‘BEE reinforces white supremacy’ - Thuli Madonsela
Former public protector Thuli Madonsela has added her voice to the opponents of the contentious Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy.
Madonsela delivered the keynote address at the annual Nadine Gordimer Lecture on Wednesday.
The lecture was hosted by Wits University and the friends of Nadine Gordimer Committee.
Madonsela told guests gathered virtually that the policy, which seeks to redress the injustices of apartheid, has done very little for its intended beneficiaries.
“I don’t think BEE was the right thing, I think BEE was a lost cause.
“BEE is corrosive to both black and white small businesses,” she said.
Madonsela added the policy further disenfranchises black people.
“I’m not saying there shouldn’t be remedial measures, I’m not saying there shouldn’t be restitutive measures; I’m saying the model must be based on what kind of society are you creating.
“In fact, if anything I think it has reinforced white supremacy; instead of undermining it.”
In November last year, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruled in favour of non-profit organisation, Sakeliga, in their bid to consider preferential procurement regulations for public tenders as invalid.
The SCA judgement stated that state-owned companies cannot disqualify prospective contractors who are not majority black-owned without first considering the price and proposition of the tender.
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