'No more business with whites'

2008-10-16 09:25

Buks Viljoen

Nelspruit - The Ehlanzeni District Municipality (EDM) in Nelspruit has decided that white people will no longer be allowed to do business with the council.

A racial uproar is looming in the Mpumalanga capital after this decision was taken by the council's senior managers at a lekgotla last week.

The lekgotla was chaired by Hugh Mbatha, the council's municipal manager, and attended by members of the council's mayoral committee.

The decision was officially worded: "Stop the appointment of white consultants, contractors and any other service providers and empower black consultants, contractors and other businessmen."

'A racist decision'

According to documents in Beeld's possession, this decision is being justified in terms of the "implementation of the government's policy and guidelines for broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE)."

Gravett Herbst, leader of the Democratic Alliance caucus in the EDM, said: "This is a racist decision and utter discrimination against whites."

When asked about the decision, the municipality told Beeld the decision would first have to be considered by the council. Caswell Maluleke, speaker of the council, said he was not aware of this decision by the council's senior managers.

"The council presently has no policy that excludes whites. Such a decision would first have to be considered by the full mayoral committee. Then a decision would be made as to whether it was viable, and only then would it be tabled for discussion at a full council session," Maluleke said.

Herbst said: "The decision is just a one-sided matter being instigated by a few people with hidden agendas."

The DA will insist that officials not implement the decision until it has been considered by the council.

- Beeld