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State of affirmative action in South Africa

[ Posted On: 2007-06-10 ]

Do the wheels of history always turn towards greater justice? Apparently so considering that whenever Black and White people have interacted, some form of racism has emerged. Equally persistently, the societies in question have often evolved some programmes to remedy the inequities derived from the self-inflicted racism.

But a built-in problem within the remedy asserts itself instantly. Its beneficiaries perceive themselves as the rightful recipients of corrective measures to eradicate injustices of the past.

Non-recipients, however, are convinced that the new order is hypocritically engaged in a new kind of discrimination.

This is a hot political issue in contemporary South Africa. Indeed, supporters of the country's version of affirmative action, Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), are increasingly concerned that it may disband under the weight of incessant condemnation.

Interestingly, the outcry is facilitated by new South Africa's democratic openness. An alliance of the wealthy class, the predominantly white opposition party and its academic ideologues, have been drumming up the allegation that BEE is corruption-prone and a tool for African National Congress's (ANC) self-enrichment.

Behind it all is 'white fear' that a successful BEE could generate a 'take-away culture' that may nurture general grabbing as in Zimbabwe.

What can be learned from affirmative action elsewhere?

Firstly, it is true that affirmative action can be carried too far. Was land grabbing of White farms in Zimbabwe a quest for redress that went terribly wrong?

In the mid-1960s the United States invented the concept of affirmative action to try to make allowances for historic handicaps encountered whenever minorities applied for jobs or sought other opportunities.

The remedial project was fortunate to be the brainchild of the most influential American President in domestic matters.

Lyndon B Johnson was unrivalled in how he bulldozed his programmes through the US Congress.

American affirmative action has not been without enemies. Conservatives have systematically opposed it philosophically, arguing that determination of socio-economic station in life should be left to the 'free forces of the market.'

The conservatives are oblivious to the fact that, for centuries, Black Americans have been constrained by a legacy of slavery and discrimination for.

To most of them, the notion of "free forces of the market" is a myth. In their eyes, the critics of affirmative action are people who were born on the third base but believe that they have hit a triple.

Despite daunting challenges, American affirmative action has been an astounding success and its irreversible impact is most discernible today.

Brazil traditionally cruised under the delusion that it did not have a racial problem, that it was the epitome of racial harmony.

While this was true at the superficial level, the manifestations of the country's racism were clear: the national universities, best jobs, affluent communities were all preserves of whites.

President Lula da Silva and his Government accepted that Brazil has been in an illusion and embarked on its correction through affirmative action programmes similar to those undertaken by the US in the 1960s.

Brazil's old order is still in a state of denial, insisting that the country's racial problem is non-existent. Yet, irreversible forces of affirmative action are gathering a life of their own.

Australia is also increasingly consumed in an agonising problem of its Black Aborigines.

Although they number less than 500,000, the Aborigines have become a sore for Australia, accused as it is internationally of racism and human rights violations.

A week ago, the Aborigines celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1967 national vote that extended Australian citizenship to them. Hitherto, they were classified merely part of the country's natural wildlife. But the Aborigines remain Australia's underclass with the typical characteristics of black ghettoes elsewhere.

But Australia has established Reconciliation-Australia to close the gap between Black and White Australians. Unfortunately, the country's prime minister appears bent on derailing the racial reconciliation process. But John Howard's tenure is time limited; Australia's social conscience is enduring.

Article Source: http://www.afroarticles.com/article-dashboard

About The Author: James N. Kariuki - is head of the African Diaspora Unit at the Africa Institute of South Africa in Pretoria.

| View Profile & All Articles By: James N. Kariuki |

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