Hansard: NA: Mini-Plenary 1
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 24 Nov 2023
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Minutes
UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY 1 - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (VIRTUAL) FRIDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2023
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MINI-PLENARY IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Watch video here: NA: Mini-Plenary 1
The House met at 10:00.
The Acting House Chairperson (Ms R M M Lesoma) took the Chair and requested members to observe the moment of silence for prayers of meditation.
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): Hon members, before we proceed I would like to remind you that the virtual mini-plenary is deemed to be in the precinct of Parliament and it constitutes a meeting of the National Assembly for debating purposes only.
In addition, hon members, the Rules of the Virtual Sittings, the Rules of the National Assembly including the rules of debate apply.
Members enjoy the same powers and privileges that apply in the sitting of the National Assembly.
Members should equally note that anything said in the virtual platform is deemed to have been said in the House and may be ruled upon.
All members who have logged-in shall be considered to be present and requested to mute their microphones and only unmute when recognised to speak. This is because the mics are very sensitive and will pick up noise which might disturb the attention of other members.
When recognised to speak, please unmute your microphone and where connectivity permits, connect your video.
Hon members, you may make use of the icon on the bar at the bottom of your screen which has an option that allows a member to put his/her hand up to raise points of order, when necessary.
The secretariat will assist in alighting the Chairperson to members requesting to speak.
When using the virtual system members are urged to refrain or desist from unnecessary points of order or interjections.
Lastly, hon members, I wish to remind you that we are meeting in a mini-plenary session and therefore, any decision will be taken in a full plenary session of the assembly.
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION (MR Z M D MANDELA): STRENGTHENING THE AGRICULTURE AND POULTRY SECTORS AS A CATALYST FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA AND AFRICA
Mr Z M D MANDELA: Hon Chairperson, hon members, respected members of the media, ladies and gentlemen, molweni, dumelang, I greet you with greetings of peace, justice and dignity for all.
At the heart of today’s debate lies a commitment that the founding father of our democracy, President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, made in his inauguration speech on 10 May 1994 when he said “Let there be justice for all, let there be peace for all, let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.”
As we consider today’s topic and debate on strengthening the poultry industry sector as a catalyst for the development for South African and African economies towards creating food security in the country and reducing the cost of living.
Let us be reminded of the importance and the relevance of the industrial poultry sector.
Firstly, hon members, it provides income to farmers and contributes to the overall income of the country. This is possible by leveraging the full poultry value chain. The industrial poultry sector has developed immensely from a chicken and egg business in the beginning of the 21st century, to a highly sophisticated business with high value sectors led by world-class research in areas such as genetics and micronutrients, and playing a significant role in breeding production and processing by applying the most innovative technologies and information systems that modern agriculture has developed.
Secondly, it helps diversify the national economy. Poultry production also addresses the issue of malnutrition, as poultry meat and products are highly nutritious. Many thriving agri-businesses started as purveyors of live chickens and rural peri-urban and urban townships, where it has become prime choice as the preferred cheap protein source. From the basic beginnings, the industrial poultry sector has developed a diverse range of products offerings that leverages every segment of the poultry value chain.
Hon members, the poultry sector is possibly the fastest growing and most flexible of all livestock sectors, driven primarily by very strong demand, it has expanded, consolidated and globalised over the past 15 years in countries of all income levels.
Livestock is fundamental to the livelihoods of about 1 billion of the world’s poorest population. Rural poultry, in particular, is essential for livelihood of many resource poor. Farmers often begin the only asset they possess.
To fully understand the value of the industrial poultry sector and the role it can play as a catalyst for the economies of South Africa and the African continent, it is important to consider that it makes up about 80% of poultry stocks in low income food deficit countries and significantly contributes to improving human nutrition, providing food, for example, eggs and meat with high quality nutrients and micronutrients. To also generating a small income and savings, especially for women in rural areas, thus enhancing the capacity to cope with shock and reducing economic vulnerability.
Lastly, providing manure for vegetable gardens and crop production.
Hon members, the importance of socio cultural and religious functions of village poultry production for smallholder livelihoods beyond its economic or nutritional importance is also recognised.
Poultry has made a great contribution to the economic development of the world. It provides meat to the whole world which is full of essential elements which play a great role for health development while this sector also generates employment for the world and plays a great role for reduction of poverty, particularly it is mostly well-known in rural areas and it plays a great in ameliorating the family financial crisis.
The poultry cost is less and everyone has capability for raring in the world. Its demand is increasing day by day due to population trends. This has implications for the South Africa and Africa’s capacity to support and sustain industrial scale hatcheries and breeding day-olds for domestic consumption.
Hon members, poultry has a great role in South Africa and the world. It generates employment for the world and increases the income level for people and eradicates poverty. It provides
meat and eggs to the world population and mostly the poor African countries, which is a rich source of vitamins and proteins, which play a great role in health development. It is a shortcut business for farming communities. There is a great gap in poultry production.
Poultry provides 40% of meat supply to the whole world. This business has multiple problems in the world. The feeding cost is very high and marketing facilities is very complicated. The major reasons are price the fluctuation.
Hon members, this creates great problems for poultry farming communities in the world. However, we have to create innovative solutions so that this important and vital supply of protein to the masses of people globally, on the African continent and the domestic South African market, can achieve a measure of success and sustainability.
The success of any business or economic opportunity lies in identifying the factors that promote sustainability and mitigating against business risk factors. This is no different in the industrial poultry sector. It can only fulfil its role as a provider of cheap nutrients and a superb economic catalyst. If it grapples with both success factors and addressing the issue of risk mitigation. In a modern economy, success in the poultry sector is dependent on effectively managing all aspects of the industrial poultry supply chain including planning, sourcing, production, distribution and returns.
As with any business’ success is heavily dependent upon controlling and reducing costs and avoiding supply shortages.
Hon members, generally speaking, there are seven areas that determine success in the industrial poultry sector, vis:
Breeder management, which involves tracking parent and grandparent performance with precision, improved beds, health and yields. Groiler management, layer management, CBF management, hatchery management, feed mill management, processing plant and retail management.
Like any business, hon members, the industrial poultry sector is not free of risk. None is as devastating to the poultry sector as disease management. Different diseases affect the poultry production of the world, which affects the income level of the poultry farming communities of the world. The
words avian influenza comes to mind or highly pathogenic avian influenza, HPAI.
The primary factor of increasing HP risk in Southern Africa is poultry movements of infected domestic poultry together with poor biosecurity.
Since 2004 we have had close to 20 HPAI outbreaks, initially primary affecting the ostrich sector. But since 2017 has a broader effect even in non-poultry.
Hon members, avian influenza has impacted commercial poultry productions globally. With this new reality in mind, the International Alliance for Biological Standardization, IABS, met in Paris in October 2022 to open the way for more widespread use of HPAI vaccines. Currently, this includes H5 and H7 strengths.
Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, World organizations for animal health and network of expertise on animal influenza are reviewing the latest science and evidence of the disease to improve prevention and control and the role of vaccination.
The vaccinations’ strategy encompasses the following: emergency vaccination in the face of an epidemic; preventative vaccination, that being prophylactic, which is carried out if a high risk of virus incursion is identified, an early detection or rapid response measures may not be sufficient; routine vaccination performed in endemic areas.
Given the underdevelopment of infrastructure on the African continent, transportation is a significant challenge to the continent, unlocking its full economic potential. It is estimated, hon members, that nearly two-thirds of all roads on the African continent are in South Africa. Hence transportation is also a significant factor which affects the poultry production.
There are also many financial challenges to poultry farming that we have to overcome as a country and as a continent. The demand is increasing day by day due to population growth. The total population of the world has reached 7,628 billion which pushes the poultry demand in the world.
In South Africa in 2021, some 16,6% of the total agricultural gross value and 39,9% of animal product gross value stemmed
from poultry production. The potential for further is not only possible but a concrete reality.
Hon members, there is consensus amongst industry leaders that the industry has been in distress for at least 10 years because of low profitability [Time expired.] thank you, Chairperson.
Ms T M MBABAMA: House Chairperson, considering that chicken is the most consumed and easily accessible form of meat-based protein for millions of South Africans who live below the poverty line, one would have thought that this corrupt and dysfunctional ANC-government would find ways to rationalize input costs for poultry producers. Treat accounts for as much as 70% of total poultry production costs, and as such input cost rationalization would serve as a catalyst for the sector to thrive while ensuring a competitive advantage in price over imports.
This economic boost to the poultry sector would complement the recent return of the Land and Agricultural Development Bank, who have now opened up for loans to farmers, including the blended finance scheme, which affords qualifying small to medium sized producers a loan with a grant component from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. That is, if the latter does not stuff things up, as they are prone to do in the implementation of grant schemes.
Most retailers and wholesalers have historically been averse to using smaller scale emerging poultry producers, making the barriers to entry too high for the majority of them. A concerted effort from government to force tenderpreneurs to source poultry produce from these disadvantaged producers only, for use in government owned organizations; such as prisons, hospitals, and the army, would go a long way to increasing demand and creating a viable and sustainable market for these producers.
Empty dumping duties against the United States of America expired on the 23rd of November 2023, but were extended for a further 18 months to allow the International Trade and Administration Commission to make its own investigation. And make a recommendation to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.
The Poultry Industry Master Plan was signed and put into effect in November 2019. Amid much fanfare and camaraderie from government and the industry stakeholders who contributed
to its formulation. Its objective is to serve as a basis for their expansion and development of the sector.
The master plan set a target of 1,5 billion in production capacity by local producers by the end of this year. According to Charmaine Lyons in an article in the December 22 January 23 Poultry Bulletin; the large integrated producers such as Astral, Country Bird Holdings, CBH, and Rainbow have already made investments totalling 2,4 billion over the past three years.
