Cyril Ramaphosa by Bidvest se rasprogram geïmpliseer

Bidvest het president Cyril Ramaphosa onder die rasbus gegooi deur aan te dui dat Bidvest nie die oorsprong van hul diskriminerende beleid is nie, maar dat dit in ʼn groep, waarin Rampahosa toe ʼn belang gehad het, begin is.

Volgens Bidvest het die swart bemagtigingsmaatskappy Dinatla, waarin Ramaphosa ʼn 15% belang gehad het, die grondslag vir die beleid gelê. In ʼn amptelike reaksie aan Solidariteit verklaar Bidvest dat Dinatla reeds in 2003 die Dinatla Trust gestig het, waaruit die huidige rasprogram ontstaan het. Volgens hulle was die doel van die Trust nog altyd om uitsluitlik swart werknemers van Bidvest te bevoordeel.

Dinatla het ʼn aandeel van 34% in Bidvest verkry en Ramaphosa is in 2004 as voorsitter van Bidvest aangestel. Hy het in 2013 bedank en was dus vir nege jaar lank self die toesighouer oor die rasprogram wat in sy kamp ontstaan en ontwikkel is.

Bidvest bied ʼn beursprogram aan vir skoolgaande kinders van graad 4 tot graad 12. Voltydse werknemers kan aansoek doen vir dié program indien hulle minder as R15 300 per maand (voor aftrekkings) verdien. Die beurs dek skoolgeld, Waltons-skryfbehoeftes, skoolklere, asook hulp met ekstra klasse.

Daar is egter ʼn belangrike voorbehoud: Selfs al voldoen ʼn werknemer aan die inkomstevoorwaarde, kwalifiseer hulle nie vir die beurs, as hulle wit is, nie.

Hier is Bidvest se reaksie:

Dear Dr Hermann

Thank you for your email sent to Bidvest CEO, Mrs Mpumi Madisa, with regard to the Bidvest Education Trust (the Trust). The intention with this response is to provide you with some information on the concept and purpose of the Trust.

The Trust, previously known as the Dinatla Trust, was established in 2003 as a CSI shareholding structure that formed part of Dinatla, a broad-based black economic empowerment consortium that owned 35% of the Bidvest Group. In line with the principles and philosophy of the B-BBEE Act 53 of 2003, the Trust was formed for the sole purpose of uplifting Historically Disadvantaged Individuals that are employees of the Bidvest Group. It has been operational for over 22 years and very successful in changing the lives of our employees and their families. 

As a South African company, the Bidvest Group will continue to work toward advancing workplace equality and inclusion as well as broadening the economic participation of Black people (African, Coloured and Indian) in the South African economy. We not only comply with, but fully endorse and support, the principles and objectives of the policies and laws of our country that are fundamental to achieving our collective economic and social ambitions.

For more specific information regarding the Trust, please refer to the 2003 Bidvest Annual Report and all subsequent report publications.

Regards

Julian Gwillim

(on behalf of Bidvest)

Lees dr. Dirk Hermann se ope brief hier.