President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing historical workplace inequalities, following a legal challenge by the Democratic Alliance (DA) against the Employment Equity Amendment Act (EEAA).
The DA has approached the High Court to contest the Act’s race-based employment targets, arguing that they could exclude qualified South Africans from job opportunities and increase bureaucratic hurdles for businesses.
Ramaphosa, reflecting on progress since 1994, acknowledged that while strides have been made in workers’ rights, challenges such as racial imbalances in top management and inadequate protection for informal workers remain.
The Department of Employment and Labour recently introduced five-year numerical targets aimed at improving transformation at the top four occupational levels. According to the department’s 2024 Employment Equity report, white South Africans—who make up only 7.3% of the population—still hold over 62% of top management positions.
DA Labour Spokesperson Michael Bagraim has warned that the legislation, instead of aiding transformation, could harm economic growth by driving up red tape and stifling job creation.
“What we need is economic growth, skills-based employment, and a reduction in unnecessary regulation,” Bagraim said. “The Western Cape has proven effective in job creation by taking this approach.”
DA Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille is expected to brief the media on the party’s legal challenge on Monday, as the debate over equity and economic freedom intensifies ahead of the court proceedings.