‘BEE a vital development strategy for all sectors’

SUPPORTING Black Economic Empowerment as a mechanism for the removal of the economic legacies of structural inequality is necessary for business and also a vital developmental strategy for both the private and public sectors.

This was said by Sanlam managing director Advocate Vekuii Rukoro, who added that BEE was closely intertwined with Affirmative Action. Rukoro was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Patterson Kaetere Tjipueja as the latest partner and first black partner of the accounting firm, Ernst and Young Namibia, at a ceremony held in the honour of his appointment in Windhoek on Tuesday.Rukoro said there are a number of misconceptions about Affirmative Action, for example, that members of the previously disadvantaged groups would for all future be assisted, supported and promoted in the way they are currently.He was quick to add that this was not the case, and clarified that no special treatment or arrangements would be acceptable as this in itself would be discriminatory.He said another misconception about Affirmative Action was that it was intended to be a reverse type of discrimination, but said this was not so and was not also contained in the Constitution, adding that once the level of equality envisaged in the Affirmative Action Legislation had been achieved, the need for this legislation would, in principle, cease to exist.He said the AA Legislation passed a few years ago was a vehicle intended to level the playing fields between the numerous groups in the country.Rukoro added: “This brings me to the topic of Economic Empowerment.The concept is usually related to BEE.BEE is actually just a collective name for Economic Empowerment for all groups that have been disadvantaged in the past.We should not see it in a narrow fashion, but realise that Economic Empowerment caters for members of all the groups categorised as previously disadvantaged.”Rukoro commended Ernst and Young for its foresight and commitment to transformation of the Namibian society, which he said, is currently evident in many spheres of the Namibian economy.”Successful transformation can only be premised on sustainable empowerment of previously disadvantaged groups, and this, in turn entails intellectual capacity building of the members of these groups.In this context, training programmes of Ernst and Young, which produced the likes of Patterson, are commendable as a valuable contribution to the transformation agenda of Namibia.”Rukoro was speaking on the topic: Sustainable empowerment and transformation will only be achieved with successful local intellectual capacity building.Tjipueja (40) who became partner on July 1 this year, becomes the fifth partner at Ernst and Young Namibia.His appointment means he is now a partner in the company’s South African practice, which groups together Namibia, South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland.Tjipueja was educated in Namibia and he qualified as chartered accountant in 2002.Speaking at the inauguration, Tjipueja said his achievement was not only for himself but also an inspiration for the local community.”I see myself as a role model, for all aspiring professionals, and to show them that there is nothing to stop you achieving your dreams if you really want to.”Rukoro was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Patterson Kaetere Tjipueja as the latest partner and first black partner of the accounting firm, Ernst and Young Namibia, at a ceremony held in the honour of his appointment in Windhoek on Tuesday.Rukoro said there are a number of misconceptions about Affirmative Action, for example, that members of the previously disadvantaged groups would for all future be assisted, supported and promoted in the way they are currently. He was quick to add that this was not the case, and clarified that no special treatment or arrangements would be acceptable as this in itself would be discriminatory.He said another misconception about Affirmative Action was that it was intended to be a reverse type of discrimination, but said this was not so and was not also contained in the Constitution, adding that once the level of equality envisaged in the Affirmative Action Legislation had been achieved, the need for this legislation would, in principle, cease to exist.He said the AA Legislation passed a few years ago was a vehicle intended to level the playing fields between the numerous groups in the country.Rukoro added: “This brings me to the topic of Economic Empowerment.The concept is usually related to BEE.BEE is actually just a collective name for Economic Empowerment for all groups that have been disadvantaged in the past.We should not see it in a narrow fashion, but realise that Economic Empowerment caters for members of all the groups categorised as previously disadvantaged.”Rukoro commended Ernst and Young for its foresight and commitment to transformation of the Namibian society, which he said, is currently evident in many spheres of the Namibian economy.”Successful transformation can only be premised on sustainable empowerment of previously disadvantaged groups, and this, in turn entails intellectual capacity building of the members of these groups.In this context, training programmes of Ernst and Young, which produced the likes of Patterson, are commendable as a valuable contribution to the transformation agenda of Namibia.”Rukoro was speaking on the topic: Sustainable empowerment and transformation will only be achieved with successful local intellectual capacity building.Tjipueja (40) who became partner on July 1 this year, becomes the fifth partner at Ernst and Young Namibia.His appointment means he is now a partner in the company’s South African practice, which groups together Namibia, South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland.Tjipueja was educated in Namibia and he qualified as chartered accountant in 2002.Speaking at the inauguration, Tjipueja said his achievement was not only for himself but also an inspiration for the local community.”I see myself as a role model, for all aspiring professionals, and to show them that there is nothing to stop you achieving your dreams if you really want to.”