- BEE = Black Economic Empowerment
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- Please note BLACK economic empowerment - not 'any other
colour' economic empowerment. -Jan
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- The following email was sent to journaist Jani Allan
who was Jeff's program guest on June 17.
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- Hi Jani,
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- Hope you are well! I believe that you are going to have
an interview with Jeff Rense.
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- I would like to give you some background on BEE as I
and most other people understand it. A phrase that are always referred
to in conjunction with BEE.
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- PDI - Previously Disadavantaged Individual.
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- This, I am led to believe, means anybody who could not
vote (prior to 1994 elections). Included are Blacks, Coloured, Indians,
Asians and handicapped people of any colour - even White - believe it or
not!
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- In this category, thank the dear Lord, it sometimes includes
White woman, who although they could vote, were previously disadvantaged
from a business point of view and many other aspects like management positions
etc. I'm sure you understand and I donít have to explain. Yes,
we were disadvantaged. Look how we were treated. I know, I am a woman
in business and was previously employed in the IT industry. White women
are very seldom included in the PDI category.
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- I prefer to remain anonymous, although I speak for myself
and for many, many other aggrieved White South Africans. Every day somebody
talks about this terrible situation. It is not a law YET - but watch this
space.
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- I own a family business in Johannesburg with a branch
in Cape Town. My partner in Cape Town is - God help me - a White MALE.
My son, who I am grooming to take over my business, is ALSO a White MALE.
Two sins in one company. If my son had to leave my employ, he would not
get a job - simply because he is White. I am divorced and support my family
entirely on my own.
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- I need to say from the outset that I have no problem
employing Black, or any other PDIs, in any position, provided he/she is
qualified for the job.
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- We have large corporate contracts and this is where the
problem begins. We are now being FORCED - by the Government to not only
Empower, whatever the true meaning of the word is - but to now have Black
owners in our companies. My business is a family business with no infrastructure
to enable my size company to do this. However, if I do not comply, I will
lose all the business from the corporate contracts. These corporates have
also been forced to have Black shareholders and it is these shareholders
who are saying "If you don't have Black ownership in your company
- no business of ours will come your way."
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- What about the fact that I employ 11 Black people out
of a staff complement of 16 people. If I lose business because of BEE
and have to close my company, these 11 people will be unemployed. This
impacts all those who rely on them for financial support - wives and children
and with many Black people (as is their culture,) extended families. I,
the person who pays their salaries and ultimately feeds them will also
be unemployed.
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- My son who is employed by me and another 4 White people
and their families will also be unemployed. Somewhere between 32 and 64
people will not be financially supported. Is this what the Government
calls Black Economic Empowerment????
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- Most of the White people I employ are over 40 years old,
who, if unemployed have no chance of finding another job (in South Africa
it is a sin to be over 40 and looking for a job). White and over 40, you
might as well dig your grave. The Black people have at least a 20% chance
of finding another job. With unemployment percentages being very high
(not sure of exact figures but I think over 60%), if these people do not
find other work, they WILL resort to crime to feed their families.
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- Why should I, after having put 13 years into my business
and suffered with financial strain and other stressful hardships, go and
pick some Black Fella off the street to be my partner. What has he to
offer. No money. No business guidance. No nothing. The HUGE corporations
in South Africa have put all the Black EX fatcat politicians onto their
boards who have the knowledge and know something about business and also
have LOTS and LOTS of money. Surely this is a farce as these people were
already wealthy and some were already in business. They do not need to
be 'EMPOWERED'. I have a small business and cannot afford one of the EX
fatcats, so what are my choices???? Does the American public have any
suggestions? Either I find a PDI soon, or I will be OUT OF BUSINESS. Thanks
to our 'Governement.'
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- I have many examples of people who have empowered Black
people. Made them shareholders or co-owners in their companies and have
lost many millions of Rand. What is the Government trying to prove? Why
don't they sort out the crime problem in the country allowing people to
feel more comfortable in their own country and to stop 'running' away for
fear of their lives. This will create a harmonious environment in which
business will grow and automatically people will invest more money in their
businesses and employment will rise. We have a beautiful country but it
is racked by crime and Government dictatorship.
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- I thought we had a democratic Government with choices.
We don't. We are railroaded and bullied into doing what the Government
wants. It is much the case of you canít DEMAND respect, you EARN
it. So too must PDIs work their way into positions of management and ownership.
The White people have given enough! I don't see why I must work my butt
off for the rest of my life to make somebody disadvantaged have a better
life if they are too lazy to do it themselves. I am hardly making ends
meet for myself and my family so how do I put a PDI into partnership with
all the rewards if they don't EARN it.
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- My last groan is that the Government has not cleared
up the issue of exactly how this must work. Some companies demanding BEE
are saying 25% PDI ownership. Others are saying 51%. Nobody really knows.
All I know is that if I don't get PDI in ownership into my small family
business, I will probably lose two of my biggest contracts which counts
for 35% of my monthly sales.
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- Do the maths - no business anymore - 32-64 people won't
eat. Well done to our wonderful DEMOCRATIC Government. I am very angry.
I think I have a right to be.
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