Apartheid is back, only now it's called Affirmative Action and BEE (Black Economic Empowerment); racist laws that dictate that businesses have to reflect the demographic of the country from the top down. So, if you're white, sorry buddy, but you're out of luck.
Racist and sexist Affirmative Action laws, that benefit a minority here in America, have caused untold damage in terms of lowered work standards and resentment.
Those same laws, when applied to a largely still illiterate and unskilled black majority, will eventually have the effect of destroying the South African economy.
Are you guys okay with that? Doesn't really matter, does it?
2006-12-02 23:12:38 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Africa & Middle East ➔ South Africa
Veggie Q - OVERNIGHT!!? These numbskulls have had TWELVE YEARS, with millions of American taxpayer dollars to help them.
2006-12-03 02:08:03 · update #1
Ted T - Racism? We see things through our own eyes, my friend.
2006-12-03 02:09:26 · update #2
bluefree - you been watchin' too many American movies, dat's for sure.
2006-12-03 02:49:58 · update #3
It's impossible to reverse the effects of years of inequality overnight. This law tries to do this anyway and it is having mixed results. The problem is that while this law means that jobs are now being created for blacks, the education system is way behind in generating qualified black candidates to fill them. This skills and education gap means that, yes, businesses are forced to hire people who are less qualified or skilled to fill the quota. It has also meant that skilled and qualified non-blacks are finding that their employment opportunities are shrinking. On the other hand, this law is giving many blacks the opportunity to move ahead in careers that have been closed to them until now. Once the gap between black and white education is bridged, South Africa will reap the benefits. Unfortunately until this happens (and this is likely to take a very long time), many highly qualified and experienced workers will leave the country, taking their much-needed skills with them. As a result, this law is likely to cause significantly damage to the South African economy in the short-medium term.
2006-12-02 23:38:16 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that the essential problem is not so much the actual existence of policies such as AA and BEE (many believe that these were needed to redress the imbalances and even if you don't agree with them, you can acknowledge that many may have felt the necessity to introduce them) but the fact that even now, after years of applying these policies, there is not imetable for their removal.
It may be argued that policies such as these had a part to play in rebuilding a changed society - but the fact that nothing is said about them being tools that will be used for a time and then discarded means that SA will continue to be a racially divided country into the foreseeable future.
2006-12-03 11:58:07 · answer #2 · answered by carokokos 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Affirmative Action and BEE has been here for the past 11 years. We living in South Africa have been dealing with it for a long time already.
No, I am not OK with Affirmative Action and certainly not with BEE. But, I do agree with building the nation, i.e. giving black people the chance to build themselves, and giving WOMEN the chance to grow and showing the people outside that we (women) aren't only good enough to cook and give birth.
What I do have a problem with is companies giving black people the top positions because of their skin color and not their qualifications. There are a lot of people (colored and non colored) with all the appropriate qualifications that's either too dark or too light for a position. That makes me mad!!!!
*** EDIT ***
Bluefreehi,
Pissed at all DA people????? Where have you been the past 11 years? Oh, let me guess, you are still very young and can not see what is actually happening in the politics and are influenced by ignorant people saying they were affected by apartheid (and doesn't even know how to spell the word). Maybe you must open your eyes DAT you can see what is happening in life!!! DAT would make us so happy to see you growing up!!! OK?????
2006-12-02 23:23:34 · answer #3 · answered by poepies 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I am sure that i have heard somewhere that the government is going to look into the BEE system as they realized it is not working. I say that kids that started school from my sons age and younger should not be affected by any sort of quota system as they have all had the same opportunity. My son will be 22 this year and he has been educated from grade 1 in a multiracial environment and yes he was educated in a government school.
2006-12-06 14:33:31 · answer #4 · answered by cheryl l 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have asked a question that cannot be answered easily. Affirmative action has always been controversial. The pendulum inevitably swings from one extreme to the other and in the end it eventually finds its centre through trial and error. The new South Africa is in its infancy and will have to go through a lot of growing pains, it's just the way it is. And as it tries and tries again , eventually it will find the centre that works for it. Every country changes, grows, has its ebbs and flows and then finds its own national dynamic.
2006-12-06 19:41:08 · answer #5 · answered by red 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hey Brad,
It's like I have said before. SA is not unique - this same stuff happened to each country in Southern Africa starting with Congo and moving progressively downwards. Zim is into the worst part now as SA begins. It seems to take about 3 or 4 generations and then rights itself. Looking back up the continent to confirm this.
What did you actually expect? Verbal, physical and psychological abuse for 40 years. They are definetly not saints and given the slighest opertunity they are going to retaliate.
Human nature doesn't change - never mind the colour of your skin!
2006-12-05 01:25:18 · answer #6 · answered by london.oval 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
to be honest, i'm 22 and i dont see it affecting me or anyone around me, maybe its the industry one goes into, like mostly corporate or waitering stuff. I dont agree with it, but then again i'm not really into politics, i believe the best person for the job should get it, with more people having access to better schools, the scale will balance itself out in time...our children wont even understand the meaning of apartheid, BTW is that an afrikaans name? its so gross. screw apartheid, and racists, and sexists...you become those around you, dont associate with those people, life goes on, its ever changing, and all people have some form of zenophobia....somewhere :)
2006-12-04 01:42:00 · answer #7 · answered by poxyboggards 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In the past many whites have held positions of authority while totally unsuitable so what is the problem with a black man in the same situation unless you are have a racist view of it? Black Africans have had to put up with discrimination so it's no big deal for somebody else to have a turn. As for Sth Africans coming to Australia , that's fine as long as they are not racist.
2006-12-02 23:58:05 · answer #8 · answered by Ted T 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I believe its what should happen, I am 22 years old, my parents came to South Africa from Europe in the 80's, I am white so I caused apartheid, it was my fault !Even though I remember nothing, ITS ALL MY FAULT, MY FAULT!!!!
2006-12-06 01:21:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's the END of the last flourishing African Country.
2006-12-02 23:14:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