BEE and AA legislation does not really empower anyone in South Africa

In South Africa, Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Affirmative Action (AA) legislation disempowers individuals rather than empowers them.

It also has the unintended consequence of inspiring young people from minority groups, who are targeted by the legislation, to thrive against government policies.

Since 1994, the FF Plus has argued that such exclusive law breeds new forms of discrimination and contributes nothing to economic progress.

Just a small group of politically connected individuals benefited from it and amassed great wealth in the process, while the greater part of the population has fallen into poverty.

It has brought about a culture of self-enrichment and corruption with appointments in the government sphere, which merely accelerated the public service’s general decline.

The realisation that this legislation and ANC policy pose a real threat to the country’s future has by now dawned on many.

Economists and academics, like Moeletsi Mbeki and William Gumede, have stated numerous times that the policy ought to be abolished and that free economic growth and entrepreneurship must be promoted.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also cautioned South Africa in a recent report against undermining economic growth through restrictive labour legislation and an over-regulated economic environment.

The IMF pointed out that it also contributes to the large divide in terms of wealth in the country.

While the ANC government was establishing an environment of overall decline through government dependence and deterioration, a large number of young people recognised the foolishness of government policy and found innovative ways to start building their own future.

Minorities in general and young entrepreneurs in particular are already making a disproportionately large contribution to economic growth and job creation.

Therefore, the unforeseen consequence of the ANC’s racially driven policy was a response of self-empowerment among minority groups in South Africa.

The FF Plus will continue to promote minorities’ self-empowerment in all sectors and on all levels of government for the entire country’s benefit.

With its racially driven and socialist policy directions, the ANC government finds itself on the wrong side of history and is thus jeopardising the future of everyone in the country.