In South Africa, this group is made up by black people (including black, coloured and Indian people), women and people with disabilities. Historically, these groups have been under-represented in many key work areas (and over-represented in others). Chinese people should be counted with coloured people for purposes of your numerical goals and numerical targets.

Affirmative action is a way of making the workplace more representative and fair. It connects qualified people from designated groups with equal opportunities in the workplace. Affirmative action falls under the EEA and must be linked with your EEPlan to be lawful.

Quotas are prohibited by our Constitution, as it echoes the unlawful practices that took place during Apartheid. For example, a company places a moratorium on hiring any white candidates for the duration of its current EE plan. You know you are dealing with a quota, if the company is completely inflexible in how it implements its numerical goals/targets and places an absolute barrier on employment practices affecting a specific group of applicants.

The numerical goals are a designated employer's projection of what it aims to achieve at the end of its current employment equity plan regarding its entire workforce.

Numerical targets are a designated employer's projection of what it aims to achieve at the end of its current reporting period (annually).