Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The affirmative action process has accelerated dramatically since the democratisation of South Africa. After the 1994 general election equity became entrenched in legislation. The employment equity legislation together with other labour legislation is there to undo long-standing segregation policies. The Employment Equity Act, 1998, holds unique challenges for organisations to reach their employment equity goals. A limited time period has also been set for organisations to apply a temporary intervention to endeavour to correct the imbalances caused by the apartheid regime. The apartheid legislation, which resulted in 45 years of racial separation, had the adverse effect of denying certain South Africans equal employment opportunities. This caused an imbalance in the labour demographics of South Africa. This study focuses on the effects of the implementation of the Employment Equity Act, 1998, and other legislation on human resource planning within Telkom SA. Telkom SA, being the largest communications company in South Africa, has committed itself to employment equity and has already embarked on an affirmative action programme. However, the various pieces of legislation require certain criteria to be met. With the distortion of the labour demographics, Telkom SA finds has difficulty in finding suitably qualified candidates in certain race groups within the Western Cape. Perceptions of affirmative action have also been negative and this has led to resistance to the process. As soon as a commitment to the process occurs, then all human resources can be utilised effectively. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Regstellende aksie het dramaties versnel sedert die 1994 algemene verskiesing van Suid Afrika en gelykheid het deel begin vorm van aIle wetgewing. Die wetgewing op gelyke geleentheid, tesame met ander arbeidwetsgewing is daarop gestel om rasse verwydering te beveg. Die Wet op Gelyke Geleenthede, 1998, vereis dat instansies hulle gelyksheid doelwitte bereik binne 'n gegewe tydperk. Die tydelike tussenkoms om die wanbalans te herstel, wat deur die ou regering veroorsaak is, is van kardinale belang. Die apartheids wetgewing het veroorsaak dat daar na 45 jaar steeds 'n negatiewe uitwerking is vir sekere rassegroepe. Dit het ook veroorsaak dat daar 'n wanbalans in die demografie van Suid Afrika is. Hierdie studie is gemik daarop om die uitwerking van die verskeie wetgewing se uitwerking op die beplanning van die menslikehulpbronne van Telkom SA te ondersoek. Telkom SA, is tans die grootste kommunikasie maatskappy in Suid Afrika en hulle is daarop gemik om gelyke geleenthede te bevorder en het die nodige stappe alreeds geneem ten opsigte van die regstellende aksie plan. Die verskeie wetgewing stel sekere vereistes aan Telkom SA weens die feit dat hulle deel vorm van die aangewese maatskappye soos die wetgewing bepaal. Hulle vind dit moeilik om 'n geskoolde persoon uit sekere rassegroepe te kry, weens die feit dat hulle nie gelyke geleentheid gehad het om te ontwikkel nie. Regstellende aksie is ook negatief ontvang deur sekere werknemers en dit kan die proses vertraag. Sodra persone toegewyd word aan die voordele van so 'n proses, sal die dienste van aIle Suid-Afrikaners effektief gebruik kan word.