This is highly commendable. But what about capacitating emerging producers in the value chain of the sector and the creation of the envisaged 4600 jobs? The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, tasked with oversight and responsibility for this, is ominously silent. Is this another government implementation failure? The DA applauds the great work being done by our local poultry producers, despite unnecessary hindrances being thrown at them from an incompetent government; load shedding, lack of relevant vaccines, lack of commitment to export controls, high input costs and so the list goes on.
South Africans must register to vote DA in their numbers, to rescue South Africa from the clutches of this ineffectual government. Let us vote for a multi charter government that is committed to accountable, transparent government, with zero tolerance for corruption.
A capable government that spends public monies efficiently to deliver quality services to all. A caring government that puts people first and prioritizes the poor. But most of all, let us vote to put John Steinhausen, as President. I thank you, House Chairperson.
IsiZulu:
Inkosi R N CEBEKHULU: Ngivumele Sihlalo ukuthi ngicishe i- video yami ngenxa yokuthi ugesi awukho endaweni.
English:
House Chairperson, I rise today on behalf of the IFP to underscore the critical importance of strengthening the agricultural and poultry sectors and powerfully catalyst for economic development in South Africa and the broader African continent.
Agriculture has been lifeblood of our nation woven into fabric of our history and identity. The time has come for us to recognize its profound potential as an engine for economic growth, poverty elevation, and job creation.
As we deliberate on the urgent need to strengthen this sector, we must acknowledge the unique challenges they faced and the transformative impact they can have on our nation’s development trajectory.
The agricultural sector with its vast spectrum of crops and livestock represents an untapped reservoir of economic opportunity by embracing sustainable farming practices leveraging modern technologies and providing targeted support to our farmers.
We can enhance productivity and usher in a new era of prosperity. Smallholder farmers is there ever focused attention as empowering them and foster inclusive growth and resilience within our agricultural landscape. Turning our gaze to the poultry sector, we find a cornerstone of food insecurity and economic dynamism.
However, this sector grapples with multifaceted challenges, including disease outbreaks, global market pressures and the need for piping biosecurity.
It is imperative that we rally behind our poultry farmers, ensuring that they are equipped to compete globally while safeguarding the interests of local producers. By fostering a conducive environment, we can position the poultry sector as a driver of economic development and a source of nutritious protein for our communities.
Moreover, the IFP emphasized the need to view agriculture not merely as a subsistence activity but as a business opportunity that can propel economic diversification, encouraging asset business ventures, promoting value addition, and investing in processing and storage and infrastructure are pivotal steps towards unlocking the full potential of these sectors.
Additionally, recognizing the role of agriculture in job creation and fostering youth participation will contribute to building a vibrant and sustainable future for our nation.
In conclusion, the IFP calls for a united commitment to strengthen the agriculture and poultry sectors. By doing so,
we lay the foundation for a resilient and inclusive economy that uplifts communities, empowers farmers, and secures a prosperous future for South Africa and Africa as a whole.
Let us embark on this journey of transformation, cognisant of the profound impact, these sectors can have on the well-being of our nation. I thank you, House Chairperson.
Afrikaans:
Me T BREEDT: Voorsitter, die landbousektor in Suid-Afrika is baie belangrik, nie net vir die voor die hand liggende doel van voedselsekuriteit nie maar ook as ‘n belangrike dryfveer in die ekonomie. Dit dra by tot die bruto binnelandse produk, BBP, as een van die grootste nywerhede in die land maar dit dra ook tot werkskepping by.
Suid-Afrika is op die kontinent, maar spesifiek in Suider- Afrika, die grootste of naasgrootste rolspeler wanneer dit by landbou en landboubedrywighede kom. Die statistiek lyk as volg.
English:
The leading country for agriculture-related financing deals in Southern Africa, was South Africa with 54% of the deals. South
Africa has the largest agricultural land on the African continent. And as of 2020, the country’s agricultural land amounted to over 96 million hectares. Land used for agriculture and animal production in South Africa covered around 79% of the country’s total land in 2020.
And looking specifically to poultry, the chicken production in South Africa was significantly larger than all other produced livestock in the country.
In 2020, the volume of produced chicken amounted to nearly 968 million heads. Moreover, the turkey production volume in the country amounted to 703,000 heads in the same year. In South Africa, the leading type of meat exported from South Africa was chicken. In 2021, the country exported almost 6,45 million heads.
Afrikaans:
Tog versaak die departement ons boere wanneer hulle hul die nodigste het. Behalwe siekte en die departement se onvermoë om hierdie siektes onder beheer te bring, is daar talle ander uitdagings wat deur die industrie ervaar word. Kwynende munisipale dienste, korrupsie in die Staatsdiens, die in duie storting van ondermeer paaie, treinnetwerke, water,
elektrisiteit en hawens dra by tot die verhoogde bedryfskoste, vermindering in beleggings en min tot geen uitbreiding in die industrie. Hierdie omstandighede maak dit moeilik vir gevestigde boere om volhoubaar aan te hou boer en maak dit bykans onmoontlik vir opkomende en nuwe boere om tot die mark toe te tree.
Verder dra beleid onsekerheid en faktore soos eiendomsregte, onwettige besettings, grondgrype, plaasaanvalle en moorde, en toegang tot markte ook by tot die kwellende situasie waarin landbou homself op die oomblik bevind.
Daar is verskeie artikels en kundiges wat ‘n mening het oor hoe om landbou in Suid-Afrika uit te brei. Daar is ook talle opinies oor wat die beste manier gaan wees om na die jongste uitbraak van voëlgriep wat tans ons industrie lamlê weer die sektor op sy voete te kry.
Wat egter die nommer een oplossing is, is om van die ANC ontslae te raak. Die ANC se verkeerde prioriteite, hul reaktiewe optrede in stede van proaktiewe optrede, hul lang reaksie periodes, oneffektiewe beleide en onpraktiese regulasies, om nie te praat van korrupsie en wanadministrasie in departemente van Landbou regoor Suid-Afrika nie, moet end
kry. Die tyd het aangebreek dat ‘n bevoegde regering wat vir sy landbouers omgee en hul wil sien floreer oorneem.
Slegs wanneer daar positief op landbou gefokus gaan word en daar nie op landbou deur die regering gepik gaan word nie, gaan landbou kan bydra tot ekonomiese groei in Suid-Afrika en Afrika in die geheel.
Hiermee bedoel ek dat daar onder andere ns die jongste tegnologie en navorsing wat beskikbaar is gekyk moet word. Besluite moet daarop gemaak word en nie op verouderde navorsing wat tot nadeel van ons landbou is nie. Daar moet ook ‘n fokus verskuiwing kom, dat nie net opkomende en kleinskaalse boere alleenlik die departement se aandag geniet nie, maar ook ons kommersiële landbouers. Hulle is immers vir 75% van ons voedselproduksie verantwoordelik. Daar is nog veel ander voorstelle wat ons nie nou in diepte kan bespreek nie.
Ek sluit af. Dit is van kardinale belang dat ons die landbousektor en spesifiek die pluimveebedryf in Suid-Afrika herbou. Ek dank u.
Dr M M E THLAPE: Hon House Chairperson, hon members, the poultry industrial sector consists of the day-old chicks
supply industry, the broiler industry, as well as the egg industry. In our country South Africa, it is the largest portion of agricultural sector, with its contribution of approximately 20% of its shares to the Gross Domestic Product and 41% of the animal Gross Domestic Product.
The ANC-led government has approved the Poultry Sector Master Plan for the poultry industry as a strategy to increase productivity in this sector, while at the same time protecting local domestic producers from any evidence based on third trade practises and imports that may arise. As government and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development implement increase import tariffs, there are still major challenges that we need to address when it comes to poultry sector in our country.
There are opportunities in terms of skill development that are recognisable. Those includes small scale farmers and includes agronomy, business management, engineering management, bookkeeping and office administration. We however need to work on skills in terms of agricultural farm management, production and quality management, veterinarian and research and development.
Hon members, we are of the view that we also need to investigate the matter of unsuitable working conditions and unsuitable working hours in some places in this industry. The poultry sector had to deal with the high feed prices in our country and the government has already started to engage on its research on cheap feeds from local suppliers as part of localization strategy. Research indicates that feed alone is responsible for approximately 50 to 70% on the production cost.
The challenge we have is that the price of maize and soya beans are determined internationally in terms of the prices offered to the market, which have an influence on the prices charged in South Africa. This puts a strain on local producers and suppliers; hence government is engaging with all stakeholders in the public and private sector to find alternative sources of chicken feed.
Electricity also is another important input in the poultry sector. The increasing cost of electricity tariffs and effects of loadshedding has negative effects in this sector. We therefore need alternative sources of energy which are conducive and affordable to our people and the poultry sector. The department is currently engaging with the research on how
we can produce bioenergy as an alternative source and its sustainability. If you look into our sector, we spend approximately R146 billion on intermediate goods and services, and out of that expenditure, electricity accounts for approximately R7 billion.
Hon members, there are robust discussions in the country on our stand in the poultry sector on trade and trade tariffs. If you look into South Africa poultry sector, our imports are about 25 to 30% of chicken consumed in our country that is from Brazil, European Union and the United States of America, to mention but a few. This comes from a view that our country does not have the capacity to be a local production hub which could meet global demand, that’s making South Africa ... [Inaudible.] ... importer in the poultry sector.
We also import quite a considerable amount of mechanically ... [Inaudible.] ... to it, which contributes to approximately 44%. This is why government has made a commitment to address this through localised strategy and policy master plan. As government, we need to be self-sufficient as a country and to be export oriented in the poultry sector for counter issues of dumping which have made our local suppliers to be more unable
to afford and being put out of business as they are not able to compete with lower prices.
Many of our people have lost jobs in the poultry sector and many small scale to medium farmers and businesses have shut down. If you look into the year 2021, our country exported
48 997 tonnes of poultry meat, which was considered a 2,2% decrease from the previous year. The sector has also now and then outbreaks of diseases which have been highly pathogenic, as outlined by experts relevant to this field. Outbreaks have caused a high rate of death mortality where farmers lost profits, and also our local producers could not export because of this matter. We are however satisfied by the fact that avian influenza has now been contained and the contamination is underway with those affected farmers.
As government, we want to stimulate local demand in the sector through boosting our exports, while protecting the domestic chicken industry. This will be achieved through defined strategies to reduce feeds costs and meeting safety and veterinary requirements. The Poultry Master Plan centres around driving local demands and protecting our exports.
Government has partnered with relevant stakeholders in the
industry like your organised labour, processors, exporters, poultry producers and farmers.
It’s ... [Inaudible.] ... to protect our local industry in the poultry sector through tariffs, trade system and anti-dumping measures. We should be able to agree on our approach towards our regulatory environment and compliance systems that should be put in place. Most importantly, we need to protect and support local farmers in the poultry sector and ensure the growth of this sector. The department needs to financially support these farmers. This is the easiest sector to get into farming, but economies of scale are required for profitability as it is high volume and low margin business and therefore support is crucial to maintain and grow this sector. I thank you, Chair.
Dr J C NTWANE: Good morning, hon Chairperson. Indeed, hon Mandela, the poultry sector is an important source of protein for consumers and for producers. The industry had begun to recover from the decline in the sector faced in the pre-2019 period. New investments have resulted in increases in the local poultry slow capacity per week. Additional jobs have been created in the poultry products sector, the animal feed sector and emerging country growth has been supported.
South Africa, however, still remains a large importer of poultry, importing poultry worth R1,3 billion in quarter 2 of 2022-23 financial year. So, poultry exports had been constrained by the outbreak of avian influenza as well as sanitary and phytosanitary related issues. Although progress has been made, more could be done to increase the entry of black South African in the sector.
Since the adoption of the Poultry Master Plan, R479 million has been spent to the Industrial Development Corporation and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development through the Agri-Industrial Fund to build poultry infrastructure to support emerging farmers. Twenty-one emerging contract growers have been supported as af September 2022 against the target of 50 farmers over three years. The social partners have committed to new investments of
R570 million by 2024. This is in addition to the total investments made to the state of R1,8 billion which has created 1888 additional jobs and 21 contract growers have been supported.
Hon members, a new fund has been established for Agro- processing farms. The Department of Agriculture and the Industrial Development Corporation established a R1 billion
Agri-Industrial Fund to support emerging agricultural producers, including poultry farmers. As of September 2022, the fund supported eight poultry projects valued at
R475 million, creating 215 jobs.
As a consequence of the master plan and the commitment of the private sector, Shoprite and Checkers had committed to procure 100% locally produced chicken and labelling their house brands with proudly South African logo. OBC Retail has committed to buying locally produced chicken for their fifty stores across the country. Cheap meat packs are now being sold in all local retailers and proudly South Africa promotes the local poultry sector through platforms including SABC 1, 2 and 3, MultiChoice, e.tv, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
So, is the ANC not working?
Hon members, we are certainly on the right track in implementing the reimagined industrial strategy. Many young people are today making use of opportunities to go into farming because of the interventions made by the ANC-led government. In line with our efforts of supporting the sector and protecting local farmers, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition in 2020 implemented an increase in
... [Inaudible.] ... for this sector. A balancing act is
essential and critical to ensure competitiveness and reduce prices for consumers.
We must contextualise why the ... [Inaudible.] ... of tariffs is important. Firstly, the global poultry export market is highly distorted. Many markets export chicken to South Africa at much lower prices than they do to the rest of the world. To illustrate the point, Brazil’s export prices to South Africa are 60% lower than the average export prices to the rest of the world. Poland 39%, Spain 36% the US and UK 15% and 12% respectively.
This disadvantages local farmers unfairly making it very difficult to compete in the market, thereby impacting on their sustainability. The imposition of tariffs allows for fair competition and also enables localisation to cushion consumers from price inflation in the rest of the world. The ERRP notes the importance of localisation in driving industrialisation, job creation and building internal resistance, which is very important. South Africa is currently exporting cooked poultry meat to Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini, UAE, Ghana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. However, challenges are still being experienced with respect to several countries, including EU, UK and South Arabia due to avian influenza outbreaks.
In diversifying our export, government needs to support and implement efficiently in state of entities such as Transnet. A large South African rail port and pipeline network that is efficient is necessary for the expansion of the agriculture sector. This is critical as South Africa’s agriculture sector is export orientated, exporting nearly half of agricultural production. So, in intensifying our export markets we have to take full advantage of the African Continental Free Trade area, and the BRICS plus partnerships.
There are approximately 1,3 billion people on the African continent. This presents an opportunity to uplift more than
44 million people from extreme poverty, after will assist in deepening marketing, market integration on the continent, boost inter-African trade and promote regional value chains to achieve economic transformation through industrialisation.
This will require aggressive investment in infrastructure and address non-tariff barriers such as unnecessary red tape and unnecessary regulations. This is further desired export markets for agriculture, agribusiness in horticulture, wine, grains and aquaculture industries, which are located in China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Bangladesh and India,
amongst others. This is because of the growing population and the demand for these particular products in those countries.
As South Africa, we should not be left behind. The agricultural sector contributes only 2,5% to our gross domestic product, GDP, but we have the potential growth by at least 10%. This will require an efficient land reform programme coupled with the necessary investment in infrastructure, technology and innovation.
We acknowledge that a lot more needs to be done to address challenges within the agricultural sector. For instance, our persisting challenge is that the funding framework in the country does not appear to be geared to emerging farmers and caters more to existing commercial farmers. The competitive landscape in this sector thus is in an imbalance, as emerging farmers have to overcome structural regulatory and behavioural barriers in order to compete effectively.
To overcome this, we need to better co-ordinate the funding between our DFIs, commercial banks and government. We further need to address the increasing cost of feed which constitutes 70% of production costs. The right incentives must be introduced to address the shortcomings for small scale
farmers. We will only achieve a heightened and growing agricultural sector if our land reform policy is efficient and well structured.
We need to ensure integrated rural areas where residents who are economically active have food security, access to basic services, healthcare and quality education. This will require decisive interventions on land reform, communal tenure, secure infrastructure and financial and technical support to farmers. I thank you, hon members.
Mr M G E HENDRICKS: Hon House Chair, it was very comforting to hear from the hon Mandela that South Africa is on top of all the compliance requirements to be one of the best chicken producing countries in the world. We have heard about the high standards that this industry requires, and that South Africa is able to meet that and to continue to be a world player as far as the production and the rearing of chickens is concerned.
We also heard from the hon member of the African National Congress, that just spoke now, that there is something wrong with the funding in that only big business benefit and it doesn’t filter down, for example, to the villages. Talking
about the villages, Al Jama-ah operates in 50 villages and in many of these villages, my parliamentary constituency office assist with, for example, 500 little chickens that these villages nurture into chickens that can be sold.
We also have many of them that have progress and have 5000 and even 10 000 chickens, but like we heard the cost of feeding is a problem. That is why the funding mechanisms that are in place must be looked at. It cannot be that a black woman with 5000 chickens has to close down because she can’t find the R75 000 needed to feed the chickens and there is cash flow problem. So, I am glad that that has been raised and that needs to be attended to.
As you know, Al Jama-ah is always revolutionary, and we feel that the chicken industry must be revolutionised. President Ramaphosa announced in one his state of the nation address that there must be localisation. So, the chicken industry needs to move towards localisation, and the first step would be to look at the funding so that the President can announce that the chicken industry is localised and that from this day onwards only chickens produced by villages and those in the townships have a home in South Africa.
All the big chicken producers must step down or work very close with them. Al Jama-ah is calling for the localisation of the chicken industry so that we are ready for the intercontinental trade, but the chickens are the domain of micro businesses and our villages. Because we have a problem with manipulation of ... [Time expired.] ... Thank you very much.
Mr N P MASIPA: House Chairperson, the agricultural sector in South Africa has demonstrated its resilience amid poor support from the ANC government. The DA acknowledges the role played by service providers across the agricultural value chain, including the commercial banks. When the Land Bank turned its back on commercial farmers, it was the commercial banks which stepped in to rescue South African farmers. Here’s the truth. ANC Members of Parliament in this House, farmers have seen your true colours and they know that you do not care about them.
Despite policy uncertainty that was caused by calls to expropriate farms without compensation, farmers continued to diligently feed the nation through record-breaking harvests. The reckless targeting of farmers did not stop there. The EFF, with its reckless populist politics incited its members and
supporters to chant the Kill the Boer, kill the farmer song as farmers were being murdered across the country. Farm murders and attacks have continued to escalate on an annual basis under the watchful eye of the ineffective sleepy ANC government.
Despite this reign of terror, farmers have carried on with production, providing jobs and ensuring that our sluggish economy does not collapse. Members of this portfolio committee should be concerned about the abandonment of the National Development Plan by this department. We are debating the strengthening of the agriculture and poultry sector under a heavy cloud after this sector’s budget was cut from
R17,25 billion to R16,76 billion, while farmers are pleading for more support from their government, but ANC doesn’t care.
This opportunity is not for parliamentarians to come here to gallivant and grandstand as if they care, but to hold robust, effective oversight on the department. Let me quickly sum up the six of the 10 truths about the uncaring ANC government.
Truth number one, what used to be an internationally recognised institution on a support of biological products has been destroyed since the ANC took over. The DA has submitted a petition with over 12 000 signatures from South Africans who
pleaded with the Minister to allow the private sector to take over certain vaccine production functions from the Onderstepoort Biological Products, OBP and ANC again doesn’t care.
