"Transformation is not only about diversity but also about inclusivity," says Khosi.
Khosi Matshitse, Group Executive Human Capital at the AECI Group, believes that, while companies have some way to go in terms of achieving a diverse representation of people within their workforce, they are much further behind in so far as making sure that designated employees feel included and valued.
CHRO executive manager Didi Sehume met with Khosi in the lead up to the coming CHRO roundtable on 26 July, where the theme will be transformation.
She says inclusiveness is about making sure designated groups feel that they are empowered to make appropriate decisions, and that they are given the confidence to make themselves heard within an organisation, but that corporate South Africa remains very far behind in that regard.
The reason, she says, is that the history of the country has conditioned people to think and feel a certain way during their childhood and that it is difficult to change those sometimes subconscious preconceptions and emotions within people when they are already in adults that are at the peaks of their professional careers.
“The hearts of senior people in South Africa are not in the right place and that is why there continues to be a feeling of an elephant in the room with regard to transformation, irrespective of whether we are talking about black representation or female representation,” says Khosi.
