Date: 25/03/2010
Source: African National Congress Western Cape
Title: ANC: Skwatsha: Speaking notes by ANC member of Western Cape Provincial Legislature in the debate on the Economic Development and Tourism budget vote, Western Cape Provincial Legislature (25/03/2010)

It is pleasing to see that many of the policies decided under the ANC remain a key focus in this Department.

Micro Economic Development Strategy (MEDS) remains relevant to sector development and continues to build partnerships with business, labour and civil society.

The MEDS would continually identify interventions that can accelerate economic and employment growth and the sustainability thereof.

Special Purpose Vehicles have not been done away with and this pleases us as you continue, MEC, to build on the solid foundation of the ANC administration.

Economically there are huge global concerns as the economy has been in a decline and this has impacted heavily on South Africa, which in world terms is just a small economy. This global turmoil has already impacted significantly as many of our key sectors, especially manufacturing - a mainstay of our economy. The rate of unemployment in the clothing sector is just one example.

The high levels of unemployment have forced us to have a special focus on skills development.

The ANC remains concerned that the majority of the unemployed are black people (both coloured and African), most often women and young men.

Therefore the interventions the ANC has put in place have been quite remarkable , eg, Red Door or BBBEE, although BBBEE has had very little progress as indicated on page 35 Figure 6 on unemployment rates in the Western Cape in your Strategic Plan Document.

The ANC welcomes the regulation of the Liquor Industry. Whilst this good work has to be applauded the department must fast track the issue of liquor licensing. We must always remember that these people make a living out of this business. Many of them want to comply with the law but it is unacceptable that people apply for licenses and five years later are still waiting for them. Some of these people have not even received an acknowledgement of receipt of their applications.

Investment in CTRU and WESGRO and partnerships amongst civil society government, business and labour.

These interventions called RED DOOR, Affirmative Action policies , SPVs Investment into areas such as BPOs etc are very important.

All the ANC's policies and programmes that there is no such thing like an open opportunity society but rather that the state must intervene in the economy so that it can support people participate in the formal economy.