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S Africa Chinese 'become black' | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The High Court in South Africa has ruled that Chinese South Africans are to be reclassified as black people. | The High Court in South Africa has ruled that Chinese South Africans are to be reclassified as black people. |
It made the order so that ethnic Chinese can benefit from government policies aimed at ending white domination in the private sector. | |
The Chinese Association of South Africa took the government to court, saying its members had been discriminated against. | The Chinese Association of South Africa took the government to court, saying its members had been discriminated against. |
An estimated 200,000 ethnic Chinese live in South Africa. | An estimated 200,000 ethnic Chinese live in South Africa. |
The association said their members often failed to qualify for business contracts and job promotions because they were regarded as whites. | The association said their members often failed to qualify for business contracts and job promotions because they were regarded as whites. |
The association said Chinese South Africans had faced widespread discrimination during the years of apartheid when they had been classified as people of mixed race. | The association said Chinese South Africans had faced widespread discrimination during the years of apartheid when they had been classified as people of mixed race. |
The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says the Broad-Based Economic Empowerment and the Employment Equity Acts were designed to eradicate the legacy of apartheid which left many black people impoverished. | The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says the Broad-Based Economic Empowerment and the Employment Equity Acts were designed to eradicate the legacy of apartheid which left many black people impoverished. |
The laws give people classed as blacks, Indians and coloureds (mixed-race) employment and other economic benefits over other racial groups. | The laws give people classed as blacks, Indians and coloureds (mixed-race) employment and other economic benefits over other racial groups. |
The Black Economic Employment concept was initiated by the governing ANC to help previously disadvantaged individuals - to start their own businesses or become part of existing companies - thus redressing the country's historic inequalities. | The Black Economic Employment concept was initiated by the governing ANC to help previously disadvantaged individuals - to start their own businesses or become part of existing companies - thus redressing the country's historic inequalities. |
Whites still on top | Whites still on top |
Our correspondent says the ruling provides clarity for corporations in South Africa on the rights of their Chinese staff - who were declared "coloured" under apartheid but are generally regarded as white today. | Our correspondent says the ruling provides clarity for corporations in South Africa on the rights of their Chinese staff - who were declared "coloured" under apartheid but are generally regarded as white today. |
An example cited in court papers includes an oil company that disqualified Chinese citizens from getting a slice of its biggest empowerment transaction to date. | An example cited in court papers includes an oil company that disqualified Chinese citizens from getting a slice of its biggest empowerment transaction to date. |
The company says the group is not catered for in the Black Economic Empowerment codes. | The company says the group is not catered for in the Black Economic Empowerment codes. |
Another example includes a Chinese national who was refused an opportunity to buy shares from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange two years ago. | Another example includes a Chinese national who was refused an opportunity to buy shares from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange two years ago. |
None of the three government departments cited as respondents in the court case opposed the application. | None of the three government departments cited as respondents in the court case opposed the application. |
A study released last month revealed that white South Africans still earn around 450% more than their black counterparts, 14 years after the end of apartheid. | A study released last month revealed that white South Africans still earn around 450% more than their black counterparts, 14 years after the end of apartheid. |