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“To learn that more than 30 million South Africans are languishing in poverty, as stated in the Poverty Trends in South Africa report released by Statistician-General Pali Lehohla calls for action to eradicate poverty. This calls for more investments to eradicate poverty,” said IFP Chief Whip in Parliament, Hon Narend Singh MP.

“We call for a significant increase in responsible investments in agriculture and in opening of more factories to eradicate hunger in order to feed a growing country’s population. People need decent jobs so that they can survive.

We need to concentrate our efforts on the farmers. Farmers are the key players in the rural environment and here lies the greatest potential for generating added value – both in terms of economic development and in guaranteeing food security in the country. Agricultural investment has long shown itself to be one of the most effective and sustainable means for reducing hunger and poverty. We need to invest more. And, equally as important, we need to invest better.

This situation is an indictment to the ANC led government because it proves that it has failed dismally in creating sustainable jobs and to attract more investors to invest in the country in order to create more job opportunities. The ANC led government always talk about EPWP which is not a sustainable jobs but a mere short-term job opportunities,” continued Hon Singh.

“Good governance of large-scale investments, often by international investors, is necessary to ensure that the rights and livelihoods of local communities are protected and the degradation of natural resources is avoided. The state which has its inability to respond to the urgent issues of the day must bear the burden of responsibility for this situation, and for the failure to respond to the needs of the poor. It is time for action and not just words.

Government must empower SMME’s as they are the catalyst for job creation. Youth who want to start businesses must be empowered and finance must be made available for them. Furthermore government must eradicate corruption so that the money that is lost due to corruption is spent in programmes aimed to eradicate the scourge of poverty,” concluded Hon Singh.

Issued by IFP