SA skills 'always come first'
15/03/2007 14:28

Cape Town - The government would never overlook qualified South Africans in preference to foreign skills in its ongoing drive for economic transformation, said Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana on Thursday.

The minister said that "while government is trying to address disparities of the past and transform our economy, all South African citizens, black and white, are its first priority.

"If we cannot acquire the skills or the necessary experience required locally, for example engineers, then only should we look elsewhere."

Mdladlana said the Employment Equity Act was a positive measure whose main intention was not to exclude but rather to bring on board those who had been marginalised in the past.

He said while government acknowledges that there may be a shortage of skills in certain areas, this should not be used as an excuse not to train and employ people from designated groups.

"We must always remember to grow our own crop," he said.

Information supplied by www.fin24.co.za