The Constitutional Court dismisses the urgent application against South Africa's new employment equity quotas, but Sakeliga said it will take the fight under review.
South Africa’s National Employers’ Association of South Africa (Neasa) and business group Sakeliga lost their Constitutional Court fight to halt the government’s new employment equity (EE) quotas, but they vowed to continue the fight.
The Constitutional Court declined Sakeliga and Neasa's application for leave to appeal in their urgent application for an interdict against the Employment Equity quotas enacted in 2025. But they will now pursue the matter through a review on a non-urgent basis to have several sections of the Employment Equity Act declared unconstitutional and set aside.
Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, meanwhile, welcomed the Constitutional Court dismissal of the urgent application and said that, absent an interdict, the department is forging ahead with the implementation of the EE Regulations and the 5-year sector numerical EE targets.
The Employment Equity Amendment Act and its accompanying two sets of Employment Equity Regulations, including the 5-year sector numerical EE targets for the 18 economic sectors, came into effect last year for designated employers, such as those that employ 50 or more employees.