Truth number two, animal diseases, is a concern due to uncontrolled animal movements across provinces, which have led to record outbreaks of animal diseases. Currently, 65% of layer breeders are unable to operate due to avian influenza, while the government is slow in processing vaccine registration and finalising control protocol measures. Truth number three House Chairperson, poor road conditions, ANC Eskom blackout challenges and deteriorating municipal and ports infrastructures have increased the cost of doing business for farmers. Truth number four Chair, the shortages of veterinary doctors in the country is destroying commercial and the most vulnerable communal farming. Most farmers battle worst animal diseases in this country. Hence, we cannot even export to the European Union, EU market.
Truth number five Land Bank, the only rural bank in the country, was run down by haters of not only white people, but black farmers who, depended on the bank for their success in farming. The last truth Chair, farmers who incurred losses
during the July riots and floods in KwaZulu-Natal, to date they have not received a cent. Chair, I repeat, farmers who experienced July riots and floods in KwaZulu-Natal, to date they have not received a cent from the ANC government because they do not care. We are on the way to removing ANC in government in KwaZulu-Natal.
House Chairperson, in the Western Cape agriculture is treated as a priority because the DA-led government knows the positive economic impact it has on the economy. When roads were washed away by floods, the DA government commenced roads repairs and completed them within a month, living happy farming communities. This is why the agriculture sector is a major employer in the province, A testament to the commitment that the DA-led Western Cape has for the sector. This is the only province where farmworkers are officially recognised by their government for their sector contribution.
The Western Cape government, unlike the other nine corrupt ANC governments, treats farmers as important partners. The DA shall govern in 2024. I repeat, the DA shall govern in 2024 under the leadership of John Steenhuisen. When we take over, we shall ensure that agriculture receives the necessary support, and not the indifferent approaches that they are
currently receiving from the ANC government. Farmers shall be well represented at the European Union, EU, Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, World Trade Organization, WTO and poultry and other livestock farmers can rest assured that when the DA gets into government, we will take their issues seriously. Address vaccination protocols and shall control the movement of livestock to curb animal diseases transfer. I thank you, Chair.
Mr Z M D MANDELA: Chairperson, you know it is within everyone’s right to dream. But some dreams ought to be practical. I would say to hon Mbabama and hon Masipa, before you set your dreams on governing the Republic of South Africa, you should ensure that you firstly look at your own house. On
11 November over 200 000 people in Cape Town, came out in the streets to declare for the entire Republic of South Africa to hear that they will not vote for DA. They will not support a party that supports the bombing of hospitals, the bombing of schools, the bombing of mosques and churches, the killing of Christians and Muslims in Gaza and all over occupied Palestine.
You have been told clearly as the DA that come 2024, the people of the Western Cape will not vote for the DA.
Therefore, before you can tell us about the hon John Steenhuisen becoming the president of the republic of the school ...
IsiXhosa:
... bantwana abahle ndiyanicenga ukuba nimthumele esikolweni akhe aye kuqeqeshwa esikolweni phambi kokuba nijonge ukuba akhokhele uMzantsi Afrika.
English:
In this regard, the people of South Africa will not accept to be led astray in in this manner. Ours is to ensure that whilst you speak about the killing of white farmers, you clearly do not prioritise the workers and the plight of workers on farms. We were on oversight with yourself hon Mbabama and hon Masipa, and you were told by workers on farms their plight. I want you to remember the name of Bab’uNkosi that was shot and killed.
I want you to remember the worker that said that he was shot in the eye in front of two police ooficers and nothing was done by the authorities. In this regard, white farmers are a law unto themselves in the Republic of South Africa. You speak about prioritising and supporting farmers, while the workers in the Western Cape are put in trucks, live in unacceptable
conditions. And you have seen on our oversight how many of them in Swellendam and all over the Western Cape, are carried and packed on trucks that are open, without any dignity.
I therefore want to say to the DA and its aspirations that, before you may look into governing the Republic of South Africa, you ought to worry and concern yourself with the province that is slippering in your hands. You will never be able to master the numbers that the Capetonians brought out onto the street, over 200 000.
I therefore want hon members to say that, South Africa is leading the chicken meat production in Africa. As of 2020, the country produced nearly 1,9 million metric tons of poultry meat on that year, which was followed by Egypt with a production of about 1,3 million metric tons. South Africas poultry sector is valued at R50 billion. Thus, the Poultry Master Plan outlines concrete measures to expand the industry by increasing capacity at all stages of the value chain.
Farming of feed as well as farming of chickens and processing of poultry products, thereby increasing the fixed investment employment and the value of output. The output of poultry products should increase by around 10% within the next three years.
Hon members, the Poultry Master Plan has defined clear goals for the local industry to achieve over the next five to 10 years, exporting both cooked and raw products to the Southern African Development Community, SADC region as well as countries included in the African Continental Free Trade.
Area, the European Union and the United Arab Emirates in the Middle East.
Hon members, the aim is to export at least 3-5% of local production by 2024, growing that tally to between 7-10% by 2028. And then growing exports proportionally to local industry growth and production thereafter. Hon members, we must continue to increase the level of black participation and particularly ownership across the value chain and increase employment and worker share ownership in this sector. This is absolutely critical if we are to leverage the industry as a catalyst for economic growth, food security and sustainable development. Chairperson, I want to thank you for this opportunity afforded and to the DA, you may continue dreaming.
THE ROLE OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT POLICY IN JOB CREATION AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION.
(Subject for Discussion)
Dr M J CARDO: Hon Chairperson, the role of national government policy in poverty alleviation and job creation is very simple. The state has a duty to improve the quality of life of all citizens and to free the potential of each person. Where people are unable to support themselves and their dependants, the state must take reasonable and other legislative measures to achieve the progressive realisation of their right to access social security as well as other socioeconomic rights.
In the main, government policy should be geared towards creating and expanding opportunities. It is the government’s responsibility to provide an enabling environment for job- creating economic growth. The government itself cannot create jobs at scale; that is the private sector’s role. But for this to happen, certain building blocks need to be in place. The government must see to it that there is a stable fiscal framework, services and infrastructure, safety and security, and an education system that produces a skilled labour force to propel the economy forward.
Unfortunately, over the course of 30 years, the ANC has failed to deliver adequately on every one of these measures. Its failures are becoming ever more acute. We face a fiscal crisis, our education system is falling apart, crime and
corruption are out of control. Everywhere the ANC governs, infrastructure is crumbling, and service delivery has stalled. Roads are in a state of disrepair. Railways have been gutted. Our ports are clogged with backlogs, thanks to a combination of inexperience, indolence, and indifference on the part of the ANC-deployed cadres who run the Transnet National Ports Authority. All of this means that businesses cannot get on with the job of contributing to the productive capacity of the economy. When there are no lights, no passable roads, no police officers enforcing the law, and no hard-and-fast guarantees about the sanctity of property rights, to name but a few prerequisites for opportunity and prosperity, there are likely to be no or few jobs.
No wonder South Africa has over 11 million unemployed people and one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, approaching 45% if you include those who have given up looking for work. And instead of regarding the private sector as a valued partner in development, the ANC’s statist ideologues are full of vacuous vituperativeness towards those in business. Just the other day, Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, unleashed an unhinged tirade against the private sector, accusing it of all manner of ungodly machinations and of the so-called collapsing the economy and
the state. What planet is she living on? Clearly one whose inhabitants are paranoid, embittered, deluded, and perhaps not the brightest stars in the galaxy.
The ANC is doing a pretty good job of single-handedly sabotaging the economy and eviscerating the institutional capacity of the state. Don’t take my word for it. Go and read the excellent report prepared by the Growth Lab at Harvard University, entitled: Growth Through Inclusion in South Africa, published recently. This study states unequivocally that South Africa is facing the economic consequences of collapsing state capacity. Collapsing state capacity is, and I quote:
The predominant driver of South Africa’s weakening economic performance and is at the heart of intensifying macroeconomic stress.
The Harvard researchers reveal President Ramaphosa’s reformist rhetoric to be quite hollow. They write that reforms are being hamstrung by political gridlock, ideology, patronage, and an overtaxing of state institutions with goals beyond their core missions and capabilities.
Clearly, South Africa is paying the price for the ANC’s poisonous policy of cadre deployment, which has stripped the state of expertise and abandoned the pursuit of professionalism in favour of patronage for politically connected cronies.
We are a nation whose economic prospects have been sacrificed on the altar of outdated leftist dogmas. Ideology, the analysts contend, has stopped the ANC from allowing meaningful private, provincial, and municipal power generation, for example, and from devolving management of urban passenger rail to capable city governments. If it wasn’t for the ANC’s pig- headed opposition to devolution and functional federalism, the trains and the lights would be working in regions run by the DA.
Hon Chairperson, where the DA governs, we put in place the building blocks for job creation and poverty alleviation. [Interjections.] We prioritise clean governance and policies aimed at optimising opportunity. That is why, according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, Quarter 3: 2023, released earlier this month by Statistics SA ... [Time expired.]
Mr M NONTSELE: Hon Chairperson, good morning hon Chief Whip of the Majority Party, and hon members, I dedicate this presentation to one of our outstanding leaders, Comrade Sicelo Ndevu, who passed on yesterday. May his soul rest in peace.
Hon Chair, in approaching this debate, we are guided by our seminal document, the Freedom Charter, also by the Constitution and other pieces of legislation that underpin our approach to our developmental agenda. The historical institutional exclusion, and subordinate inclusion of black people under apartheid colonialism exacerbated inequalities and continue to be profoundly rooted and reflected in many sectors of social life in South Africa.
