DA Moves to Challenge Section 15A Over Alleged Abuse of State Power
South Africa, May 5, 2025 — In a strongly worded statement, Democratic Alliance (DA) federal chairperson Helen Zille has outlined the party’s reasons for pursuing litigation against Section 15A of the Employment Equity Amendment Act, calling it unconstitutional and a dangerous abuse of state power.
In a video released ahead of the party’s legal briefing, Zille explained that the contested section gives the Minister of Employment and Labour sweeping powers to impose racial quotas on businesses, effectively allowing the state to “micromanage private sector demographics.”
“This isn’t about equity — it’s about control,” said Zille. “Section 15A hands unchecked authority to a single minister, bypassing Parliament, constitutional safeguards, and economic realities.”
The DA maintains that while it supports transformation and diversity, Section 15A oversteps legal boundaries and threatens to cripple businesses already under pressure. Zille warned that the law could force companies to hire or fire based on rigid racial targets, rather than merit or operational needs.
The case is expected to test the constitutional limits of ministerial power and could set a precedent for how far the government can go in enforcing demographic policies in the workplace.
