Transformation? Yeah right!

I’m not sure what “transformation” is in the context of the new Mzansi, but I know one thing for sure; we are all here to practise self-preservation to the best of our ability!

What in the heck am I on about on this wet, cold, Thursday morning? Well think about it. Why did you go to school, willingly or otherwise? Why do you have a job? You obviously want to earn money so you can buy food, clothes, rent or buy a home, drive a car, entertain yourself etc. In other words you want to live.

Therefore making changes in your life is always for your own benefit, not someone else’s. Thus it always amazes me when people complain about the slow pace of transformation in the workplace. I had an interesting conversation with a friend a few days ago. He was telling me about the company he works for, a multinational whose head office is in the UK. He says the company is losing a lot of its black staff, especially at managerial level, because it refuses to transform. He says the company has been hiring a lot of young white staff who have no experience in their jobs. Some of them have been put in charge of these black managers and the managers have to constantly show them how the work is done. He says he and his black colleagues have had enough and are leading an “exodus” out of that evil white hole.

After our conversation I understood the position of the white company. Yes I feel sad for my friend’s feelings and frustrations, and I realise his story is but one of many others that corporate Mzansi faces every day (remember the boy from Investec a few months ago?). On the other hand white people, like every other people, are here for themselves. They are not interested in helping anyone else advance at their own expense. Who would do that anyway? Mandela? Mother Theresa? Not all of us are that big-hearted.

The run towards meaningful transformation will NOT be led by those who fear change. It will NOT be implemented by them that hold on greedily on to power. No. Transformation will be effected on the day we ALL realise that it is a necessary decision that will ultimately benefit everyone who lives and works in Mzansi. Without transformation we have millions of frustrated, angry black people who may one day act blindly in search of justice.