ANC government in denial about the effect of affirmative action on white people

It is quite clear that the ANC and specifically the minister of Labour, Ms. Mildred Oliphant, is in denial about the effect that affirmative action has on white people. The minister replied to a question of the FF Plus that there is no correlation between affirmative action and white poverty.

"We have asked the minister, against the backdrop of president Zuma's visit to white squatter camps and his promises to also assist this community, if government had done a study about the relation between affirmative action and white poverty. Her response is shockingly illogical as she clearly states that she had not undertaken any such study as there is no relation between the two.

The question is how she could possibly establish that there is no relation between affirmative action and white poverty when there has not been a study on this matter? Did the reply merely descend from heaven as a revelation?" adv. Anton Alberts, the FF Plus' parliamentary spokesperson on labour, reacted.

The minister also clearly states that no such specific study will be done but that any investigation by her department, should it decide to undertake such a study, will be one that would include all people who live below the poverty line. "This view of the minister is in sharp contrast with her own president who undertook to look at the issue of white poverty.

Furthermore, legislation at this stage only discriminates against white men, usually the breadwinner of a family. This alone justifies a specific study to determine if the Employment Equity Act is in reality equitable or not.

The FF Plus' own experience at white squatter camps and independent research indicates that there is not only a mere correlation between affirmative action and white poverty, but that in many cases there is a direct causal link between these issues. There are sufficient grounds for the department to launch an investigation," Alberts said.

The FF Plus will therefore put follow-up questions to the minister, bring the affirmative action research to the attention of the minister and again enter into talks with president Zuma about this issue. The time for the phasing out of affirmative action has arrived.

147. Adv A de W Alberts (FF Plus) asks the Minister of Labour

(1) If, as a result of the President's visit to white squatter camps in the west of Pretoria, and his undertaking that the poverty amongst white people will be looked at, she or her department had a study done about the unintended consequences of affirmative action which led to an increase in unemployment amongst white people; if not, why not; if yes (a) who did the study, (b) when was it done and (c) what the findings of the study were;

Minister of Labour replied:

No, the department did not conduct such a study because there is no correlation between affirmative action and the poverty amongst white people living in squatter camps. People living in White squatter camps are no different to millions of other racial groups who live in squatter camps. Poverty anywhere affects people everywhere - government is constantly engaging in activities to alleviate poverty among all race groups on an equal basis. 

(2) are any measures in place to address the negative consequences of affirmative action, if so, which measures; if not why not?

No there are no measures because there is no correlation between Affirmative Action and the increase of unemployment amongst Whites. It is important to highlight that even with Affirmative Action, we still remain with the same racial disparities that our country has inherited along racial lines - almost 98% of poor people in the country remain Black.

(3) Does she have any intention to do such a study in the future; if not, why not; if yes, what are the details relating to the study?

Please note that the department does not intend conducting a study of this nature, and if we did, it will be certainly be all encompassing to determine the vulnerability of all people that live beyond the poverty line irrespective of their race, gender or disability.

Statement issued by Adv. Anton Alberts, FF Plus Parliamentary Spokesperson: Labour, April 12 2012

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