Today I visited the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg which
has been one of my favorite and most rewarding experiences so far in Africa. My
visit happened to coincide with a mini exhibit dedicated to Nelson Mandela and
through pictures, stories and media described his life and the effect he’s had
on South Africa. As mentioned in an earlier blog, upon being elected the first
black president of South Africa, Mandela implemented the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission for the purpose of reconciling years of racial
injustice and violence among a torn country. This was followed by the
Reconstruction and Development program issued to help alleviate poverty,
unemployed and increase the overall standard of living for the disenfranchised
of South Africa. After his five year term racial tensions still soared, the
poverty line stagnant and unemployment increased roughly 3%. Even the most
altruistic and capable of leader struggled to bring South Africa out of its
economic slump and away from its racially torn past.
A reevaluation of the BEE system instead of small additions
and amendments needs to be in place in order to refocus it away from macroeconomic
policy and towards economic inclusion. It is a difficult balancing act between
empowering blacks and not scaring away the existing white population which
maintains most of the human capital in the country. These relationships between
races need to fostered and encouraged, and what better way than through market
forces?
There is a strong need for skilled workers in South Africa,
and it is up to the government to help create that supply. Instead of forcing
blacks into positions of management, they should prepare them for such and let
the demand for human capital soak them up. By no means is this an easy
accomplishment but the direction that BEE needs to head.
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