Khangale Makhado

Khangale Makhado

People who front for big companies allow themselves to be used while they are consciously undermining the good intentions of the government's Black Economic Empowerment policy.

These sentiments were raised by the newly-elected national president of the South African Black Technical and Allied Careers Organisation (Sabtaco), Molefe Maesela, at the Meropa Casino and Entertainment Centre in Polokwane.

Maesela, a land surveyor, was speaking at the event to celebrate his election last week as Sabtaco leader.

He encouraged government to provide the necessary training to locals to close the rare skills gap.

Maesela said a myth existed in South Africa that only big companies are the ones who are supposed to engage in corporate social investment.

"It is because of this that small companies avoid involvement in social responsibility projects," he said.

"As Sabtaco, we should be leading the campaign aimed at mentoring graduates who are fresh from lecture halls."

Maesela said all graduates were mentored before they mastered their jobs.

"It would be selfish to deny our new graduates mentoring," he said.