The Democratic Alliance (DA) is heading to the Pretoria High Court to challenge amendments to the Employment Equity Act, which the party argues introduce unconstitutional race-based job targets.
According to DA Federal Chairperson Helen Zille, the legal challenge seeks to protect equal job opportunities for all South Africans. At the center of the dispute is Section 15A of the amended Act, which allows the Minister of Labour to set sector-specific targets for racial and gender representation in the workforce.
The DA contends that these targets function as rigid racial quotas that ignore individual merit and threaten economic stability. Zille argued that such measures reduce people to mere numbers, sidelining talent and hard work.
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In response, Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth dismissed the DA’s case as an attempt to preserve inequality, stating that the challenge undermines efforts to create fair and inclusive workplaces. She described the party’s legal move as a step backward for transformation and equality in post-apartheid South Africa.
Despite the criticism, the DA insists that the amendments will damage job creation and harm the broader economy. The case will be heard in court as debates over the balance between equity and merit continue.