Black Empowerment Programs

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Originally uploaded by Greg Kidd.

South Africa has 2-3 million whites and an equal number of "coloreds" who are mixed, another 1 million Indians and about 40 million African blacks.

To combat the huge unemployment and skills deficiencies, there are a number of "Black Empowerment" programs to bring folks into the workforce. Also there are simply undertakings -- such as not having parking meters, but instead having folks take responsibility for issuing parking passes on the fly for a couple of block area. It actually works pretty darned well. Its the first rung on the ladder but the folks with these jobs were really cheerful, helpful and into it.

Oddly enough, things seem to be "working" here in South Africa. I was expecting more chaos and tension....but so far not so.