NATIONAL ASSEMBLY : 19th June 2008
 

Madame Speaker,

We, in the IFP, welcome the ruling by the High Court that Chinese South Africans will be included in the definition of black people in legislation intended to benefit previously disadvantaged groups. This will make Chinese people eligible for the benefits reserved for those who were discriminated against during apartheid.

Under the apartheid regime Chinese people, who were classified as coloured, also suffered the discrimination, humiliation and abuse that was dished out to non-whites. The Chinese community are proud to be part of this great country. It was therefore very disheartening that we were once again marginalised after the elections in 1994, by not being included in the definition of black people in terms of the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act and the Employment Equity Act.

This ruling is the result of a lot of hard work as Chinese South Africans have been struggling for many years to obtain clarity on this important issue. We hope that the necessary amendments will be made to relevant Acts as soon as possible now that the high Court has made its ruling. I believe that the Chinese community will now be able to make an even greater contribution to the growth of the economy and the creation of jobs in South Africa.