ANC statement on BBBEE
SR Van Schalwyk
The ANC not surprised by the DA's flip-flopping on BBBEE. As the Democratic Alliance's ideological confusion on the broad-based black economic empowerment policy continues to play itself out in the public domain, the ANC wishes to reiterate its consistent and unambiguous position on this policy instrument. We have continuously exposed the DA as a party committed to defending white privilege and preserving the status quo. Their opposition and resistance to BBBEE is therefore understandable. Beneficiaries of economic apartheid cannot be expected to support policy measures that broaden access to economic opportunities for the majority of South Africans, and in the process shake the very foundation of white economic privilege.
For the DA to claim that they are ditching black economic empowerment (BEE), because it is "just not working", is extremely misleading. It is an excuse for their own deep-seated resistance to economic transformation. Even though we admit that the benefits of BBBEE are still to reach the vast majority of our people, but these challenges cannot be raised as excuses to reject the policy. Broad-based black economic empowerment is a critical policy instrument aimed at redressing past economic injustices and inequalities we inherited. It is part of the struggle to transform our economy to enable it to serve the needs and aspirations of all South Africans. We are pursuing this path because we are aware that the democratic breakthrough would be meaningless if it is not accompanied with a vibrant and growing economy that can benefit all our people.
I thank you
