Westbury residents demand jobs: 'We are tired of being marginalised’
Members of the Westbury community took to the streets on Monday morning to protest against the proposed amendments to the Employment Equity Act which they argue would further deepen poverty and inequality in the area.
The group blocked roads in Westdene and Westbury off to traffic during a march to various businesses in the area, to demand employment equity.
A number of civil society organisations have expressed the intention to challenge the proposed amendments in court.
Trade union Solidarity has already confirmed that its lawyers served President Cyril Ramaphosa with a summons to challenge the "unconstitutional" act.
The act amends contains new measures to promote diversity and equality in the workplace.
The effective date is yet to be proclaimed by the President.
Pastor David Van Rayne, who is a resident of Westbury, says the community is tired of being marginalised and sidelined.
"All around Westbury, we have the University of Johannesburg, we have the University of the Witwatersrand, we have Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, we have City Power but not one of the community members or individuals has been consulted as contractors to come in and get a job, to empower other people in the community and that is sad.
“When you go to the hospitals, from the security right up to staff, there is African black - where are the coloured people? Why is it that some of the coloured people from the community are not employed?
“If that act is legislated come September, it will destroy our children's future and then we have to make sure that our children get opportunities to leave the country, why must they leave the country when they are part of the indigenous people of South Africa? Why are they not acknowledged as South Africans?" asked Van Rayne.
Another resident Brandon Barlow called on the government to open job opportunities that are inclusive of the coloured communities.
"I think they should open up more jobs for our children, give our children more opportunities.
“My child is finished at university for more than five years now, she is sitting with a degree at home and I see how she is struggling to get a job.
“She sits on that phone day and night looking for a job, and all is in vain," said Barlow.
Meanwhile, Westbury community activist Bernice Smith believes the protest is the right thing to do, to get answers from the government.
"It is right what they are doing right now, our coloured people have been marginalised. It is a thing that we have noted, when you go through the entire Gauteng.
“Our community is hungry for answers now. This is the Employment Equity Act that we are busy with now, but a lot of things can come out of it.
“Our young people go to school, they finish their matric, they are sitting at home and they turn to drugs, and that is their source of income because there is no place for them on the market.”
ACDP Gauteng chairperson Bishop Dulton Adams, who also resides in Westbury, believes the proposed amendments to the Employment Equity Act will marginalise young people in their community.
"The last straw that broke the camel's back is the Employment Equity Act that the president signed in April and the minister [of Employment & Labour, MP Thulas Nxesi] has now submitted the regulations of economic sectors that must be restarted.
“We felt that that would be the catalyst to marginalise our people, especially our young people because the minister says in five years, his target must be met.
“If this act is signed into law on the 1st of September, we will need a two-thirds majority to change it and no political party has a two-thirds majority according to the Constitution.
“So you can imagine what's gonna happen to our youth and our young people?”
The community say businesses that received the memorandums of demand will be given 14 days to respond.
These include Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Helen Joseph Hospital, Johannesburg Metro Police Department and Brixton Police Station.
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