Abstract
M.Com. (Labour Relations)
This study focuses on the affirmative action debate in South Africa as it manifests firstly in current and possible practices, and secondly expectations of legislation in the future. The reasoning behind the study is that it is imperative to do a study on this, one of the most controversial subjects currently under debate in South Africa, while so many companies are in the process of implementing systems of affirmative action.
An overview of affirmative action legislation in other countries of the world were presented. These systems form the core of any debate on the subject of affirmative action in South Africa. The South African debate, as well as present systems and support for affirmative action legislation were investigated. An analysis of the present problems facing the black education system in South Africa and the initiatives to overcome these problems were given. A probable model of affirmative action legislation that the ANC and some other black political parties would most probably support was then given, based on the foregoing study. The conclusions drawn from the results obtained after the study, was that the black political parties and groupings that support the ideals of the ANC support a 60 percent quota-system. Most companies in South Africa have either already implemented an affirmative action or
equal opportunities policy, or are in the process of adopting such a policy. In many cases the reasons for adopting such policies seem to be the expectation of future legislation that would force them to adopt radical affirmative action policies. The expectations of the black community, in terms of affirmative action legislation, also seem to be extremely high. This puts much pressure on both companies and black political parties to support and implement affirmative action.