There are certain statements that are used with frightening frequency in present day South Africa. Statements that are little more than a cold, hard smack in the face of a true democracy.
Nothing makes my blood pressure rise more than hearing the utterly senseless and ridiculous drivel that goes something to the tune of "address the inequalities of the past" and "increase the pace of transformation..."
I have never before heard anything as hypocritical as statements that have those underlying messages.
Why is it that when certain fractions of our society speak of "equality" and "transformation", they, in the very same breath, contradict themselves by clearly implying that some kind of unmerited preference be given to those of "colour"?
In a democratic environment, there can be and should be no preference to anyone based on anything other than merit, or is it that we conveniently forget that we are a democratic nation so we accordingly bend the definition to suit some?
The way people go on about these ideals of "equity" and "transformation" has to be the most subtle form of pure racism yet.
Summing it up
To sum up their argument, it seems quite evident that there are those in our nation who are of the idiosyncratic belief that, because of "past struggles" they need to and must have preferential treatment in corporate, academic, political and practically every environment one can think of.
In South Africa, transformation and equality are two ideals that send emotions raging, just at the mention of the terms.
Have we perhaps forgotten what that little invaluable thing called "merit" is? Merit is (or at least should be) the only basis on which selection criteria is to be applied, be it in an academic, corporate or any other sphere.
A shining example of this is the chairperson of the Employment Equity Commission Mr Jimmy Manyi, who is very often quick to point out imbalances in our country.
He frequently insinuates that talk of a skills shortage is simply an excuse not to hire black people. I really grapple to understand this logic.
He, and a whole host of others who share his perception, argue that the rate at which black people occupy top-level management is not growing fast enough. According to that view, the numbers are growing too slowly in comparison to the "supply-stock".
What is a democracy?
Why then are we so hasty to make this a race issue? Common knowledge will indicate that, without evidence to the contrary, the magnitude of that "supply stock" does not matter if that very "stock" is ill-equipped, inexperienced or plainly unsuitably merited for a position.
The most frustrating dilemma in South Africa is that everything must be made into an issue of colour.
For those who aren't familiar with the true meaning of a democracy, allow me to enlighten.
A democratic nation is one where that grows a non-sexist, non-racial and non-discriminatory atmosphere, in which all citizens are equal and non-prejudiced. By simple implication, that means that no one (previously disadvantaged or not) should enjoy any sort of preference over any one else based on anything but merited achievement. There.
Now that's not so hard to understand is it? So why are we falling over ourselves to try and implement that democratic idealism.
Black, white, purple, green or orange: it does not matter. If someone is qualified and merited, then there should be no boundary to prevent that person from due achievement. If someone of "colour" has a valid argument that they have been turned down or prejudiced for a position despite the fact that they are duly qualified, then I will come to terms with the racial argument.
But to simply expect to fall into the lap of luxury and success without merit is everything that a democracy is not and unacceptable.
Tilting of levelling?
How can we profess democracy when so many people subscribe to the view that, as if by some decree, there should exist a sort of racial superiority because, by some illogical mindset, past struggles must now be equated to what can be described as a lowering-of-standards, and, therefore allow for the "previously disadvantaged" to leap their way up the corporate and academic ladders of success.
Yes, I completely agree, we should have structures in place to level the playing fields from that tainted past of ours, and I also believe that as a nation, we are doing that quite admirably.
However, lets not get confused between "levelling" and start asking for a "tilting" of the playing the field to favour some. What we desperately need is a delicate balance of skills and "transformation", but with the true virtues of a democracy at heart.
The time is long overdue that we simply leave the past where it belongs and focus on the now and future. There should be no entitlement theory that anyone should feel privy to. Any entitlement should come after hard work, great effort, commitment and sheer merit.
Racial undertones need to be extricated from common-speak or else, all we will do is effectively strangle that golden goose of democracy that we so proudly like to boast of.
