Pretoria - More needs to be done to address the lagging of Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) in the metals and engineering industry, says Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.
Speaking at the launch of the new Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) Parts and Accessories Distribution Centre on Thursday, Motlanthe said he noted the disturbing trend in terms of the demographics of the industry, at both the board membership level responsible for critical decision-making and management level.
Motlanthe was quoting from a study by a research unit at the University of Witwatersrand. According to the study at least one percent of business in the industry is black owned.
"In a way, both labour and captains of industry are joined at the hips, such that if one is disposed to move forward and the other stalls, neither stands to gain in the ensuing struggle," he said.
In terms of race and the gender index much needs to be done to ensure representivity, he said, adding that there should also be more spending on skills development and training.
"The training offered focused mostly on occupational health and safety, which, important as it is, does not address the core needs of our economy," said Motlanthe.
