South Africa still lacks transformation in the workplace

Men still overwhelmingly dominate top management positions in the workplace. This is according to the Commission for Employment Equity’s 23rd annual report released on Friday.

According to the report, that analysed the period between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023, women only make up 26,5% of top management positions while, their male counterparts make up almost three times that at 73,5%.

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Some of the unique findings of the report are that the workforce remains hierarchical with africans largely concentrated at the lower levels and whites occupying decision-making positions.

1.AFRICANS STILL NOT IN TOP MANAGEMENT

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The report shows that top management is still occupied by whites at 62,9% followed by africans at 16,9%. This is despite the fact that Africans constitute 80% of the economically active population, followed by coloureds at 9,3%, whites at 8% and last indians at 2,7%.

“We are disappointed and angry because of the injustices that prevail as shown by the painfully slow pace of transformation in the workplace.  I am embarrassed that after so many years of bringing about social justice,  we are still far from achieving our employment equity targets”, says CEE Chairperson Tabea Kabinde.

2.WOMEN STILL STRUGGLING TO MAKE IT TO TOP MANAGEMENT

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Whether its in the private sector or a government department women still have the smaller share of top management positions. However, there are more woman in top management positions in government at 36,9% compared to the private sector at 25,3%.

Department of Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi expressed his disappointment in slow pace of transformation.

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“There has been no material difference in the pace of transformation in the private sector in the last year. The CEE continues to encourage employers to embrace the true and good faith objectives of the Employment Equity Act and to implement the relevant sector targets as proposed in the new legislation to reap the benefits in the interest of development and economic growth of our country”, says the Minister.

“I also want to dispel false claims that South Africa stands to lose thousands of jobs from coloureds and indians as they get dismissed toi make way for employers to achieve their targets. The law will not allow that to happen . These scare tactics and bizarre claims by politicians should be seen for what they are”, says Nxesi.

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