Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
20 December 2023 | 06:35 CAT

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Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi has ruled out the removal of race from labour legislation or limiting the categories to black and white for now, saying the country’s Constitution and the Employment Equity Act were yet to be amended.

Nxesi said this when responding to Ala-Jama-ah leader Ganief Hendricks written parliamentary question.

Al Jama-ah Party says Minister Nxesi lacks an act of bravery as he fails to admit that the Employment Equity Act’s requirements to state one’s race is perpetuating racism.

In his written question, Hendricks asked: “When will the requirement to state one’s race be removed from labour legislation and, where necessary, be limited to black and white only instead of stating ‘coloured’ and ‘Indian’?”

The Minister replied, “the primary purpose of the EEA is to promote equity through the elimination of unfair treatment and unfair discrimination in employment policies and practices, and the implementation of affirmative action measures to redress the imbalance of the past suffered by the previously disadvantaged groups – that is black people, women of all racial groups, and persons with disabilities irrespective of their race and gender.”

Hendricks describes the Minister’s reply to his question as that of an apartheid apologist. His question further raised the requirement to state that ‘race’ should be used where necessary and must be limited to black and white instead of stating ‘coloured’ and ‘Indian’. He says the current EEA legislation gives more advantages to those classified as African.

“The Minister’s response is that of denial, and I ask whether this is not racism. He must have the political will to use the terms black and white when necessary. South Africans must work towards recognising only one race, the human race. It is sad that the Minister hides behind flaws in our legislation. He allows legislation that continues to give those classified as African more advantages than those who are ‘coloured’ and ‘Indian’. A just and fair Minister will not be guided and influenced by apartheid-era policies which caused much harm to the South African society,” says Hendricks.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany.