Racialisation of tenders wrong: Habib
Committee’s ‘social cohesion’ probe outlined
KWAZULU-NATAL task teams assigned to investigate allegations of racial bias favouring an elite group of Indian businessmen in the awarding of contracts have a heavy cross to bear.
That is the view of political scientist and University of the Witwatersrand vice-chancellor Adam Habib following the first sitting of a committee to explore social cohesion challenges in the province last Friday.
The committee, chaired by race relations expert and University of KwaZulu-Natal academic Paulus Zulu, is tasked with investigating the demographics of contract beneficiaries to establish whether there is any truth to claims made by the anti-Indian Mazibuye African Forum.
The forum alleges that Indians benefit economically more than any other race group in KwaZulu-Natal and argues that they should be excluded from black economic empowerment status.
Habib said the appointment of a task team was a welcome measure, but strong leadership, which recognise that “businessmen on both sides, whether Indian or African, are in the game to become millionaires, not to enhance inclusive development”, was needed.
Many business people dealing with state tenders were “cynical” and willing to whip up racial tensions for personal profit, he said.
Habib suggested that the task team take into consideration the number of select, well-connected people getting repeat government business irrespective of their race. He said the forum’s racialisation of issues was likely to make ordinary Indians feel vulnerable. “I’m not surprised that both sides feel vulnerable, because we have a history of racial tensions in the country.”
Conflict resolution expert Vasu Gounden, Gandhi Development Trust activist Paddy Kearney and University of KwaZuluNatal deputy vice-chancellor Cheryl Potgieter are also on the panel.
The committee was convened by KwaZulu-Natal premier Senzo Mchunu. He also set up a task team consisting of finance MEC Ina Cronje and economic development MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu.
Zulu said the meeting had been held to establish how the committee would “research, investigate, consult and report on the threats to social cohesion in the province”.
He said “significant individuals and groupings” would be interviewed to understand perceived brewing racial strife.
Mchunu’s spokesman, Ndabezinhle Sibiya, said the investigation would involve “quite a number of activities”, including a review of all state contracts for the past five years.