Policy discussion by Farouk Cassim
In Policy on January 31, 2009 at 12:57 pm
In recent days concern has been raised in some hostile quarters about COPE’s policy position on Affirmative Action and BEE.
As far as COPE is concerned it would be better to talk of GEE (grassroots economic empowerment) rather than BEE. It explains COPE’s attitude to empowerment in an easy to understand manner.
BEE, in terms of present legislation, requires that the disadvantaged black community should be able to acquire equity in companies and to be able to have special opportunities in respect of company procurements, skills transfer, enterprise development and promotion to management. If all the benefits go to a small clique then BEE will not have benefited the target group.
COPE is determined to direct benefits to the grassroots. These are the people who really and truly need to be assisted and who have been bypassed up to now.
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Editorial by Farouk Cassim
In Editorials on January 31, 2009 at 12:54 pm
In South Africa, as everyone knows, white and black people have been steadily drifting apart over the past fifteen years. Neither the ANC nor the DA really helped in this regard. As they fought each other bitterly in Parliament, they helped to widen and deepen the racial animosity and intolerance that has always existed. Of course, I must hasten to add that things were different under the stewardship of Nelson Mandela. That was when we were still a miracle nation. After he left office, things took on a different hue.
Now, with the sudden and unexpected emergence of COPE, a bridge spans the great divide. A rare opportunity has come knocking at our doors. If we don’t take what we have now, who knows how the future will turn out. We are, after all, the architects of our own destiny.
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