Author: Lungelo Nokwaza

Publisher:

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 106

ISBN-13:

The collapse of the apartheid regime and the establishment of a democratic dispensation in South Africa dismantled legal and institutional discrimination. The equality of people became a leagl reality in South Africa when the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, came into effect. The equality clause guarantees equality of everyone before the law and right to equal protection and benefit of the law. Discrimination is eliminated by S 9 (3) which states that "the State may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth". To give effect to this constitutional right, various pieces of legislation including the Employment Equity Act, no. 55 of 1998, which promotes reasonable and morally sound employment policies and practices were promulgated. The Act is a positive and meaningful step towards the elimination of discrimination, and the promotion of equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different social groups in the workplace.