South Africa's black empowerment: The president says it has failed

South Africa's black empowerment: The president says it has failed | The Economist
The president says it has failed
To give more economic clout to the black majority has proved hard
Mar 31st 2010 | JOHANNESBURG | From The Economist print edition
It is now widely agreed that “black economic empowerment” (BEE) and affirmative-action laws brought in after apartheid as the star policies of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) have failed. Even President Jacob Zuma seems to agree. Instead of redistributing wealth and positions to the black majority, they have resulted mainly in “a few individuals benefiting a lot,” he says, while leaving the leadership of most big companies in white hands. The black masses, the intended beneficiaries, have hardly gained.