Down with debasing anagrams -- AA, BEE ...

Submitted by James Tobias

Suspend reality for a moment and imagine I am green and have no political agendas. Hard, but humour me.

Has the time arrived for us to rid ourselves of initiatives designed at promoting one sector of the population over another? Fifteen years later, shouldn’t we allow natural forces to decide who is better suited to a job or position?

I hear the indignant wails that there are still those enjoying the fruits of a previously unjust system.

Sure there are, but if a decade and a half hasn’t righted that wrong, what are the chances that another couple will be any more successful? Is it time to take stock of these initiatives and decide whether they have helped or hindered our progress as a nation?

South Africans are only too aware of what happens when a community is vigorously excluded from the rest. Is it unreasonable for middle-aged white men, for example, to resist affirmative action (AA) or black economic empowerment-type (BEE) initiatives, if it is to their own detriment? Are we creating unspoken codes of self-preservation?

These men can draw from the old pool of apartheid businessmen who successfully outwitted international sanctions. What chance do a few half-hearted programmes have? It doesn’t mean they are absolved from the past, but it may be a positive way in which they can make amends.

“Why should we worry about these Jurassic entities?” you cry.

We don’t have to. We can continue to make them collective scapegoats, taking pleasure in watching them squirm at every opportunity — it has its appeal, certainly.

What if we skinned the cat a different way? (No pun intended.) Is it possible that these guys have more to contribute than we realise or chose to acknowledge? What if we included them in the transformation where they voluntarily offer their expertise and skills?

Take heed of the recent cricket fiasco. Sportsmen strive to be the best and seek selection accordingly. There is nothing more demeaning to them if they are chosen on any other basis. Is this unique to sport? I think not.

We hear about the brain drain and skills shortage that plagues our nation, yet what is being done about it? Sadly, very little, or if there is, it is a well-kept secret.

That is not to say that all those skills have emigrated — far from it. Many have moved into the invigorating realms of self-employment and small business where they feel appreciated and can make a meaningful contribution. Unfortunately it leaves the corporates short-staffed or, worse still, incorrectly staffed.

A trained Eskom technician of 20 years who decides to leave his post because there are no prospects and ends up purchasing a burger franchise is madness. (He cooks on gas to boot.)

Despite our cynicism, most South Africans love to help one another and get involved, but don’t push us around and force us into anything. Take a look at all the good that is done in this country out of the goodness of people’s hearts.

Perhaps we should reward those in business for taking on previously disadvantaged (not to forget school leavers) by offering real tax relief. Would there be a quicker transference of skills? You bet.

Two major driving forces for any business person (corporate or entrepreneurial) are reward and satisfaction. There is no greater sense of achievement than training someone in a new skill for the betterment of the individual and the company.

Of course there will be those who choose not to get involved — to each his own. Pariahs are an important part of a free society — a yardstick, for want of a better expression. Of course there will be bastions of racially motivated businesses/communities from all sides — but very few. Money talks and customers walk. Of course there will be a sport or an ideal predominately supported by one race, colour, creed or gender.

So what? Isn’t that true freedom?

We’re not trying to reduce the diversity of South Africa into a single grey hybrid — or are we? We demand freedom of choice, therefore we have to accept our differences.

Even the best intentions cannot be imposed, but rather coerced. Cream rises when left well alone. Natural selection works over time.

If, however, we have alternative objectives as a nation and want to fast-track the process so that we can get our hands on what others have, then we are at risk at letting the very same slip through our fingers.

We need not ponder long on the consequences of our neighbour which removed commercial farmers without consideration of who was to feed the nation, although it is worth wondering how different the country might be today if 30 years of fast-tracking had been avoided.

I’m not suggesting that there is any correlation between the two countries, but there may be a few lessons to learn.

Let’s bleed every single South African dry of every skill and expertise they possess. If, as a side product, they continue to contribute and function within the community — so be it.

No doubt many with vehemently disagree with my sentiments. I look forward to reading their responses. Equally interesting will be to hear from those who have benefited from AA or BEE and how they have used it to better their company or country.

Not to mention the inevitable diatribe from the dinosaurs themselves.

James Tobias is the wner of a successful company and confidante to a number of businessmen. his goal is to have his business running efficiently so that he can spend more time on his passion — writing. He has published a number of articles, both fiction and non-fiction for glossy periodicals