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Black Economic Empowerment In South Africa Unconstitutional And Discriminatory, Benefits Few

By Jinger Jarrett
Published on: 08:13 PST, Jul 23, 2016

The South African government instituted new rules for Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). The purpose of the regulations was to help black South Africans empower themselves in the workplace and economy. The problem with programs like BEE is that they’re discriminatory, unconstitutional, and they don’t empower people to succeed on a level playing field where everyone competes on merit. They don’t develop people and force them to work hard and pay their dues. They’re rewarded because of the color of their skin, not what they can do.

Business Tech reported that the new Black Economic Empowerment regulations were unconstitutional and bonkers. The South African Institute of Race Relations argued against the new regulations because they said that these regulations would prevent the disadvantaged who depend on the state from receiving the vital goods and services they needed.

“Such goods and services should always be provided in the most cost-effective and efficient way, so as to husband scarce public resources and ensure that these are spread as broadly as possible. The proposed new system is so damaging to the truly disadvantaged that it cannot be accepted as a rational or reasonable way of overcoming apartheid injustices.”

This issue brings two questions to mind: What are the individuals themselves doing to better their lot in life, and since there are at least 400,000 white South Africans in squatter camps, does this provision cast them as part of the disadvantaged or not?

As previously reported in the Inquisitr, white South Africans are being excluded from the job market. Without any means of employment or economic opportunity, those in the camps have no way to improve their standard of living. Charities that help whites receive no money from the government, and the government has discouraged donations to these organizations.

The real issue with Black Economic Empowerment is that apartheid ended in 1994, 22 years ago. South Africa’s Rand was worth about 3.65 Rand to the American dollar according to Business Tech. Now the exchange rate is about 14.31 rand to the dollar. Coupled with the corruption of the African National Congress (ANC), the current ruling party of South Africa since 1994, little has been done to resolve these issues. Julius Malema, head of the Economic Freedom Fighters and a polarizing figure in South Africa, said it’s time to give President Zuma the boot.

The Citizen reported that Malema wanted to see the EFF replace the ANC. Both parties are far-left parties and are interested in removing white farmers from the land so that the land can be redistributed. Malema is also committed to wealth redistribution. Farm murders and attacks have increased since the ANC took power in 1994 under Nelson Mandela, and murders against whites have increased, too. Approximately 70,000 whites have been murdered in South Africa since 1994. Whites currently comprise approximately eight percent of the population in South Africa.

Under information released by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, approximately 7,000 blacks died between 1948 and 1989, during a period when apartheid was in place. During the three year transition period, when Nelson Mandela took over, the number of blacks who died violently increased to around 14,000. What’s telling about these numbers is that blacks were killing blacks. The number of blacks killed during apartheid is also only one tenth that of whites who have been murdered since apartheid ended.

Business Day Live reported that one of the factors holding blacks back in South Africa is apathy over black owned business. Black Economic Empowerment has largely been a failure in South Africa, and blacks, who are about 40 million in the country, are still bit players in the economy. Blacks don’t support black owned businesses, and these businesses are struggling to break into the big leagues and compete against larger corporations. Upward mobility in the country is often defined by proximity to whiteness.

So what is the solution to Black Economic Empowerment? With a communist controlled government, is it really possible to elevate black South Africans, in fact all South Africans, into a more prosperous economic future when the government controls everything and is incapable of creating the opportunities for its citizens because that’s not government’s job? These are questions that definitely beg an answer if South Africa wants to grow its economy.

[Photo by Pixabay]

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