Cabinet is “disappointed” with the slow pace of transformation in South Africa's workplace, saying drastic measures need to be taken to speed-up change.

It was reacting to the 11th Commission of Employment Equity (CEE) Annual Report issued last week, which showed that whites were still dominating top management level positions.

Briefing media on Thursday, Cabinet spokesperson Jimmy Manyi said the executive was calling on all key stakeholders, like the National Economic Development and Labour Council, to expedite the amendments to the Employment Equity Act to enable its effective implementation.

The report notes that the employment equity targets pretty much seek to achieve 73% representation of Africans in all levels of companies.

Coloureds make up 11% of the economically active population (EAP), with Indians at 3% and whites at 12%.

Indians represented nearly 7% of top management by 2010, more than twice their EAP. Coloureds were under-represented at 4.6%, less than half of their EAP.

Manyi said Cabinet has called for speedy transformation in order to sustain the anticipated economic growth.

“A call for more focus, especially on African and coloured women, and people with disabilities was made,” Manyi said.

Government calls on all sectors of society and all South Africans to continue with programmes in support of women, as we continue in our celebrations of Women’s Month. The theme for Women’s Month is “Working together to enhance women’s opportunities to economic empowerment.”