Solidarity says whites excluded from share schemes is unconstitutional

By Rhodé Marshall
25 September 2007

Trade union Solidarity says they support statements by the Department of Trade and Industry speaking out against white South Africans being excluded from share schemes.

“Solidarity is in favour of share schemes, where companies give of their own shares to employees, but these kinds of share schemes must be fairly implemented,” says Solidarity spokesperson Jaco Kleynhans.

Kleynhans says Solidarity has worked towards non-racial employee deals for years and that they had large breakthroughs within the mining industry.

“AngloGold Ashanti has announced a R1, 1 billion non-racial share ownership plan, and Anglo Platinum one valued at R3, 3 billion. During the recent wage negotiations in the metal and engineering industry, Solidarity also agreed on the principle of non-racial share ownership plans,” says Kleynhans.