MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE
INKATHA
FREEDOM PARTY
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8 OCTOBER 2007 Dear residents of KwaZulu
Natal, I was struck by a story aired last week by the SABC television as part of their evening business news bulletin. After a coy introduction suggesting that allegations exist to the effect that the policy of black economic empowerment (BEE) has not always been broad-based enough to benefit those who need genuine empowerment, the SABC proudly presented an interesting story. Barloworld, a reputable trucking enterprise, is participating in an empowerment deal involving a R20-million fund which allows truckers to take ownership of the company’s trucks. The idea is to allow Barloworld’s former employees to become fully-fledged business partners. This is commendable in that it translates into real economic empowerment for the previously disadvantaged. At the same time, the story, as presented by the SABC, betrays a guilty conscience. The government, whose views the public service broadcaster promotes, is clearly aware of BEE’s unpopularity amongst the poor who are waiting, largely in vain, for tangible signs of economic empowerment. The story gives the impression that the SABC is frantically searching for any example of broad-based BEE to forestall criticisms that the policy only benefits an ANC-aligned elite – which is the plain truth. In doing so, it watches out for every crumb about to fall off the table laden with a sumptuous feast. Quite frankly, R20-million is a drop in the sea of billions transferred to ANC bigwigs in BEE deals in the mining industry alone. How many trucks can be purchased for R20-million and how many truckers will benefit in the end? Will it be enough for an evening story on the national television? If the government is looking to redeem
itself – with abundant help from the SABC – it will have to do a
lot more than empower a handful of truckers. The BEE deals need
to bypass big consortia and reach previously disadvantaged
individuals directly to make the kind of difference we all are
striving for.
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