Helen Zille's remarks on Afrikaner "opportunities" under scrutiny
Image: Itumeleng English/ Independent Newspapers
HELEN Zille has defended her comments that the Afrikaner community "took all opportunities very seriously" and there was "nothing stopping everyone else from following that example" despite backlash.
Zille took to X and wrote: 'Afrikaners took all opportunities very seriously. Educated their children into professional skills and out of poverty. Built huge enterprises from the bottom up. Nothing stopping everyone else from following that example.'
Many quickly called her out, citing the racist apartheid system.
Approached for further comment on Thursday, Zille told the Cape Times: 'Read the history of Afrikaners between 1902 and 1940, in any authoritative history. They started absolutely poverty stricken and economically excluded, and the story of how they changed that in the ensuing three decades is clear. The historical facts of the transition from poverty to prosperity of Afrikaners is well documented in many sources. Taking offence will not change this.'
This comes as the DA has turned to court to challenge the Employment Equity Amendment Act (EEAA), which the party believes will repel investors and discriminate against certain races.
Her comments also come as the 2025 Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) annual report showed that white people were eight times their Economically Active Population (EAP) at top management, while the black population representation at just 18.0% is four times below their EAP.
The statistics contained in the report forms part of the Department of Employment and Labour's basis to forge ahead with legislative amendments despite pushback from opposition parties, in particular the DA.
Employment Equity deputy director, Niresh Singh told a recent EE Roadshow in Pietermaritzburg that employers who are not compliant with the Employment Equity Act (EEA) will be excluded from doing business with organs of state.
'Designated employers must comply with Chapters II and III of the Act whereas those not designated have to comply only with Chapter II. They must attach the certificate of compliance which can only be issued by the Minister for a period of 12 months. The certificate can be revoked at any time for failure to comply.'
He told the gathering that the certificate of compliance issued by the Minister will only be issued when the minister is satisfied that the employer has complied with the numerical targets in terms of Section 15A relevant to that employer, if the target is not achieved, the employer must have raised a reasonable ground to justify the failure.
Singh said Section 53 has been in the Act since 1998 and was not promulgated then. 'And now it is promulgated and will be in force', he said.
General Industries Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA) president Mametlwe Sebei said it was clear that without any pressure, from the state, 'there's not going to be any de-racialisation of the workplace".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mail & Guardian
15 minutes ago
- Mail & Guardian
‘National Dialogue is no talk shop,' organisers say
Looking to the future: Nkosinathi Biko (left) heads the committee that will steer the National Dialogue. He and Samora Biko (right) are the sons of Steve Biko. Photo: GCIS But the Democratic Alliance has said it will boycott the dialogue that will take place over nine months, calling it a waste of time and money This content is restricted to subscribers only . Join the M&G Community Our commitment at the Mail & Guardian is to ensure every reader enjoys the finest experience. Join the M&G community and support us in delivering in-depth news to you consistently. Subscription enables: - M&G community membership - independent journalism - access to all premium articles & features - a digital version of the weekly newspaper - invites to subscriber-only events - the opportunity to test new online features first Already a subscriber?
Eyewitness News
3 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
DA questions if Parly has complete govt oversight without Presidency committee
CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has questioned whether Parliament has full oversight over the government if it has not established a committee to oversee the work of the Presidency. A legacy hangover from the fifth administration and a recommendation of the Zondo Commission of Inquiry, the party's chief whip, George Michalakis, said that without a Presidency oversight committee, Parliament has no opportunity to scrutinise the policy direction the president gives to his government. Michalakis was debating the president's budget vote address in the House on Wednesday night. President Cyril Ramaphosa will return to the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon to respond to the seven-hour-long debate. Michalakis said that while many parties have bemoaned the lack of a Presidency oversight committee in Parliament, only a handful have made submissions on how it should be established and how it would function. Michalakis said the work of the Presidency needs more oversight than the president's quarterly question time in the House, and through written parliamentary questions from political parties. He said the director general of the Presidency is the only one across government that does not report to Parliament. 'The most senior civil servant in the country is wholly unaccountable to Parliament. Apart from that, Parliament has absolutely no opportunity to engage the president or his deputy on matters of national importance or public policy other than oral questions or the State of the Nation Address, which happens once a year.' Michalakis said the intention is not to have the president before Parliament every other week, but that had such a committee been established years ago, when the African National Congress (ANC) routinely blocked the proposal, the Nkandla saga would have been picked up sooner. 'It is the continued lack of such a committee that will ensure that future presidents will be equally unaccountable, unless it's set up.' A rules subcommittee is currently considering proposals from parties on how such a committee should work.
TimesLIVE
4 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
DA MP Powell accused of 'spreading negative perception about SA' during US trip
The recent deterioration in relations between the ANC and the DA in the government of national unity (GNU) is believed to have been sparked by suggestions that DA MP Emma Powell allegedly spread disinformation about South Africa during a trip to the US...
