President Thabo Mbeki assured Parliament yesterday government did not want to discriminate against any person seeking employment, but stressed the country still had some way to go to address the legacy of inequality.

Replying to questions in the National Assembly, he said higher economic growth would help create job opportunities for all South Africans, regardless of race or gender.

"Increasing opportunities in our economy and society should make it possible that the implementation of affirmative action programmes does not create the situation of either/or but, rather, both.

"The goodwill of the new generation and the goodwill of all generations are needed... therefore we also need to expand the opportunities available in the economy".

The president, however, ruled out introducing a "sunset clause" for affirmative action.Asked if such a clause could help to strengthen reconciliation, Mbeki said one could not achieve reconciliation if the racist legacy of inequality continued.

"How long it will be necessary to continue with the affirmative action programmes will depend on how fast we succeed to eliminate this inequality".

The president unveiled figures to show the country, and in particular the private sector, still had a long way to go in ensuring greater equity in the workplace.

Of the top 100 companies on the JSE Securities Exchange, only 156, or 13% of a total of 1 196 directors were previously disadvantaged individuals, and only 1,3% of them were women.

For the private sector as a whole, about 78% of managers were white and "the rest are the rest", while 85% of managers were men.

The figures for state-owned enterprises showed that, as at May 31 this year, 56% of senior management was white, and 75% male.

Mbeki also said he hoped that young South Africans traveling and working abroad would eventually return home.

Efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs to liaise with embassies and groups abroad to keep in touch with those travelers had been well received.

"I am quite sure that the majority of South Africans that remain abroad remain South Africans... they will gain skills there and hopefully they will return.

"We need their skills here," he said. – Sapa.