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The Solidarity Movement, which includes Solidarity, AfriForum and Helping Hand, today in a letter called on President Jacob Zuma to stop the proposed new empowerment codes, thus showing that he does not condone discrimination against any poor person, whether black or white.
 
According to the new empowerment codes companies’ socio-economic development contributions would only be recognised if 100% of the beneficiaries are black. Solidarity today handed over cheques to charities at the Bethlehem settlement northwest of Pretoria, where President Zuma had promised aid to the poor more than two years ago. Johan Kruger, Solidarity’s spokesperson, says the handing over of cheques amounting to R1 000 to Nawongo, the Bethlehem settlement and the Suid-Afrikaanse Vrouefederasie is symbolic in nature. ‘What it showed was that non-racial welfare organisations would be materially prejudiced should the new empowerment codes be implemented. Had the new codes already been applicable, Solidarity as a company would not have scored BEE points for the donation. It also showed that companies that wanted to donate money to the poor would thus be forced to avoid non-racial charities in order not to be penalised by the codes. It is not only poor whites who will be disadvantaged by the provision, but thousands of poor black people too. If just 1% of the children in an children’s home are white, then the 99% of black children will also be disadvantaged. The codes discourage any form of integration.’
 
Kruger says President Zuma visited the Bethlehem settlement in March 2010 and was quoted as having emphasised that nobody may be excluded from social aid, and that government was committed to all South Africans, regardless of race or creed. ‘President Zuma’s statements are, however, in stark contrast with the new empowerment codes according to which development aid for the poor is determined according to race. Zuma was therefore not honest when he told poor people from this settlement that he would not hide behind policies and reports.’
 
Solidarity earlier this week launched a massive campaign to stop the new empowerment codes. The trade union plans to send thousands of objections to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies. Twitter, Facebook, e-mail chain letters, SMSs and web pages will be used to mobilise people on a large scale to object to the codes. People can send letters of protest directly to Minister Davies via the website www.solidariteit.co.za <http://www.solidariteit.co.za> /en, and the campaign can be followed on Twitter at #stoprob. Protest can also be lodged simply by texting the word ‘Rob’ to 34388.
 
Read the letter to Zuma, click here <http://www.solidaritymedia.co.za/bee-codes-letter-to-pres-jacob-zuma/> .
 
Photos of the event will be available at www.solidaritymedia.co.za <http://www.solidaritymedia.co.za>  later today.