Uni Chapter 5
293
CHAPTERS
A HISTORICO-COMPARATIVE STUDY OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND
EMPLOYMENT EQUITY IN SOUTH AFRICA
A historico-comparative
study of Affirmative Action and Employment Equity in South
Africa is important for a number of reasons. Firstly, it draws attention to the history of the country highlighting the fact that the present-day South Africa is deeply rooted in historical "myths and misrepresentations,
divisions and conflict" (Hartshorne,
1992: 20-21). Secondly, an historical perspective will offer explanations and provide background information against which perceptions and attitudes of the different racial groups towards Affirmative Action and Employment Equity in the country emerged.
This would contribute to a deeper understanding and appreciation of them. Thirdly, and more specifically, it will contribute to a better understanding of the need for and relevance of Affirmative Action and Employment Equity particularly in Higher Education in the country.
Affirmative
Fourthly, it would serve as a catalyst for the introduction and type of
Action and Employment
Equity policies
that will contribute
towards
successful transformation of Higher Education in South Africa. Fifthly, it will highlight the unique challenges and/or constraints faced by Higher Education institutions in
South Africa in their attempts to implement Affirmative Action/Employment
Equity
programmes.
Prior to the historically significant free election of 27th April 1994 which ushered in democratic South Africa, the educational system upheld the ideology of apartheid. The characteristics and intended objective of this system are aptly crystallized
following statement made in the House of Assembly in 1945 :
by the
"We should not give the natives [Blacks] an academic education, as some people are prone to do.
If we do this we shall be later
burdened with a number of academically non-Europeans, trained
Europeans and
CHAPTERS
A HISTORICO-COMPARATIVE STUDY OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND
EMPLOYMENT EQUITY IN SOUTH AFRICA
A historico-comparative
study of Affirmative Action and Employment Equity in South
Africa is important for a number of reasons. Firstly, it draws attention to the history of the country highlighting the fact that the present-day South Africa is deeply rooted in historical "myths and misrepresentations,
divisions and conflict" (Hartshorne,
1992: 20-21). Secondly, an historical perspective will offer explanations and provide background information against which perceptions and attitudes of the different racial groups towards Affirmative Action and Employment Equity in the country emerged.
This would contribute to a deeper understanding and appreciation of them. Thirdly, and more specifically, it will contribute to a better understanding of the need for and relevance of Affirmative Action and Employment Equity particularly in Higher Education in the country.
Affirmative
Fourthly, it would serve as a catalyst for the introduction and type of
Action and Employment
Equity policies
that will contribute
towards
successful transformation of Higher Education in South Africa. Fifthly, it will highlight the unique challenges and/or constraints faced by Higher Education institutions in
South Africa in their attempts to implement Affirmative Action/Employment
Equity
programmes.
Prior to the historically significant free election of 27th April 1994 which ushered in democratic South Africa, the educational system upheld the ideology of apartheid. The characteristics and intended objective of this system are aptly crystallized
following statement made in the House of Assembly in 1945 :
by the
"We should not give the natives [Blacks] an academic education, as some people are prone to do.
If we do this we shall be later
burdened with a number of academically non-Europeans, trained
Europeans and