By Amy Musgrave
Pressure is mounting on Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth from certain sectors of society to withdraw the updated employment equity regulations, with with-pro business NPO Sakeliga now threatening to go to the courts.
Sakeliga and the National Employers’ Association of SA have notified Meth that they intend to seek an urgent interdict against the regulations later this month.
They said on Wednesday that the minister was attempting to force employers to comply with her hiring quotas based on race, sex and disability from September 2025, via fines as high as 10% of turnover and the eventual prosecution of executives.
“The purpose of the urgent interdict would be to prevent the minister’s unlawful actions from causing an enormous and irrevocable waste of public and private resources, which would follow should employers attempt to comply with the impossible requirements.
“The regulations would apply to virtually all employers in South Africa with 50 staff or more, and affects local and international employers equally,” they said in a statement.
The minister has been given until 18 June to suspend or withdraw the regulations, failing which, their attorneys are instructed to bring an urgent application.
Trade union Solidarity has filed a complaint with the United Nations’ International Labour Organisation over what it calls raced-based laws. It has also taken the minister court.
Both President Cyril Ramaphosa and Meth have defended the new employment equity regulations, saying they are essential tools to correct the deep racial inequalities entrenched by apartheid.
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