Skills in SA should be colour blind

John Brenner

Also (chapter18, verse 18): “You will, surely become weary, you as well as this people with you, for this thing is too difficult for you.” (All above from the Hirsch Chumash)

The first paragraphs above would seem to explain the success of Western economies, for instance that they followed a meritocracy agenda. Ubuntu, according to Collins dictionary, is: humanity or fellow feeling.

Under the culture one would appoint people/candidates close to one, for instance one’s family members, one’s friends, one’s tribe members etc, irrespective of suitability for the position.

Paragraph two refers to affirmative action (a euphemism for excluding skilled people – often whites – even if they were born after the demise of apartheid.)

As one Cabinet minister recently said: “If we could build the stadiums for the World Cup on time, we can get this country right.”

I want to inform the minister that previously advantaged skills were utilised to plan and manage the projects for the stadiums. Skin colour has nothing to do with it. Hopefully things will change before all the planning and project management skills go to greener pastures, including ohlam habah.

Johannesburg