Day Six - Part I

Black Economic Empowerment, Rugby and Race Reconciliation: South Africa

We have left Nairobi behind (the darkened airport we fly out of reflects so much about Kenya; power had been out all day and they were not sure when it would be restored. Glum shop owners cannot accept credit cards; the coffee shop has sold out of their few packaged items and closes down) with great hopes for the leaders who will emerge from our Ph. D. program there.

We arrive in South Africa, and the glittering Tambo Airport reflects the hope and promise we are coming to know better in this diverse, spectacular country. Our day begins with a meeting that John Jones—our liaison in South Africa; he is brilliant, engaging, and has an unrivalled heart for Jesus—has arranged with an official with a fascinating initiative, known as Black Economic Empowerment, or BEE. Here is the way BEE is described on its website:

“Black economic empowerment – or broad-based black economic empowerment, as it is technically known – is not affirmative action, although employment equity forms part of it. Nor does it aim to take wealth from white people and give it to blacks. It is essentially a growth strategy, targeting the South African economy's weakest point: inequality.  Black economic empowerment is thus an important policy instrument aimed at broadening the economic base of the country – and through this, at stimulating further economic growth and creating employment.  The strategy is broad-based, as shown in the name of the legislation: the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act of 2003. This reflects the government's approach, which is to ‘situate black economic empowerment within the context of a broader national empowerment strategy ... focused on historically disadvantaged people, and particularly black people, women, youth, the disabled, and rural communities.’”

The official says that while the system is not perfect, some progress is being made. The latest survey shows that while 98 percent of people in the lowest living standards measure (LSM 1) in SA in 2010 were black, it represents a slight decrease from 99.7 percent in 2001. Moreover, of people in the highest category, "LSM 10," blacks comprised 19 percent of the total, up from 3 percent in 2001. We believe that Regent University degrees and training can help move those numbers even more. Because businesses are required to spend a certain amount each year on BEE initiatives, including training and further education, Regent can become a trusted provider of transformative education in the days ahead.

Of course, economic parity is but one step toward reconciling a nation previously separated by apartheid's hateful system, and God's power is needed to unite people in supernatural ways.

We’re boarding the plane now for the first leg of our journey home.  More will follow.