BEE, Tourism, Racism – What’s The Deal?
Hello, my name is Martin and I’m a racist.
… which is the very reason I totally get the concepts of black economic empowerment (BEE) and affirmative action.
I’m a racist because, like you, I was brought up in a certain way in a certain neighbourhood by a certain bunch of people, most of whom where much like me – and so, like you, I instinctively distrusted anyone who wasn’t.
It’s a natural thing – we’re all the products of our up-bringing. But racism is like alcoholism – you can’t deal with it unless you admit you’ve got it. And every one of us in the world today needs to deal with it.
So – I’m a racist. But like the alcoholic, I Don’t Want To Be One Of Those and so I’m constantly working on myself to learn to accept everyone for who they are – rather than to judge them for what they are.
It’s not easy, but it’s possible.
I’m presently reading Desmond Tutu’s biography (Rabble Rouser for Peace by John Allen) and one particular passage struck a chord: the Archbishop’s enormous official home in Cape Town was surrounded by 7 hectares (17 acres!) of manicured garden – a complete contrast to the Tutu’s own home in Orlando West which was “closely hemmed in by others; they (the Tutus) were surrounded by supportive neighbours within shouting distance; and a short, high wall separated them from the street outside.”
And this was the passage that struck me: “Living in Bishopscourt, Tutu told visitors, he found it easy to understand the blindness of most white South Africans, who had never visited a black township, to the suffering in their country.”
Indeed. And this is why I won’t have anything to do with (usually white people’s) calls to ‘forget about the past and let bygones be bygones.’ Maybe in a generation or two – but not yet.
In the meantime, Me-the-racist-who’d-rather-not-be is (am?) also a tourism practitioner, and as you know – if you’ve read this far, you’ll have read at least some of my other stuff – I really believe in tourism as a force for good. So I strongly support the Tourism Empowerment Council of South Africa (TECSA) and I receive their media releases with interest.
Just recently, TECSA’s Public Sector Liason Director, Sifiso Mthembu, wrote to me that “it gives me great pleasure to send you the gazetted Tourism Sector Codes (you can download them here). We are so proud to have achieved this important landmark. It has been quite a journey getting to where we are now – and we are on the road to real transformation in the sector, more particularly from public sector viewpoint, by using our various levers to influence transformation.
“It is also quite delightful to inform you that we are indeed the first sector to ever done so, and it is another distinguished feather on TECSA’s caps.
“The process going forward will be to communicate/distribute the Tourism Sector Codes for the public to comment and the legislation has given us 60 days to do so. TECSA will be there to assist you in any shape or form – after which we will have a final Tourism Sector Code.”
So it was with some anticipation that I printed out the document and settled down to read.
I got past the introduction (no problem) and then turned to the Scorecards.
Didn’t understand a word.
Fortunately, though, I subscribe to TravelHub so it was interesting to read the editor’s opinion piece on 25 June “Tourism Code is Unworkable” (unfortunately, though, I couldn’t get the post to load when I went back to it, so I can’t provide you with the link. But I did print it out when first I got it – if you want to come on over and read it).
What The Ed. said was that “small black businesses which want to enter the tourism sector will face new bureaucratic hurdles that will have an unexpected damping effect on the sector, if legislation gazetted on June 20 by government goes through
“… The architects of the proposed tourism sector empowerment legislation have deviated from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) guidelines and in a strange twist made tourism the most difficult industry for blacks to enter.
“… Unfortunately, while the existing DTI BBBEE generic codes of good practice encourage micro enterprises, the proposed Tourism Codes will reverse that.”
So what’s happening here? I wish I knew. But I don’t because the whole thing’s become so blimmin’ complicated and convoluted that I think we’ve forgotten what we set out to do – which is to bring previously disadvantaged people into the tourism family. And I think that’s going to require a hell of a lot more than any government legislation would ever be able to achieve: it’s going to require a personal commitment from every one of us.
It’s going to require each one of us reaching into our humanity and each one of us (black and white) recognising our racism – and personally tackling it.
But you need to make up your own mind – and in the meantime, like me, you also need to try and understand the Tourism Code. Download it here – and remember to comment on it if you have any problems with it (although I have no idea to whom you should address those comments – the document doesn’t say!).
What’s Martin Reading?
Ghosts of South Africa by Pat Hopkins
Now THIS is my kind of book. I’m a sucker for ghost stories as they’re told in myth and legend (not mad about scary movies, though) and I’ve often looked for a good guide to our own home-grown South African spooks – and having so often been unsuccessful, even taken to writing some of my own. But somehow, they never quite satisfy: it’s a bit like cooking – your dishes will ALWAYS taste better than anything I make myself.
And this book is as rich and entertaining meal if ever there was one. Of course all our old favourites are there – van Hunks and the Devil, Lady Anne Barnard at the Castle in Cape Town, the Flying Dutchman – but Mr Hopkins, who graduated in history and political science from the University of Natal, gives us a whole lot more. Ghosts of the Boer War Sieges, spooks in the hospital wards, spirits in the theatre all vie for our attention. And their stories lead us down our historical and political highways and back roads and across our literary veld – and it’s a thrilling journey.
This is definitely a fireside book. I can just imagine one of your guests picking it up on a rainy afternoon and reading on deep into the night.
Another one that out to be included in your guest house library.
Buy Ghosts of South Africa here.
Stars, Bars & Guitars by Jon Monsoon
Jon Monsoon quotes Elvis Costello in his introduction to this raucous journey through the last decade or two of South African music: “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture – it’s a really stupid thing to want to do.”
Ah yes – but I’m delighted that Jon Monsoon is dumb enough – because this book is pure entertainment. It’s anything but comprehensive, it’s colourful (no, really – both in the writing and in the design) and it’s partisan (Mr. Monsoon chooses what he wants to write about and who he wants to write about – and I like that; I like reading about what makes other writers tick).
And above all, it’s a fresh look at South African culture – one that both South Africans and foreigners will enjoy.
Buy Stars, Bars & Guitars here.
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