Big business must adapt or face music

When it comes to the transformation that is needed in our society, corporate South Africa needs to start standing up to be counted. Perhaps the millions of poor masses on the margins of the economy will benefit if big business helps out.

Just as the finger of blame can be pointed at government over legitimate concerns about corruption and wastage of public funds, it is highly disappointing that when it comes to improving the lives of poor people, big business is still found wanting when it comes to affirmative action and employment equity.

The 2017 Commission of Employment Equity report notes once again the painfully slow process of transformation in the labour sector, while in other sectors it is nonexistent.

The report notes that the South African workplaces still have mostly white males in leadership positions. From 2009 to 2016 we have not seen any shifts in middle, senior and top management when it comes to race inclusiveness.

Of the 200 companies that have fallen foul of laws regarding affirmative action and employment equity, half of them are said to be listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange , showing just how the attitudes of our captains of industry have been hardened.

Labour Minister Mildred Olifant has now threatened to engage President Jacob Zuma further to come up with harsher penalties for companies flouting these laws, which are a vital element for levelling the playing fields and closing the gap between the rich and the poor.

It is said that some companies are so opposed to change they can actually afford to maintain the status quo and exclude other racial groups, even budgeting for the annual penalty fees so they can disregard the laws and continue to foster institutionalised racism in the workplace.

What the annual reports indicate is that the non-compliance by big companies continues to maintain glaring inequalities that undermine our democracy, with the majority of the population unable to earn a decent living or participate meaningfully in the economy.

The situation is unsustainable and corporates need to know that they must make sacrifices to contribute to lasting solutions that will benefit all.