It was wrong in the previous dispensation and it is wrong now; it is wrong when the minority inflicts that upon the majority and it is wrong when the majority inflicts that upon the minority. (Dit was ook Mugabe se standpunt nadat hy in 1980 aan bewind gekom het! Laat ons maar kennis neem. In Afrika is majority al wat tel in welke politieke bestel ookal!)

"Democracy has its limits; there is a time that the majority must thrash the minority"

These were the words directed at NEASA by the leading representative of one of South Africa's most prominent and influential trade unions during an intense debate in the MEIBC.

The issue that invited this remark was not negotiations over a period of months, nor a violent strike that lasted for weeks, nor violent intimidation which prevents workers who want to exercise their constitutional right to work in order to sustain their families, nor damage to property, nor violent intimidation which forces businesses to close their doors in order to protect their properties, nor strike action which results in the loss of tens of thousands of work hours which weakens the economy and damages our image as a reliable trading partner. No, it was not any of this; it was merely the result of robust debate at a meeting of the MEIBC.

 The MEIBC, the bargaining council for the metal and engineering industry, is the largest bargaining council and the engine-room of manufacturing in South Africa. This Council, dominated by an unholy and unhealthy relationship between super trade unions and macro business, and protected by government, was over the years, and still is, instrumental to the closure of thousands of businesses, the prevention of entrepreneurship and the loss of hundreds of thousands of job opportunities.

It is this alliance which has absolutely no regard for the interests of small and medium enterprises, without which large scale job creation will never become a reality. It is through this alliance that the metal and engineering industry has become South Africa's most uncompetitive and unaffordable industry. It is these vested interests that NEASA is challenging and it now becomes very clear that our efforts to contribute to the desperately needed transformation in the industry will be collectively and aggressively opposed by big trade unions and the representatives of macro business.

The worrying fact is that the ".....the majority must thrash the minority"-threat is not an isolated one; there are more and more signs of the overwhelming intolerance of the majority towards the minority.

Oppression and intolerance is never justified. It was wrong in the previous dispensation and it is wrong now; it is wrong when the minority inflicts that upon the majority and it is wrong when the majority inflicts that upon the minority. The attitude of intolerance has no place in a modern South Africa. It is this attitude that needs to go, not robust and persistent debate - that needs to be guarded and stimulated. Our democracy, with all its responsibilities, must be diligently protected by all responsible South Africans. That cannot be done by standing by and looking on. It will only be done through responsible engagement and participation.

Every South African has a role to play herein.

Regards,

Gerhard Papenfus

 "Of course, the aim of a constitutional democracy is to safeguard the rights of the minority and avoid the tyranny of the majority."

~Cornel West~