Trade union Solidarity on Monday began to publish a series of national advertisements announcing the death of affirmative action.
Deputy general secretary Dirk Hermann said the advertisements would appear in the classified sections of Beeld, Business Day, Citizen and in Volksblad on Tuesday.
”The advertisement caused some controversy when a number of South African daily papers refused — and are still refusing — to publish it,” he said.
The advertisement states that affirmative action could not withstand the electricity crisis, and refers to an article on Solidarity’s website.
The article outlines a request from a black Eskom manager to Solidarity to supply the electricity provider with skills.
The article looks at the skills shortages in South Africa and in particular the shortage of engineers.
According to Solidarity, South Africa has one engineer for every 3 200 citizens; India and China have one engineer for every 150 citizens; Europe, one for every 250; and the United States and Australia one for every 400 to 500 citizens.
”South Africa cannot allow itself the luxury of barring even one engineer from the labour market. In practice, affirmative action regarding engineers has died.”
The advertisement reads: ”It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden demise of Mr Affirmative Action [AA]. AA had a good heart and good intentions, but he was terminally ill and could not survive the recent power outages. In spite of his condition, his parents denied his fatal illness and refused medical care. Total denial caused AA’s abrupt death. Rest in peace, AA — we shall not miss you.” — Sapa