ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how affirmative action is being practiced in South Africa during the post-apartheid period, and it examines some of its advantages. Using theological-pastoral intervention, an attempt is also made to evaluate the arguments against the practice. The chapter suggests some pastoral guidelines for ways in which pastoral caregivers can assist people who devalue affirmative action by thinking that it threatens their livelihood. Colonization and racial inequalities in Africa have, among other things, directly and indirectly orchestrated poverty, particularly towards the oppressed people, blacks being the majority. The practice of land grabbing, like in neighboring Zimbabwe, is a good example to learn from: peaceful reconciliation and redistribution of wealth have to be carefully studied and implemented. Therefore, affirmative action has, up until now, proven to be the better tool to move from apartheid to democracy.
