Black people are their own worst enemies when it comes to transformation, former Black Management Forum president Lot Ndlovu said yesterday.

Black people are their own worst enemies when it comes to transformation, former Black Management Forum president Lot Ndlovu said yesterday.

"Black people switch quite quickly to materialism," Ndlovu told a BMF conference in Johannesburg.

"Have you seen how eagerly they stand next to their cars, posh homes, swimming pools...it's crass."

He said many black executives had lost focus on transformation and were only interested in enriching themselves.

"The transformation process has floundered ... and some black executives are not part of the programme. We black people are our own worst enemies," said Ndlovu, who also lectured delegates on the importance of performing well in their jobs.

SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande said black executives could be recognised by their "BEE shoes".

"The BEE shoes are very interesting - they are self explanatory because what they do is, they get narrower and narrower as you go along.

"There is even a story that when you are wearing the shoes and knocking on the door, you have to face this way [the other way] because otherwise the shoe will reach the door first, before you knock," to loud laughter. - Sapa