President Jacob Zuma today, 19 February 2016, met with black professionals from various fields including law, engineering, finance, accounting, property, IT, securities and investment, the creative industry, the actuarial profession, and Chief Executive Officers of some of the major State Owned Companies. The President was accompanied by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Ministers and Deputy Ministers.
President Zuma had called the meeting to discuss the role and contribution of black professionals to the development of our society, in particular calling on black professionals to join together with government and other sectors of society in implementing the National Development Plan (NDP), as the blueprint for South Africa’s socio-economic development.
The meeting started with government presenting reports on the implementation of the NDP, the Black Industrialists Programme, and a programme for nation building and fighting racism. The presentations generated extensive discussions, with black professionals making concrete suggestions about the steps that need to be taken to improve on the effective implementation of these plans and programmes so that they attain the desired impact on our society.
Among others, it was proposed that broad targets in the NDP should be broken down into yearly targets so that implementation can be monitored on an annual basis. There were also strong views raised about the NDP objective of economic inclusion.
In addition, a widely held view was expressed by black professionals that there still existed barriers in various sectors in the economy that undermine meaningful participation of black people in the economy. It was suggested that if the objective of economic inclusion is to be met, the economic empowerment of the historically disadvantaged has to be at the centre of economic policy in South Africa.
“Economic empowerment should not only benefit a few who are also marginal shareholders in white controlled companies. Black economic empowerment should entail meaningful participation of black people as owners of enterprises and companies, as chief executives and operational managers, shareholders with controlling stakes in companies, and of course as employees,” said the majority of representatives.
Black professionals further expressed appreciation and support for the government’s Black Industrialists Programme. It was suggested that there needs to be careful thought on how this programme is implemented. Important in those considerations should be the industries that are supported, an issue that drew concerns from some black professionals who argued that the industries in which they work are not covered by the Black Industrialists Programme.
It was also suggested that due care should be taken in order to ensure that the benefits of the Black Industrialists Programme also reach people from small towns and rural areas.
There was a widely held view that the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act is an impediment to meaningful participation of black people in the economy. It was proposed that urgent steps be taken to reform the law. Similarly, black professionals complained that established companies in certain sectors of the economy ignore the BEE codes and that there were are no consequences for non-compliance.
Black professionals condemned the incidents of racism in our society. A view was expressed that racial prejudices thrive in an environment of economic inequality. Government was encouraged to fast track implementation of policies and programmes that are aimed at bringing about the economic emancipation of those who were systematically excluded in the past.
Government was strongly requested to show black professionals support in the sectors in which they work. They informed the meeting that they face prejudice and barriers to career mobility in the private sector. They asked the President to raise this matter when he meets with CEOs of companies in his regular interactions with business.
Without exception, Black professionals thanked President Zuma for convening the meeting and remarked that it was historic. They proposed that it should not just be a once off meeting, but a first of many engagements to come. They also expressed appreciation to the President for taking them into confidence about the economic situation in the country and the steps government is taking to bring about an economic turnaround.
A small group consisting of representatives of black professionals and government was constituted. The small group will discuss in detail the issues that were raised at the meeting and make proposals on the next steps to take the matters forward. While the small group is doing its work, it was agreed that the President and the Deputy President will engage the professional organisations individually to discuss matters in their sectors in more depth.
“This for us has created a very necessary platform and we appreciate the link that has been made with government. The interaction is crucial and necessary. We have made a good start. There is a proposal to have a smaller team following on issues. We have taken a principled decision to form that smaller grouping. We need the delegations of professional organisations represented here to meet and delegate those who will form this grouping; government will do the same and the group will take the matters forward, report on the bigger group, make recommendations so that we take all the matters raised here forward,” said President Zuma.
The meeting was very successful, he added.
Enquiries:
Bongani Majola
Cell: 082 339 1993
E-mail: bonganim@presidency.gov.za
