By: Bright Ntuli
President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the Employment Equity Amendment Act, stating that the legislation is a necessary corrective measure aimed at addressing the structural inequalities entrenched by apartheid.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has launched a legal challenge against the Act, arguing that the employment equity targets it introduces amount to racial exclusion disguised as reform.
The party contends that the quotas infringe on the constitutional rights of individuals by prioritising race over merit.
The amended Act, which came into effect in April 2023, empowers the Minister of Employment and Labour to set sector-specific employment targets across 18 key economic sectors. These targets aim to ensure greater representation of historically disadvantaged South Africans—particularly black people, women, and persons with disabilities—in the workforce.
Ramaphosa maintains that the legislation is grounded in the principles of the Constitution, particularly those promoting equality and redress.
“We are not seeking to exclude anyone. What we are doing is to build an inclusive economy where everyone has a fair chance,” he said.
The government has argued that more than two decades after the end of apartheid, the pace of transformation in many industries remains slow and that the amended Act is a tool to drive meaningful change.
The case brought by the DA is currently before the courts, and its outcome may set a precedent for how South Africa balances equity and merit in its efforts to undo systemic discrimination.
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