Affirmative Action in the Bela-Bela and Dr JS Moroka Municipalities:Traipsing Towards Goalposts

Abstract

Government made a clarion call to redress the imbalances of the past by affirming people who were previously disadvantaged by the legacy of ugly apartheid laws of inconsistencies in South Africa. Many employers took cognisance of this call and affirmed women, including the white women, and also people living with various disabilities as well as blacks into managerial positions. In some other quarters, this clarion call fell on the deaf ears of the government and private sector employers. The legacy of inequality and the injustices of the past had to be addressed by all hiring sectors. These hiring sectors needed to commit themselves to this cause and empower their staff who had their hands tightened up even though they had a potential. This article looks at a comparative study between Dr JS Moroka Municipality in Mpumalanga and Bela-Bela Municipality on their perception of affirmative action. The question is: have we arrived or are we still traipsing towards goalposts? In trying to answer this question, the article starts by revisiting the rationale for affirmative action in South Africa. This is intended to build a context. Thereafter, the focus is placed on two municipalities: Bela-Bela and Dr JS Moroka. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data. The following was discovered: The respondents felt very strongly that affirmative action addresses the injustices of the past. It eliminates unfair employment by giving other groups of people a chance of being considered for employment opportunities. Because of this, it must be continued until the majority of those who were previously disadvantaged because of the colour of their skin have landed themselves jobs.