The politics of equal recognition cannot be blind to the effects of legacies of apartheid colonialism as hon Cardo would want to suggest, nor can it proceed from a notion that the advent of democracy is in itself sufficient for the reason of structural and institutional conditions that have for decades, grounded and sustained inequalities in all domains of the labour market. Guided by the Freedom Charter premise, which says, I quote: “Equal pay for equal work, equal benefits, and the right ... [Inaudible.] ...” It is precisely this reality that gives salience to the ideas of redress and
makes it a fundamental and necessary dimension of inclusive economic transformation in general.
Apartheid colonialism imposed several socioeconomic constraints on Africans. Despite strict restriction on hiring African labourers, white people had the most desirable jobs with civilised labour standards, whilst Africans were subjected to the least attractive jobs that were very dehumanising and super exploitative. Unfortunately, the DA is speaking from a point of privilege, and they are the beneficiaries of the past and seek to entrench such practises through the deregulation of the labour market, as hon Cardo has already said.
The changes in the labour market have had a positive impact on the workplace, both directly and indirectly. The ANC-led government has undertaken a variety of measures aimed at reforming the apartheid labour market, boosting economic growth primarily through the Department of Employment and Labour, as well as Nedlac, where social partners interact This initiative has focused on the creation of a new regulatory framework through the modernization of labour legislation, the establishment of new institutions and statutory bodies. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act, as amended, which gives
effect to the right to fair labour practices and the recent extended cover to domestic workers, that is terms of compensation for injuries at work. The Labour Relations Act, which governs labour market relations, and the Unemployment Insurance Fund, UIF, which more recently intervened through COVID test, that is during the COVID pandemic. These are very clear ... [Inaudible.] ... that ANC-led government has, in fact, made over the period that hon Cardo wants to replace a list of grievances.
Significantly, these new labour laws were modelled on the International Labour Organization, ILO, standards for labour and decent work agenda. The department continues to transform the labour market through the recently issued amendments to the Employment Equity Act. Its core focus is the implementation of equity and affirmative action for redress. The aims and objectives have been publicly disputed by the DA claiming that the amendments discriminate against formerly oppressed minority communities.
Despite the profoundly rooted in equalities that this government inherited, we have implemented several public employment programmes and related incentives, which primarily target youth, including the following: the Community Work
Programme, CWP; Expanded Public Work Programme, EPWP; the National Rural Youth Service Corps; youth co-operatives and youth entrepreneurs that is run through the National Youth Development Agency, NYDA; the skills training learnership funded through Sector Education and Training Authority, Seta; the Jobs Fund; and the Employment Tax Incentive and Youth Employment Service. All these are aimed at addressing the legacy of the past imbalances.
The Expanded Public Works Programme reported that of the 44,3 million opportunities created, two million targeted the youth and this is because the youth is the most affected group. Youth Employment Service also recorded an achievement of 13 593 work opportunities created for 191 businesses by March 2019, and the Employment Tax Incentives supported more than 645 973 youth jobs by March 2017. Between 2015 and 2016 there was an increase in youth-owned businesses from 595 000 to 641 000.
Most recently, as hon Cardo must note that South Africa’s unemployment rate fell further in the third quarter of 2023, falling to 31,9% from 32,6%. Statistics SA figures show that the country’s official unemployment rate has fallen below 2% for the first time since the third quarter of ... [Inaudible.]
... This would, in fact, indicate that ... even more encouraging the country’s employment has risen to
16,7 million, up from 16,4 million, that is when the COVID-19 outbreak decimated the country. This is the progress that the government is yielding through economic recovery and reconstruction plans.
The ANC government has, through this intervention, transformed the workplace by abolishing patriarchal workplace policies, this include steps to promote policy to compensate for unpaid labour, which women and in particular, rural women are facing daily. The affirmative action that was not recognized by the apartheid government has been put in place. Again, hon Cardo and his party, the DA is not ashamed to be criticizing affirmative action, which liberated not only the black South Africans, but also most white women who were previously considered as the second-class citizens. This government led by the ANC brought about freedom for all, including the former oppressed white women. Despite the programmes achieved by this government in transforming the workplace, women in senior position and ... [Inaudible.] ... continue to discuss, notably in the private sector, which the DA claim that they represent
- as you would see, hon Chair, that even when a woman face was installed in the Western Cape in the form of the party leader,
the hon Helen Zille - you would find that she was the only one and yet the Cabinet was male-dominated. That, in fact, is an indication of what attitude the DA has regarding empowerment of women or gender equity.
The amendments to the Employment Equity Act plays an essential role in rectifying the historical inequities which has helped women from the DA. This is, amongst other things, a sign of commitment by this government in addressing historical inequalities at the workplace. The social wage has been used as a redistributive mechanism budget deliberately aimed at improving the lives of the poor and reducing the cost of living. This has been achieved through, amongst others, free primary health care and no-fee paying schools, housing, and free basic services such as water, electricity, and sanitation to poor household.
With any intervention in a democracy, changing power dynamics globally and internationally, our interventions are not without challenges. The triple challenges persist as our commitment to government persists. The persistence of these challenges calls for a rigorous assessment of the key economic drivers, constraints, and opportunities. We need to safeguard against the neoliberalism and continue to keep the state at
the centre and as a driver of transformation whilst maintaining co-operation and support between the state and the private sector.
For this reason, to realize the vision of the Constitution, structural transformation must open a path to inclusive economic growth and development. Growth without structural transformation will only reinforce and reproduce inevitable patterns of wealth inherited from the past or create jobless economic growth. No transformation can occur without economic growth and job creation. Government’s objective is not merely to transform ownership of assets or create opportunities, but to ensure inclusive economic growth through ... [Inaudible.]
... and localization, which is the essence of what economic reconstruction and recovery plan seeks to achieve. [Time expired.] Thank you, Chair.
Mr M BAGRAIM: Hon Chairperson, it was John F Kennedy who said and I quote:
We got into office, the thing that surprised me the most was that things were as bad as they have been saying they were.
In other words we at the DA fully understand how the ANC-led government has devastated the South African economy. In 2024, the DA and its alliance partners will have a long road to travel, to try and save South Africa. Where the DA governs, it runs a provincial government which is proven to be a government that creates an environment conducive to job creation. Likewise, the DA in the City of Cape Town, has paved the groundwork for job creation and is producing results with improved job creation year-on-year. It is tried to state that government does not create sustainable jobs. It is also tried to state that small business is the engine room for job creation throughout the world.
The DA has internalised the lessons as espoused by the economists worldwide. The DA has been hard at work in ensuring that the environment reaches a conducive job creation. It has introduced the Western Province and its municipalities where they govern have shown us the way forward.
The DA has undertaken a fully study and research into the legislation which has acted as a handbrake to job creation. The DA has analysed regulations across government which recharge job creation. Using research by the DA, we have shown
that creating the positive environment we have moved the job creation barometer into the positive.
Currently, the Western Province under the successful governance of the DA has shown to be the one and only province that has dropped the unemployment figures below 21%. Using this knowledge the DA will make sure that the future provinces we govern will follow suit and enable the business community to create jobs for a DA solvent and successful future.
Obviously there are factors which the DA has taken into account that will immediately result to job creation. These low hanging fruits cost government nothing on the release of factors holding back the small business community. Firstly, the uncoupling of small businesses from the bargaining system, will ensure that hundreds of thousands of jobs will come on line within months. The DA has been arguing this factor for years. This issue was raised by the former Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni. But of course he was immediately shattered down by the trade union movements
Secondly, the release of small business from the minimum wage regulations and legislation. Well likewise been environment conducive to immediate job creation. Instead of almost 50% of
our population earning notch rand per month, we will have people working for small business in receiving training at a slightly lower rate.
The regulations could outline ways and means of eventually moving those employees into a much higher rate than the minim wage.
Thirdly, the duplicities and discriminatory legislation and regulations of employment equity have been holding up business for 20 years. This is the ANC way. The DA however, will restructure the system entirely, thereby creating masses of opportunity for employment within both big and small business sectors.
These three examples are just a taste of what can be done after the 2024 successful elections of a new DA-led government. The plethora of a ridiculous and dustable ANC policies with regard to race must be immediately eradicated. The DA-led government will ensure that all the racial laws which are reminiscent of apartheid will be removed from our statute books. Issues such as race-based criterion determining agricultural export will disappear. This will immediately enhance the business community. It will be attributed to a DA-
led administration. This alone will free up and will solidify those working conditions and the agriculture sector.
Over the medium-term obviously we need to ensure as a DA-led government that the education system is enhancing and geared towards supporting our economy and jobs for all in the future. Suitably qualified individuals and not cadre deployment coming out of the properly run schooling and tertiary education, we will be able to become employable and will in turn enhance the business sector.
My colleagues in the education portfolio have done an enormous amount of work to ensure that South Africans become productive in the economy. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.
Mr M MANYI: Hon Chairperson, maybe let me start by saying just to deviate a bit from my speech, to say any body that has a problem with employment equity in this day and age that person is spitting on the grave of His Excellency President Mandela who signed off this law in 1998. So, to come now and during that time President Mandela was celebrated by all, but today people are spitting on his grave purely because they want to carry on with their racist tendencies.
Back to the subject at hand, Chairperson, the extent of unemployment and all its attendant consequences, poverty, crime, the collapse of state and social institutions is extensively high threatening the stability of the country. It is the primary responsibility of the state to prevent the approaching social and economic Armageddon in the country and position the country on a sustainable development path. To do this the state must retain its responsibility to create jobs.
The EFF stands firm in its commitment to economic justice and equality and advocating for a transformative approach guided by our socialist policies. Recognising the inherent contradictions within the capitalist systems, the EFF assets that poverty is a symptom of a deeply unequal economic ... [Inaudible.]
To address this, the EFF advocates for policies targeting the root causes including progressive taxation and the nationalisation of key industries to prevent wealth concentration among the privileged few.
In emphasising job creation, the EFF contends that large scale industrialisation is pivotal and central to generating employment on a massive scale. A comprehensive job creation
programme focussing on infrastructure development, sustainable agriculture and Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, is the way to go laying the foundation for sustained long-term economic growth.
Importantly, the EFF underscores the need to strengthen the capacity of the state, not to denou that state through all manner of outsourcing recognising its long-term benefits in implementing and sustaining policies for economic justice and equality.
A robust state is better equipped to address the challenges at the core of poverty and unemployment. It cannot be that the masses of our people are left vulnerable in the hands of white monopoly capital who manipulate currency and engage in transfer pricing shenanigans to maximise their profits.
The national government cannot be a bystander in this regard. The EFF advocates for worker co-operatives and the democratisation of the workplace fostering inclusivity and equitable sharing of benefits of labour. Empowering workers is seen as essential for creating a just and agalitarian society. Therefore, the state must continue to play its role in ensuring that the universal access to education and health
care, with increased public investment in these sectors. A revamped education system focusing on technical skills is the way to go to align with the dynamic needs of the job market.
In a departure from the conventional and misguided notion of creating an enabling environment for big business to thrive, the EFF challenges this notion vociferously. In South Africa we have a life for example of a Mr Ramaphosa who is a darling of big business. His alignment with big business to the detriment of his own party’s resolutions of radical economic transformation created unprecedented unemployment, whist companies recorded super profits.
The EFF calls for a radical shift in economic policies away from capitalistic instinct that inherently lack orientation towards sharing.
In conclusion, Chairperson, the EFF assets that the national government’s role in the poverty alleviation and job creation, must be guided by socialist principles with China doing very well. Progressive economic policies, wealth distribution, worker empowerment and a commitment to large scale industrialisation alongside a strengthened state capacity are essential components of the EFF’s vision for a society
prioritising the wellbeing of all its citizens. The EFF also emphasises the importance of supporting small to medium enterprises as a significant job creators, urging the institutionalisation of support mechanism including capitalisation to nature their growth so that they can contribute meaningfully to the economic landscape.
Lastly, when the EFF takes power in 2024, it will implement this comprehensive and the holistic strategy. The EFF aims to challenge conventional capitalistic norms and pave the way towards true economic freedom and substantive equality.
The DA has modelled that is being practiced in Cape Town, has nor beard any dividends, in fact it has entrenched racist tendencies. If you go to areas like Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, and anywhere, you will see that nothing has changes in the lives of the people. However if you go to the suburbs like Constantia Kloof and all these places where mainly the Caucasians live life is better. So, the DA must not come here to entrench inequality and racism. Thank you, Chairperson.
Mr S L NGCOBO: Thank you, House Chair, the United Nations recognises underemployment and unemployment as the primary culprits behind the pervasive issue of poverty. The
International Labour Organisation, ILO, further emphasises that the most vulnerable to the harsh impacts of poverty are the youth, women, and marginalised groups. Both entities concur that the onus falls squarely on the shoulders of governments worldwide to establish an enabling environment and implement policy interventions, in collaboration with all stakeholders, to alleviate poverty. For numerous years, the Inkatha Freedom Party has been a passionate advocate for sustainable and long-term job creation, a vital step towards restoring dignity to all South Africans. Central to achieving this vision is the imperative role of government policies, meticulously crafted not only to secure income for the impoverished but also to economically empower them. This dual approach must navigate the delicate balance of ensuring both the quality and quantity of employment while simultaneously addressing equity, security, and dignity.
However, we cannot ignore the harsh reality that corruption, theft, and state capture have severely impeded our progress, exacerbating the challenges faced by South Africans in attaining dignity and financial security. Regrettably, the pursuit of job creation and poverty alleviation by this or previous Parliaments has been compromised by the insidious behaviour of the ruling party, particularly in fostering a
business-unfriendly environment. The evidence is clear: in the Minister of Finance’s recent medium-term budget speech, there was an acknowledgement of the necessity for South Africans to tighten their belts. The government committed to debt repayment, limiting opportunities for developmental spending crucial for economic stimulus and job creation. Unfortunately, instances of economic stimulation that could generate employment have been overlooked. One glaring example is the ruling party's neglect of pressing matters, like the deterioration of rail infrastructure, which has led to a substantial five per cent GDP loss. This serves as a stark demonstration of the government’s failure to establish an environment conducive to job creation.
In a landscape marred by corruption, initiatives like the Local Economic Development policy become vulnerable to distortion. Instead of harnessing local economic opportunities and improving living conditions in impoverished communities, corrupt practices divert resources intended for development into the pockets of the unscrupulous few. The locally based approach, championed by the LED strategy and aimed at uniting various stakeholders, is undermined when those in power prioritise personal gain over community well-being. Local businesses find themselves at the mercy of the governing
party, coerced into complying with corrupt practices to secure jobs for party comrades or hustle for government tenders. This coercive atmosphere contributes to a decline in business- friendly environments. However, hon Chair, the opposite approach is conducive to business development and job creation in South Africa. ... [Time expired. Thank you, Chair.
Mrs H DENNER: House Chair, there is no doubt that South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world, with the majority of the population living in abject poverty. In contrast to that, being one of the largest economies in Africa, our country is rich in natural resources, opportunities and human capital. So why is it that, at 31,9%, we have one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, compared to a country like Taiwan, who has nearly no natural resources, who imports nearly everything they need, yet has an unemployment rate of less than 4%?
Hon Nontsele, however, is very proud of the fact that the unemployment rate declined with a mere 0,7%. It really does not take much to excite the ANC, it seems.
Afrikaans:
Ek sal vir u sê waarom: Die ANC-regering weier, om ter wille van die mense van hierdie land, afstand te doen van hulle geykte politieke ideologie wat absurd, ondeurdag en ekonomies- skadelike beleid en wetgewing tot gevolg het.
English:
The ANC members of this House are quick to hide behind the race card, when anyone from the opposition benches mention black economic empowerment. So, let me explain it to you once and for all. A merit-based appointment system, which is what the FF Plus has always advocated for years, means that the best person for the job, regardless of race, should be appointed. That way, appointment processes will be fair, and the best possible work will be delivered, which in turn, will have a knock-on effect by contributing to the economy, which will lead to more people being employed. An it’s as simple as that.
Policies, such as BEE, is too often used to defraud the state by enabling cadre deployment and nepotism. Instead of levelling the playing field, it merely stacks the odds against the millions of unemployed, impoverished South Africans. So, the Thuja Capital Funds of the world have a better chance of gaining so-called job creation contracts. And though our hon
Minister has tried his level best to explain away this disgrace of a scandal that happened under his management, it is clear that government policy of the day has enabled this mess. One wonders if there was something built into deal to fund the ANC election campaign.
That being said, without economic growth and prosperity there can be no job creation or poverty alleviation. Poor local government that deteriorates by the day under the ANC government, loadshedding and restrictive labour legislation hamper economic growth and thus job creation.
Other government policies that severely impact on job creation and employment is the education system. There is a substantial gap between the skills produced by the education system and the skills required in the job market, but instead of investing in proper school infrastructure and uplifting specifically struggling rural schools, the ANC chooses to break, via the Bela Bill, the little of the education system that they have not yet broken.
After 30 years, the ANC has still not learned that government cannot regulate and legislate the South African society into
transformation. Where it was successful, it happened naturally, where it was forced, it created even more division.
Afrikaans:
Eweneens, is dit nie die werk van die regering om werk te skep nie; dit is die werk van die privaatsektor. Die regering het bloot die verantwoordelikheid om deur beleid en bestuur, die grondslag vir werkskepping deur ekonomiese vooruitgang te verseker.
Ekonomiese vooruitgang sal egter beslis nie gebeur, terwyl die ANC homself konstant met die muishonde van die wêreld vereenselfwig en internasionale betrekking in die wiele ry nie.
Dit sal nie gebeur, terwyl die ANC ‘n geykte politieke ideologie vir eie gewin op ons samelewing afdwing en agter die raskaart en apartheid skuil nie. Die agb Nontsele se toespraak was klinklaar ’n bewys hiervan.
English:
That excuse is getting old. You have been governing this country for 30 years. Take some responsibility for the mess you have made.
Afrikaans:
En dit sal nie gebeur, terwyl die ANC aan bewind van hierdie land is nie. Ek dank u.
Ms K L KHAKHAU: Chairperson, the best examples of how excellent government policy and simply getting the basics right result in job creation and poverty alleviation are right here, in same country as all the terribly governed ANC governments, in all DA majority governments. See there are many very basic ingredients that make job creation and poverty alleviation possible, but I’ll focus on one - good governance and Infrastructure investment. These create a conducive environment for private sector investment and job creation.
This is why the DA governed City of Cape Town was able to create 205 000 new jobs in the last year alone. While SA other major cities combined were only able to create 138 new jobs in the same comparable period. Why Chair? Because the DA gets things done!
The latest Labor Force Survey also indicated that the Western Cape continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in comparison with all the other eight ANC governed provinces.
All while the ANC governed North West province has double the levels of unemployment in the Western Cape. This is true while
there are 3000 more people who lost their jobs in the ANC governed Free State in this period. Instead, the DA governed Western Cape created 305 000 new jobs in the last year. Why? Because the DA Gets things Done!
The City of Cape Town has the largest per capita infrastructure budget in the entire country at R43 billion. This is in comparison to the ANC governed Buffalo City’s mere R3 billion. Why? Because the DA gets things done! So, it is no wonder why our employment stats look as beautiful and promising as they do. The investment in infrastructure plays a pivotal role in why the City of Cape Town is the best governed metro in the entire country, while the Free State ANC governed Mangaung Metro.
