Affirmative action in South Africa ‐a genuine option?

Abstract

Affirmative action is a means to an end, a way to bridge the inequality gap between blacks and whites, males and females. It is a supplement to, rather than an equivalent of, equal opportunity. It refers to compensatory discrimination in favour of disadvantaged groups, while the latter implies absence of all forms of discrimination. Therefore, affirmative action presupposes and follows on equal opportunity. It does not constitute unfair discrimination against whites or males, nor should it be equated with ‘apartheid‐in‐reverse‘. It is nonetheless not a genuine option in apartheid society where racism is still institutionalized. It can easily widen rather than narrow the inequality gap, especially where weak and unqualified blacks are used by institutions to offer a token of non‐racism.