A defiant Democratic Alliance continue with its legal challenge of the Employment Equity Amendment Act which it claims constitutes reverse racism. Lawyers for the DA started arguing the merits of their case in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria with the hope of repealing the transformative piece of legislation.
Both the ANC and the government ( the DA is part of the latter) have slammed the former opposition accusing it of being anti-transformation.
“We are dismayed by the DA’s court bid on the Employment Equity Act, which we view as an attempt to disrupt efforts aimed at achieving equitable representation, effectively hindering progress towards equality and fairness in the workplace,” said Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth in a hard-hitting statement.
The ANC described the move by the DA as a betrayal of South Africa’s constitutional promise.
“This regressive action is not only an affront to the National Constitution, but a direct assault on the very foundation of South Africa’s transformation journey. A journey paved with the sacrifices of those who fought against apartheid’s racial capitalism and institutionalised exclusion. The National Constitution has correctly defined Black as inclusive of Africans, Coloureds and Indians,” said the ANC in a statement.
The DA is also in the courts challenging the National Health Insurance Act, BELA Act and Expropriation Act, all enacted to facilitate transformation following more than 400 years of colonial as well as apartheid rule that suppressed black people while doing everything possible to empower their white counterparts and it was agreed during South Africa’s democratic breakthrough in 1994 that there be measures for redress which were put in the constitution.
The DA has never sponsored or supported a single transformative piece of land and the ANC said its consistent objections to redress showed exactly what the party stood for ( read white racism).
“The DA’s persistent campaign against transformation reveals its dangerous agenda to entrench the privileges
of the past and preserve the apartheid-era economic status quo under the guise of constitutionalism. It is a
betrayal of the democratic gains we have made and a slap in the face of the Black working class, women, and
the youth who continue to bear the brunt of inequality and unemployment. We call on all progressive South Africans, particularly the Black majority, to see the DA’s actions for what they are, a calculated move to roll back the hard-won gains of our democracy. We urge civil society, the trade union movement, youth formations, and patriotic business leaders to stand united in defence of transformation and
employment equity,” said the ANC.
The DA has come under fire for some time for playing opposition while in government including but not limited, to unsuccessfully trying to bargain for more power in the Government of National Unity using the budget vote with many calling for its removal from the coalition.
It is not clear what hold the blue party has on the ANC but it has vowed to keep opposing even daring the former liberation movement to remove it from the GNU if it wants.
“We are not in the GNU to please the ANC or any other party, if we did we would be reduced to 2 percent in the next election. We are in the GNU to please our current and future voters, to show them that our arguments are correct, it is them we represent. At times it said we will be removed from the GNU even Fikile Mbalula ( ANC Secretary General) has been throwing that threat around but we are not scared and so many months later we are still in the GNU,” said DA Federal Executive Chairperson Helen Zille during a media briefing on Monday.
The DA’s conduct in the GNU has led to some within the ANC questioning why the party’s national leadership ( President Cyril Ramaphosa) insisted on a relationship with the DA when its intentions appear to be to harm the ANC. Last week the ANC caucus in parliament expressed dissatisfaction with having to work with the DA but were swiftly shot down by the party leadership.
“The NEC has taken a decision and no caucus of the ANC could ever defy the ANC, no caucus of the ANC can ever rebel against the ANC, never, it will never happen, people are free to join other parties if they want,” said an angry Mbalula about a heated meeting with the caucus.
The ANC’s top 7 officials are said to be divided down the middle with Deputy President Paula Mashatile, National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe and 1st Deputy Secretary General Nomvula Mokonyane opposed to the relationship with the DA while Mbalula, National Treasurer Gwen Ramokgopa, 2nd Deputy Secretary General Maropene Ramokgopa and President Cyril Ramaphosa prefer the blue party over left-leaning parties such as the EFF and Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto Wesizwe despite there already being successful coalitions with the red berets in Gauteng’s metros, Nelson Mandela Bay and most recently in the North West’s hung municipalities.
Zille also asserted the DA is more influential in the GNU than outside and expressed confidence it will successfully repeal all transformative laws enacted enacted in the 6th administration which it is opposed to.