ANC slams DA’s court bid against Employment Equity Act

The Democratic Alliance (DA) marches against the Employment Equity Amendment Act on July 26, 2023.

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The African National Congress (ANC) has described the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) court challenge against the Employment Equity Amendment Act (EEAA) as anti-transformative.

The DA launched a court action against Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth on the eve of International Workers day.

The party, which is a major partner in the Government of National Unity (GNU), says Section 15A of the Employment Equity Amendment Act introduces rigid national race quotas in the workplace.

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula says the DA’s hatred for transformation is evident through this court action.

Mbalula says, “We will stand with Cosatu (The Congress of South African Trade Unions), the South African Communist Party (SACP), and all progressive formations in resisting this desperate assault by the DA.”

He says, “Through this act, they are drifting from the spirit of the Government of National Unity and positioning themselves outside the project of nation-building and shared prosperity. Transformation, equity, and diversity are not up for negotiations. We will not surrender to elitist apartheid nostalgia or legal posturing.”

VIDEO | ANC on DA’s court challenge against Employment Equity Amendment Act:

Racial exclusion

The DA argues that the Equity Act does not represent transformation, instead, it is racial exclusion under a new name.

It further says that the case is not about resisting redress but about protecting people’s rights under the Constitution.

The Party’s spokesperson on Employment and Labour, Michael Bagraim says, “I have watched the destruction of BEE legislation. Social engineering is absolutely dangerous, it harkens back to what the nationalist party government did.”

Bagraim says, “We don’t have a race register anymore in this country and that’s a good thing, now that Department of Employment and Labour is trying to force people to go back to register themselves in terms of race it’s destroying businesses, destroying investment and it has not worked as legislation for 25 years.”