call to include freeborns in afirmative action
5 November 2007

Trade union Solidarity is to ask Parliament to introduce an amendment act exempting the youth from affirmative action, it said.

Spokesperson Dirk Hermann said the union would ask Parliament onTuesday to consider the introduction of the Amendment Act on Freeborn South Africans.

"The proposed amendment asks that the Employment Equity Act be amended to include all South Africans who have entered school since 1994 in the designated group, to benefit from affirmative action. "This then would widen the definition meaning that the designated group will be legally defined as black people, females and people with disabilities," said Hermann.

He said the proposed amendment act - signed by "thousands" of people - would be handed to the Speaker's office on Tuesday.

Sapa, www.fin24.co.za