressing previous inequalities, it does nothing to remedy the past if a coloured, Indian or Asian person is seen as black for BEEE purposes but not for other relief programs. It only spreads more division if the state sees a group one way and then differently at another time, depending on what the government is trying to achieve. Coloured and Indian communities have often spoken about how they feel relegated in society, often seen as an afterthought in the great race debate. If entire population groups cannot understand their place in society, how can they participate meaningfully in it? ALSO READ: A VIEW OF THE WEEK: Don't give BEE bully Musk your lunch money Ramaphosa admitted that no impact assessment has been done to see how it disadvantages all South Africans to have only one group identified as merely African, but acknowledged that it hampered social cohesion. And yet he stuck by his guns. He suggested that everyone should be seen as African, but until Apartheid wrongs were righted, it couldn't be. He gave no explanation of how the government was trying to reach this goal of unity, except to point out how BEE was failing, but must come right. Meanwhile, communities across the country continue to question whether the continent that bore them has simply abandoned them. NOW READ: A VIEW OF THE WEEK: What's real? Ask AI… or not
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Cartoon of the day: 28 May 2025
Is Elon Musk strong arming SA into allowing his Starlink internet service. SA-born billionaire Elon Musk has seemingly ignored local employment equity legislation to try force through a deal for his Starlink internet service. Musk has been accused of using his relationship with US President Donald Trump to bypass BEE laws, with reports last week detailing how the SA government was willing to create a workaround for the businessman. While Ramaphosa said bending local employment equity laws for Starlink was not discussed, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi recently gazetted regulations that allow the company to operate here without adhering to BEEE policies. Malatsi defended the regulations, saying that they stemmed from a Competition Commission Data Services Market Inquiry (DSMI) report in 2019 and had been in the works for some time. 'It is the lack of competition in the market that appears to be the greatest impediment to lower prices for consumers,' the report stated. Malatsi said that since being appointed minister, the department has set a timeline for the policy directive process to be finalised by mid-June. Musk can't bend the rules- EFF Speaking over the weekend, EFF leader Julius Malema said Starlink should not be allowed to work in South Africa without playing by exisiting rules. '[Government] wants to relax B-BBEE laws for Musk to operate in South Africa. There is no such law in our country.' The African Transformation Movement also condemned what it called 'the ANC-DA coalition's latest act of betrayal against the people of South Africa'. The party said Malatsi's idea was 'a shameless sellout to American oligarchs Musk and US President Donald Trump – a move that spits in the face of our nation's transformation agenda'. NOW READ: Makhubele shoots down Starlink as 'frivolous' while Malatsi champions space for competition
The Citizen
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Cartoon of the day: 26 May 2025
President Cyril Ramaphosa has a long to-do list already! President Cyril Ramaphosa will add several issues brought up by his US counterpart, Donald Trump, to his already long and complex list. The two presidents met in the White House last week, where 'white genocide', trade, infrastructure, and crime were discussed. Speaking to the media over the weekend, Ramaphosa said he would deal with the issues raised. 'All these issues will be duly addressed properly.' These will be added to a list of crises already plaguing the country, including gender-based violence, economic stagnation, a water crisis, and rifts in the ruling government of national unity (GNU) coalition. Ramaphosa described the meeting with Trump as fruitful. 'We were able to have a robust engagement with Trump, and it was also good to have a number of members of the delegation to field either a number of questions or make comments. So, that in my view, it was really good.' The fight over Starlink While Ramaphosa said bending local employment equity laws for Starlink was not discussed, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi recently gazetted regulations that make it possible for the company to operate here without having to adhere to BEEE policies. SA-born billionaire Elon Musk is the founder of the internet service and has been a vocal critic of the policies. READ MORE: Malatsi's move 'a shameless sellout to American oligarchs Musk and Trump' Speaking over the weekend, EFF leader Julius Malema said Starlink should not be allowed to work in South Africa without playing by exisiting rules. '[Government] wants to relax B-BBEE laws for Musk to operate in South Africa. There is not such a law in our country.' The African Transformation Movement also condemned what it called 'the ANC-DA coalition's latest act of betrayal against the people of South Africa'. The party said Malatsi's idea was 'a shameless sellout to American oligarchs Musk and US President Donald Trump – a move that spits in the face of our nation's transformation agenda'. NOW READ: WATCH: Malema not 'intimidated' by Trump's call for his arrest
