Transformation is necessary. However, as a crude form of social engineering it will fail and that is a risk we should not be willing to take. I believe our future as a viable, economically stable democracy depends on it.

Thank you for the debate.

South Africa is rated as one of THE MOST unequal of all countries in the world, and such inequality was DELIBERATELY designed by the former apartheid government to be along RACIAL lines. To be blunt: economic prosperity has a pale complexion (white) whereas abject poverty and squalor has a dark complexion (African). Therefore any attempt to redress this inequality has to, necessarily, take on a racial dimension-hence BEE.
If we are to be really honest, we should also rid our soceity of the notion of ‘PREVIOUSLY disadvantaged’ as this creates the VERY false impression that the African majority has arrived and has thus become currently advantaged.
Let it be said UNEQUIVOCABLY: the African majority of South Africa is still very much DISADVANTAGED. The wheels of change have VIRTUALLY NOT moved at all for most of us-SISA HLUPHEKA. That is a hard fact by any cursory look at SoUth Afrca’s socio-economics.

If there is something wrong with the BEE model of transformation, let it be attended to as a matter of urgency and let there be suggested alternatives that will NOT compromise the transformation agenda. But to call for its scrapping is absolutely laughable given where we are as a nation regarding transformation. Let not those who are fundamentally opposed to transformation capitalise on any shortcomings of the BEE model or any other transformation initiative of the state. They are being quite opportunistic…

South Africa will implode if the economic pie continues to grow and be enjoyed to the exclusion of the African majority. Growing inequality, especially along racial lines is the biggest threat to social stability anywhere in the world.
Regardless of race, a socially unstable South Africa will be a nightmare for all. We all have a vested interest in a prosperous country, so let us not seek to achieve and enjoy it to the exclusion of anyone-least of all the indigenous majority. Otherwise the bubble WILL burst-it really is a basic matter of fact.

Transformation must be strived for in whatever model deemed appropriate to achieve the redressing of economic inequalities that span centuries.

Whether the economic elite realise it or not, meaningful transformation is also in their interest. ‘Finish and Klaar!’

Thank you for a most incisive program – just wish you could lengthen it – all of your topics! Issues are so complex they need to be more fully explored. Although I must say, while the Transformation debate is fully understood by our intellectuals and has probably become somewhat tedious , the person on the street watching the program, must be left behind by the overly academic language employed by some participants.

I was surprised by the confused rendering of Advocate Ngoako Ramatlhodi’s views and his intransigence in accepting that he was roundly trumped by the clarity of Dr. Ramphele’s arguments (what an incredible woman!). That irritated swinging of her elegantly shod foot and the occasional derisive smile made your show come alive. Loved it!!! Also, your other panelists : Pierre de Vos, Moeletsi Mbeki (what a courageous man) and the maligned Judge Kriegler, really illuminated the very real problems underlying the concepts of Transformation et al.

We need to talk through all these issues, no matter how painful they are. We will never attain Bishop Tutu’s vision of a Rainbow Nation, unless we do.

Thank you for your immense contribution. As my son would say in Afrikaans : “ETv. kook!”

Maupi Monyemangene

Media Liaison Manager; Productivity SA

And thank you for reaching down to the lower levels of employment at the Post Office (who represent a great many institutions in our country) and letting them speak. If the Post Office was the winner, then what is going on in the companies who lost?

Another thing: we are very upset when people are put on suspension with their full salaries (Millions of Rand per year) in tact while a so-called-investigation is pending for years and years. We just get three warnings and then fired. If we feel it was unworthy or unjustifiable the CCMA (who is doing great work) investigates but we’re not getting paid while ‘investigations are ongoing’!

It makes me think of “All animals [people] are equal, but some are more equal than others,” from Animal Farm written by George Orwell and published in England in 1945. He was a Democratic Socialist. His story seems to be getting more and more applicable on South Africa’s current state! His story should be a warning to us! Only problem is, how can we do it differently? What would be the solution?