The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) stated on Wednesday that its aim was not to be bogged down by ideological debates around policy frameworks, but that the party believed that its policies should be pragmatic, balanced, and aimed at addressing the needs of society.

IFP member Narend Singh said on Wednesday that 15 years down the line in South Africa’s democracy, the country still had two societies living in the country. One society in the affluent northern suburb, while the other section, and the majority of people in South Africa were still steeped in poverty.

“We haven’t done enough yet to address the issue of poverty alleviation and eventual poverty eradication.”

“We can sit as politicians and draw up the best, but unless it is implemented, and unless the citizens feel the effect of those policies, then we are wasting our time as politicians and government.”

Singh stated that the role of the State was to ensure that it did not intervene in business.

“We have to allow the private sector to do what they do best, to run enterprises and create jobs. But the State’s responsibility is to ensure that we create a conducive environment. We provide infrastructure, roads and not mothballed power stations. We need to take decisions that will support business because we believe that business is a large employer in our country.”

The IFP stated that the public spend programmes and other programmes, as well as the State, was a major employer, however, unless the private sector was invigorated, the country would not meet its poverty alleviation objectives.

Singh noted that the IFP’s economic policies were very liberal, as the country had to be mindful of the global meltdown, and had to think innovatively.

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