Is there really a glass ceiling for black people In Cape Town compared to JHB?

I often hear people saying that “you should move to Johannesburg, there are better opportunities for black people there” Is this a fact I ask myself? People say that the majority of top positions in corporates in the Western Cape are held by white and coloured people. It is said that in Johannesburg, black people dominate in the business world. You will see black business women and men driving expensive cars such as Range Rovers and Porsches, which is something very rare here in Cape Town.

What I have noticed is that there are a lot of black people in Johannesburg who start their own business, may it be in construction, communications, entertainment or advertising you find many black owned business there. It could be that there are more opportunities in Johannesburg for black people to start their own businesses compared to other cities in our country.

When I worked at Engen here in Cape Town I realized that there are black people in top positions in the company. My general manager was a black man; the Human Capital Division Manager was a black female. Out of the 10 Engen general managers though, only two were black. May be we are surely but slowly trying to see a shift in patterns as many companies are incorporating BBBEE , many opportunities will be given to black people in Cape Town.

I would like to think that it purely depends on luck here in Cape Town for a black person to be in a high ranking position in a company. Maybe that person was at the right place at the right time and that not all black people should flock to JHB in order to get better jobs; there are also opportunities here in Cape Town to grow as an individual. Yes they may be limited but one should give Cape Town a chance, you never know what may happen.

Signing out> Sbosh