I know this is going to cause a stir, but I found this article very interesting.Fin24.co.za wrote:Johannesburg - A leading South African think-tank called on the government on Tuesday to halt an exodus of skilled whites, saying their departure could prove fatal for the country's economy.
Africa's economic powerhouse suffers from an acute lack of skilled workers in both the private and the public sector, a problem the group said was exacerbated by what it called misconceived legislation designed to boost jobs for blacks.
"The country is very seriously short of skills - there could be potentially fatal consequences for economic growth," John Kane-Berman, chief executive of the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR), said in an interview on Tuesday.
The African National Congress-led government, which took power in 1994, has sought to remedy apartheid-era injustices that discriminated against blacks by introducing an affirmative action programme.
Poor quality education threatens economic growth
The white population in South Africa declined by 841,000 between 1995 and 2005, the biggest drop in at least 50 years, according to SAIRR, which was formed in 1929 to promote democracy and improve race relations in South Africa.
"The (affirmative action) legislation was entirely misconceived. The reason there aren't so many blacks in managerial positions is lack of supply not lack of demand. There are not sufficiently qualified black people," Kane-Berman said.
Government officials were not immediately available to comment on the criticism.
While many whites complain about affirmative action, blacks say there is a lack of educational opportunities.
Education Minister Naledi Pandor said last week poor quality education in public schools threatened long-term economic growth.
Exodus of skilled South Africans is a serious problem
Whites, who have always been a minority in South Africa, now account for 9% of the estimated population of 45 million people, down from 12.5% in 1995, according to the think-tank, which based its analysis on official data.
The government cannot confirm the rate of the exodus because it stopped publishing emigration figures in 2004.
"The heads of families are emigrating. They're professionals and they're taking their kids with them. We cannot afford to lose those skills," said Kane-Berman, an outspoken voice against apartheid whose group continues to monitor race relations.
Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka recently acknowledged the exodus of skilled South Africans was a serious problem and that the government was taking steps to encourage people to remain or return to the country.
Ref: Fin24.co.za
I am all for Black Empowerment, but the way in which the South African Government have gone about it is all wrong. People have been employed on racial preference and not skill. It's about time that this changes.
Interestingly, I read another article (found here) this morning where the governor of the Reserve Bank, Tito Mboweni, stated that in order for Black Empowerment to be successful, people need to be taught by the experts. In South Africa's case, the experts are the whites.
What are your views on this whole issue.Tito Mboweni wrote:...when Governor Tito Mboweni spoke recently at a breakfast session in Johannesburg. When describing the dilemma the Bank is facing - black people who seek greener pastures shortly after being appointed and trained, his words were: 'I get so upset... I'm stopping this recruitment of black people. I'm okay with my Afrikaners. They stay and do the work and become experts.'
Please note that this is not to get ugly. This is a decent political discussion. If it starts to get ugly, I'm pulling the plug on this thread.