Sesotho:
... e ntse e hloleha ho phutha matlakala ka hare ho metse le ho thiba dikgwerekgwere tse hlehlang hohle. Ke sa bue ka dipompo tse ommeng tse senang metsi le mmila e bodileng e kenyang basebedisi ba dikoli kotsing. Ke ka hoo ho se nang borakgwebo ba ikemiseditseng ho theha maqhama a mesebetsi ka hare ho masepala ona.
Ha ho letho leo ANC e le tshwarang le nang le katleho ka hare. Ho hoholo ke boshodu, bobodu le ho hloka tsotello setjhabeng.
IsiZulu:
Sihlalo, uMasipala Umgeni ophethwe yi-DA kwisifundazwe saKwaZulu-Natal uyabasebenzela abantu bakhona.
English:
Since the DA took over this municipality it has increased the number of people in its indigent register. This means that just under two years of taking over from 27 years of lackluster ANC governance in Umgeni, the number of people who are now able to receive free water and free electricity has increased from 133 to just under 3 000.
IsiZulu:
Yebo Sihlalo ...
English:
... access to basic services is the most basic way of tackling poverty. Chairperson, the DA gets things done! See the trick here is that here is no Santa Clause or Harry Potter Wand that got us here. All it takes is employing fit for purpose individuals who care, who aren’t serial money
plunders. Not ANC cadres who are effectively allergic to getting anything done other than forming corrupt syndicate networks that can only get one thing done which is to chow state funds and drive us into deeper holes of poverty and unemployment. It is really as simple as that. This is why were able to get it right.
The reason the ANC cannot even begin to lift a figure, never mind take a step in the right direction to rescue South Africans from poverty and unemployment, is because not only are ANC governments led by a bunch of clueless and incompetent cadres, but it is fundamentally because the ANC simply does not care about the poor and unemployment South Africans who desperately depend of sober government policies to deliver them from the pain and indignity of poverty and unemployment.
But South Africans deserve and have a government that cares; a government that is cable. One that gets things done for those who depend on it. That is a DA government. We have an opportunity to rescue South Africa and vote out the useless and thoughtless ANC national government all its eight provincial governments by voting for a fresh, people-centered DA government into the Union Buildings in the 2024. We can and we will. Why? Because the DA gets things done!
Sesotho:
Ke a leboha Modulasetulo.
Ms A S ZUMA: House Chairperson, hon Khakhau, I can’t pronounce this surname ...
IsiZulu:
... osuka la, usemncane umhlonishwa u-Khakhau. Sila sikhona ngenxa ye-DA. Abantu bakithi bahlupheke nje kugqilazeke omama babo, kwagqilazeka abazali bethu. Asinazinkomo namhlanje, asinawo amapulazi ngenxa yayo i-DA. Yingakhoke ngithi namhlanje ukuthi into ekhulunywa umhlonishwa u-Khakhau ukuluma into angayazi, wenzela isinkwa sakhe nesisu sakhe.
English:
Since 1994, the ANC-led government has made significant progress in addressing the triple socioeconomic and development challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality, thereby achieving a better life for all South Africans. A greater number of people and households have access to basic infrastructure services such as clean water, sanitation, electricity, social grants, education and social amenities, as indicated by the first speaker, and as the governing party, we continue to reach out to many more South
Africans who still require access to basic services, infrastructure and improved and sustainable life suite.
IsiZulu:
Abakwazanga ukunikeza abantu amanzi. Abantu bebephuza amanzi nezimbongolo nezinkomo.
English:
We have also made great strides in building a socially inclusive and cohesive nation. Despite the progress accomplished by the government, a lack of investment has resulted in low economic growth that leads to higher unemployment while reinforcing the apartheid legacy.
The ANC-led government remains committed to pro-poor policies aimed at reducing poverty, decentralising infrastructure, development to local government to address municipalities and the national government to work together in a more effective and co-ordinated manner to manage rural-urban migrations, as well as sustainable growth and development while supporting local economic development. This is an important step in addressing the triple challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment through an integrated approach. Unlike the DA, which has unapologetically made it clear that its
preoccupation as a government is confined to supporting the affluent, who are predominantly white. We seek to transform the economy to enable South Africans, black and white to equitably gain access to all opportunities and enjoy equal treatment.
IsiZulu:
Njengoba kwakwenza obaba babo. Ibona kuphela abelungu ababekwazi ukuthi bathole izinto nokuthi izingane zabo bazicabangele, ngisho izikole imbhala. Yonke into iqale nge- ANC ngo-1994.
English:
Reversing apartheid labour market relations and critical as this will enable the creation of sustainable jobs through productivity growth. South Africa requires more rapid inclusive growth, increasing exports, improving skills development, lowering the cost of living for the poor, investing in a competitive infrastructure, reducing the regulatory burden on small businesses, facilitating private investment and improving labour market performance are key priorities of this democratic government to reduce tensions and easy access to young and unskilled job seekers.
IsiZulu:
Nake nabasiza kuphi abantu abasha ngoba phela niyabathatha nizobasebenzisa kwi-DA ngokubathengela ama-KFC.
English:
given the country's history and the exploitation of black workers, the deregulation of the labour market will only serve to perpetuate the legacy of apartheid, increasing employment from its currently low level in critically responding to the gross domestic ... per capita growth and reducing South Africa’s significant income inequality. COVID-19 contributed significantly to the problem. Unemployment is causing massive, cyclical underemployment; however, it is pleasing to learn that our economy has recovered and is just above what it was before the pandemic, and it was indicated by the first speakers that legislating and regulating are required to develop civilised working conditions and labour relations to redress previous imbalances and build a civilised working environment within the existing legislative framework governing the labour sector.
The implementation of the township support programmes aimed at supporting local businesses has increased, however, the removal of the regulatory barriers, and the reduction of the
entry barriers still need to be addressed to allow easy access to the sector. The ANC-led government provides financial access for small and medium enterprises, SMMEs, to allow local businesses and to prevent this critical sector from being dominated by foreign nationals who occasionally sell low- quality goods. However, entities such as the Small Enterprise Development Agency, Seda, are responsible for ensuring the realisation of township economies and that progress has been made. The informal sector plays a critical role in the developing world as it contributes to poverty alleviation and serves as the buffer between employment and unemployment.
Informal businesses generate employment when the formal sector is incapable of doing so. This sector mostly provides opportunities for the marginalised and historically disadvantaged groups with inadequate skills and business literacy to support household income. However, the DA here in the Western Cape ...
IsiZulu:
... nilalele ...
English:
... sees this as a criminal act. We have witnessed how they harass informal traders and push them out of business instead
of creating an enabling environment for them to trade. The government has made strides in bringing together all social partners, such as organised labour, business, and civil society to address socioeconomic concerns to create a path for economic progress that will lead to the reduction in inequality and poverty through a national minimum wage, which is aimed at improving the standard of living of workers, mitigating the effects of the rising cost of living that has impacted all of us. The DA, for obvious reasons, believes that workers do not deserve to earn decent wages in the midst of a rising cost of living. I hope ...
IsiZulu:
... niyezwa.
English:
In conclusion, an employment-focused approach bridges traditional separation, growth and social policies just as the pro-growth policies will help us to achieve our goal of socioeconomic transformation and an employment focus will promote accelerated inclusive growth. For this approach to be successful, public-private sector partnership in revitalising the economy through the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.
IsiZulu:
Umhlonishwa u-Cardo kuyomsiza ukuthi ngelinye ilanga ake aphume ngoba siya ukuyobheka ukusebenza kweminyango abone ukuthi abantu bakithi bahlupheke kanjani. Angakhulumi ehleli ePhalamende. Aphuma naye umhlonishwa u-Khakhau bayobona ukuthi abantu esikhuluma ngabo abathi bagqilazwe i-DA bangakanani ukuze bazokhuluma sebebuyele la ePhalamende, bakhulume into abayaziyo.
English:
I thank you, House Chairperson.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR: Hon Acting House
Chairperson, I hope I’m audible.
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): You are,
ma’am. Thank you so much.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR: Allow me to
acknowledge you, hon Acting House Chairperson, the Chief Whip of the Majority Party, Ministers who are here, and Deputy Ministers, and all hon members. Let me start first by just dealing with the myth that was just elaborated upon by hon Denner of the Freedom Front Plus, who spoke about the 30 years
of the ANC in power. I think we need to just start by demystifying the fact that the Freedom Front Plus is using what we used to tell them or what is still is “die swart gevaar”. If I check on my Google, just to check what “swart gevaar” means, I think I need to put it that it is in South Africa under apartheid a security threat perceived as being posed by black people to white people. Therefore, this is currently what the Freedom Front Plus want to get back to power by using “die swart gevaar” ticket, and it is not going to work, especially when the hon member talks about the 30 years of the ANC-rule. Just try 30 years of the ANC-rule vis- a-vis more than 348 years of apartheid colonialism. Therefore, we can’t really put apples and bananas together. I just needed to clarify and to demystify that ... [Interjections.]
Mrs H DENNER: Hon Acting House chair, point of order.
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): Hon member, is that a point of order?
Ms H DENNER: No, I would like to know if the Deputy Minister will take a question.
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): Oh, that is not a point of order. Hon Deputy Minister, DM, just wait for me to ask you. Are you prepared to take a question?
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR: Let me finish
first with my input. Maybe when we’ve got space, I can do that. Thank you.
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): Okay, we’ll indicate the time. You may proceed, hon DM.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR: Thank you, hon
Acting House Chairperson. I think perhaps the first point that much we need to highlight is that there are those who research about poverty, and there are us who experience poverty and continue to stay at it a daily basis. Poverty still reflects apartheid settlement patterns. Poverty and the very unfortunate part is that parties such as the DA and the Freedom Front Plus including others fight us tooth and nail and as and when we continue to come up with national policies to preserve jobs that are already existing and improving them to be decent in order for the remuneration to have an impact in the alleviation of poverty and when we never to create more job opportunities, they continue to fight us.
