Zuma: Black people have no opportunities
2011-09-07 10:13
Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma says South African prisons are full of black faces because black people in South Africa have no opportunities.
“There are very few white prisoners, because they are busy doing business, but we have no opportunities.
“Black people are unemployed and hungry and then end up in prison.”
Speaking at the Black Business Summit in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Zuma said inequality in SA is still a big concern.
Transformation
“The social and economic aspects of transformation are still lagging behind. The impact of poverty and inequality is staggering.
“As we achieve more, we become increasingly aware of so much more still having to be done.”
Ownership and management of the country’s economy had not really changed since South Africa became a democracy, said Zuma.
He referred to the recent report by the Commission for Employment Equity, which pointed to less than 17% of top management being black.
These “alarming statistics” meant that affirmative action had to continue to level the playing field between white and black, as only a small sector of society so far was benefitting from black economic empowerment (BEE).
Zuma said there had to be more focus on BEE and legislation had to be drafted to punish companies who only pretended to comply with BEE requirements.
“The names of companies who are in contravention as well as their directors will be placed on a blacklist, fines will be issued and the companies’ score cards will be suspended.”
Companies as well as the public sector would be forced to make a certain percentage of their purchases from local companies under black management.
Black entrepreneurs needed
Zuma said the economy had to produce black entrepreneurs who owned their own factories and manufactured more textile, furniture and metal products.
While many black people had entered various sectors of the economy, there were no visible black industrialists.
“We don’t see black people or women owning big factories or mines.
“If we don’t own mines, we only own shares. Extraordinary measures should be employed to handle extraordinary matters.
“Black business leaders should unite to establish transformation.”
“We have been a democracy for 17 years. We know what needs to be done but we need unity (in the black business sector) and that unity begins here.”
