So I met up with a friend yesterday and we started talking about the diffuculties we face as young entrepreneurs in South Africa. Then i realized that the few blacks who have made it out there - some of them are not really trying to empower the rest of us. What I would love to know is why is that? Is it all about power or greed? Does Black Empowerment still exisit?
How old is this BEE thing? (I am too lazy to search) … but I will tell you one thing that is true: social/economic change does not happen in 14 years.
Singapore, Doha would attest to a 30 year curve.
I'd say bofa le pondo — then in 30 years lets see where we are — right now, we need to provide more ideas on how re-dress the "evils" of the past so in 30 years we have what the "policies" need to attain.
BEE should not be looked at from a narrow perspective of the "few millionaires" (I'd go as far to be that in every country millionaires are a minority to greater population, whereas the middle class is "hoped" to be at a majority) — BEE needs to be seen from a broader perspective.
How many more black people have been employed? How many more black people have homes, food, clothes? How many more black people are economically active?
BBBEE is broad, it needs to be argued from that. But, yes the questions exists: how do you 'broadly' empower people who have previously had no education, working experience … blah blah blah I have argued this point before: http://ygb.co.za/2008/03/21/239
I sense those that believe it hasn't worked are looking at the 'cream' of the crop relative to their lack of opportunity to capitalise on it.
Alas, I still stand by what I have said before: it is a difficult thing to try and implement a socialist ideology within a capitalist state. By definition capitalism implies making as much profit with the least amount of expenses.
*goes back to the right corner
i hear and i agree with you fully with you. I think what i was also saying was empowerment amongst the young guys - some people tend to hogg information or contacts ...