When we come up with policies that are aimed at moving us away from the apartheid set up, we get accused by the DA and the Freedom Front Plus of social re-engineering. For the good of me, I do not know how working towards equality by empowering those who have been oppressed and deprived of opportunities can be termed a social re-engineering. That can only be the narrative of people who just do not want to let go of privileges obtained from socially engineered societies, among others, hon members, apartheid was socially engineered.
Therefore, in order to do away with the legacy you ought to minus the exact number with equally the same number so that you may end up with nothing, and by that you would get rid of that which you did not want. Therefore, in this case the remains of a system ... [Interjections.]
Sorry, Acting House Chair. In this instance we’re talking about a system which was declared a cry against humanity by the United Nations. The DA and the Freedom Front Plus, I must state this categorically that women, in particular, are vulnerable to poverty. One of the reasons is that they persistently face gender discrimination and generally have extensive care giving responsibilities. The other category of section of our society that is also vulnerable are people with disabilities. They enjoy quite a lot of difficulties, high
living costs, low income, social exclusion, ill-treatment and discrimination.
Therefore, to the DA and Freedom Front Plus, when we come up with policies that are aimed at advancing transformation in the labour market, do not oppose those as you are currently fighting the Employment Equity Amendment Act. Therefore, DA and Freedom Front Plus, we do not have open opportunity society. We are busy constructing it. I do know, hon members, that why the DA and the Freedom Front Plus would absurdly and ludicrously believe that that kind of a society was completed in 1994, and you must help me who contracted it then.
... [Inaudible.] ... among others, the labour market must be a space where there is peace and harmony in order for production to rise and economy to grow. Consequently, more people to be employed, and that is what Labour Relations Act is all about. Thus far, it is delivering its intended objectives, and the DA wants, I will continue to say that they want to take us back to the apartheid era through “die swart gevaar” by claiming that we need to do away with our Labour Relations Act.
Therefore, if you also want unity, cohesiveness agreement, collectiveness in the labour market, and that is what
bargaining councils have been established for, and they are achieving quite a lot, hon members.
Those agreements that are reached in bargaining councils help the workers to alleviate poverty and we are stronger together. Isn’t it? Unless otherwise when it suits others, we are not stronger together. As government we will also establish public entities that ought to implement some of these policies. The Department of Employment and Labour has some which are attached to it. There are some of its mandates is to ensure conducive conditions in workplaces, bring about enthusiasm, energy and passion to workers, and all of that contributes to productivity. High productivity rate multiplies industries and the more industries the more people that employed. The more people get employed, the easier they fight against poverty. In other words, hon members, the work that is done by entities of employment and labour are a means to an end.
We have the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, CCMA, for an example. Its mandate is to advance economic development, social justice, labour peace and the democratisation of the workplace. For labour markets to be ... [Inaudible.] ... with possibilities, you definitely need peace, harmony and equity. Therefore, when it comes to these,
CCMA constantly rises to the occasion. Just in the previous financial year, hon members, the proven capacity of CCMA mediators led to the conclusion of a three-year collective agreement, Sibanye-Stillwater and Transnet respectively.
Again, the proactive collective bargaining support process positively contributes to a five-year collective agreement in the Sibanye Platinum operations, a four-year collective agreement in the private security sector, a three-year agreement in the tyre manufacturing sector, and a one-year agreement concluded at Sentech.
As for clean governance which is encouraged by our government, the CCMA has achieved clean, and I mean clean, as in skoon audit outcomes for two successive financial years. In addition, hon members, CCMA in debt audit outcomes has no irregular and or fruitless expenditures, none, none, zero ... [Inaudible.] ... and this is a good story to tell of good governance and performance that we can all emulate and continue to support. With the Productivity SA as one of our entities of the Department of Employment and Labour, we have been able to promote employment growth and productivity through the competitiveness improvement services, CIS, insured. Over the past three financial years, the CIS
programme provided support to small, micro and medium enterprises, SMMEs, in both the formal and informal economy.
Focusing on unemployed youth, the department in partnership with the Presidency and the Government Technical Advisory Centre, GTAC, continues to support the development of the pathway management network, bringing together multiple online networks of trainings and employment opportunities, and also providing support to unemployed youth through the establishment of an innovative fund and support to a National Youth Service. I shudder to think as to what would have happened to workers to their jobs, to the employers and to entire country, as a whole, if we did not have an entity like the Unemployment Insurance Fund during the lockdown occasioned by coronavirus disease, Covid-19, pandemic.
Let’s just face it. We were very lucky to have Unemployment Insurance Fund during the devastation of coronavirus. There would have been famine. Currently, as we speak, Unemployment Insurance Fund, UIF, has paid above R65 billion to over
4,9 million employees and 248 251 employers. This fund saves jobs, save businesses, and push back poverty. We are busy now ensuring that both the UIF and Compensation Fund are restructured, re-engineered and repurpose in order to move
them to a higher height. Our diagnosis found out that some of the weaknesses that are there are of structural nature and given this that these are the key entities at the public disposal. They have to be solidly protected.
In conclusion, allow me to appeal to the Democratic Alliance in particular, that they must stop claiming easy victories. They must stop expropriating without compensation the good work of others. I know that bad habits are stubborn to let go, they must just try to give credit where it is due. You know, hon members, that when the ANC was in power in the Western Cape that the Western Cape government built two big hospitals, one in Mitchells Plain and the other one in Khayelitsha. When the DA took over in 2009, they expropriated without compensation those two hospitals as its own achievements. Ever since then, they never stopped to claim achievements that do not belong to them. Currently, in the Western Cape, hon members, they are abusing national government programmes of the Expanded Public Works Programmes and the Community Works Programme. Very noble intentions of public employment creation, poverty alleviation, social security networks, changing communities and promoting of sustainable livelihoods are under serious threat in the Western Cape because the DA is
using them to ... [Inaudible.] ... the workers, and they’re also using them for patronage.
I want to go on, I want to go on and on about the Western Cape and the DA, but I have really no time left for me to continue. However, just to say to the DA that your time in the Western Cape is up, come 2024, your time is up. Let me stop there and say we continue. Thank you, hon Acting House Chairperson.
Ms H DENNER: Acting House Chairperson, if my calculations are correct, there are still 20 seconds and the Deputy Minister indicated that she would take a question if there’s time left.
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): I was just about to recognise hon Cardo and she has left the podium.
Ms H DENNER: Technically, she has. I think she was given an escape route there, but it’s fine I was ... [Interjections.]
The ACTING HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms R M M Lesoma): No, no, no,
no, no, that’s fine because I said when she’s got time that she will indicate, and she didn’t indicate, ma’am. Therefore, I can’t force upon her to sponsor that, and which is quite unfortunate for you. Thank you very much. Allow me now to
recognise hon Dr M J Cardo to close the debate. Over to you, Sir.
Dr M J CARDO: Chairperson, I will keep my camera off since we are going to stage 6 loadshedding wonky by the ANC. Now Chairperson, we had lots of predictable humbug about what monopoly capital and sewed socialist driven in this debate.
Hon Nontsele is really clutching at straws when we find soloist in mini skew improvement in an unemployment rate when almost 45% of your people don’t have a job, when 50% live in poverty, when your government has devastated the economy and presided over a country with one of the highest unemployment rate in the world then there can be no calls for celebration.
Hon Zuma blames the legacy of apartheid. She blames COVID. Like a comrade, she blames everyone and everything except the corruption, incompetence and ideological myopia of her own ruling party. Off course, apartheid left a terrible legacy.
But the fact of the matter is that ANC policies have blunted state capacity and set the productive capacity of the economy and South Africa is worse off than it was in 1994. By contrast, where the DA governs, we have put in place the building blocks for job creation and poverty alleviation. We
have prioritised clean governance and policies ended optimising opportunity. That’s why according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for quarter 3 of 2023 released earlier this month by Statistics SA, the DA-run Western Cape has the lowest unemployment rate of all the provinces. A 20,2% of a street definition, the Western Cape unemployment rate is 11,7% lower than the national equivalent. On the expended definition, the Western Cape unemployment rate is half that of the ANC-run North West.
Over the past year, the DA-run western Cape contributed
305 000 jobs to the South African economy. That’s amount to almost 1 third of the nation’s net employment gains. Truly, the DA-run Western Cape is the engine room of employment It’s the country’s factory flow and God forbid hon Baloyi that ever returns to the grip of the ANC, which it would not let me show you in 2024.
Where the DA governs, we create an enabling environment that helps to grow the economy slashe red tape and allow our businesses to create jobs. When we get to the Union building, we will apply the same principle nationally. In national government, the DA will overhaul outdated labour regulations with stifle job creation. We will scrap the automatic
extension collective bargaining council agreements to small businesses, new businesses and those employees who did not signed them in the first place. This enforce agreements make it almost impossible hon Moloi for small businesses to create new jobs.
Chair, the DA would lead from our statute books over zeal active social engineering life Employment Equity Amendment Bill. Hon Moloi, there was nothing progressive about a law which treats workers like pawn on a chessboard to be moved around by the Minister of Employment and Labour adoration woman. The so-called numerical targets provided from the law are in fact quotas and the Racial Quotas Act would deter investors, strengthen growth and destroy jobs.
Chair, the DA would make it easier for firms’ high workers to tackle youth unemployment with real youth wage subsidy. We would empower individual economic sectors to set their own minimum wages and of tax exemption to small businesses to help them absorb a cost of minimum wage.
In next year’s election, voters have a golden opportunity to vote for a party whose policies will conduce to more jobs and less poverty. It’s a chance to rescue South Africa from the
ANC’s incompetence, corruption, ideological myopia, policy spirases and to fire up the engine of job creation nationwide. Thank you.
Debate concluded.
The mini-plenary session rose at 12:14.
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