Affirmative Understudies

I THINK the biggest mistakes some especially mining companies in Namibia and South Africa make when dealing with Affirmative Action, apart from some parastatals appointing underqualified key personnel, is employing aspiring, ambitious qualified black person as "understudies".

This means that for a couple of years after graduating, a white

person (the supervisor) who has held the position for more than ten

years has to transfer his expertise to you, so that you can

eventually replace him.

BUT only if he is confident that your feet have grown large

enough to fit his boots.

 

I mean, hello? What person will readily give up his/her position

for another one.

 

Forget about reconciliation and black empowerment when it comes

to having to give up a pay cheque and comfortable life for the

unknown.

 

Some black graduates end up working as understudies for more

than 5 years, and end up knowing very little about the job they're

supposed to do in the end.

 

Why? Because his/her white supervisor dictates how much

knowledge is passed on to him.

 

Guess what happens when the supervisor is out of town for a

week? The black rookie has to fill in for him without prior

coaching and thus cannot do a proper job of it! So this gives the

white supervisor fuel to sell his black understudy as incompetent

to the rest of the company! This understudy concept should be

abolished because that is what is fuelling some of the resentment

that whites have for AA.

 

Instead, a graduate should be entered into a training program

with a clearly set out "curriculum" that has to be covered in a

specified amount of time.

 

In this way, the company controls how much the new appointee

should know at the end, and in this way, whether he/she gets the

white supervisor's position.

 

Depending on the aspiring black person's abilities AFTER proper

training.

 

And yes, this is REALLY happening!

 

Ambitious Namibian

UCT

 

Note: Understudies are only applicable to work permit holders,

and permanent residents, regardless of their skin colour.

 

The Act does not require white Namibians to be

'understudied'.

 

- Ed

 

BUT only if he is confident that your feet have grown large enough

to fit his boots.I mean, hello? What person will readily give up

his/her position for another one.Forget about reconciliation and

black empowerment when it comes to having to give up a pay cheque

and comfortable life for the unknown.Some black graduates end up

working as understudies for more than 5 years, and end up knowing

very little about the job they're supposed to do in the end.Why?

Because his/her white supervisor dictates how much knowledge is

passed on to him.Guess what happens when the supervisor is out of

town for a week? The black rookie has to fill in for him without

prior coaching and thus cannot do a proper job of it! So this gives

the white supervisor fuel to sell his black understudy as

incompetent to the rest of the company! This understudy concept

should be abolished because that is what is fuelling some of the

resentment that whites have for AA.Instead, a graduate should be

entered into a training program with a clearly set out "curriculum"

that has to be covered in a specified amount of time.In this way,

the company controls how much the new appointee should know at the

end, and in this way, whether he/she gets the white supervisor's

position.Depending on the aspiring black person's abilities AFTER

proper training.And yes, this is REALLY happening!Ambitious

Namibian

UCTNote: Understudies are only applicable to work permit holders,

and permanent residents, regardless of their skin colour.The Act

does not require white Namibians to be 'understudied'.- Ed

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