BUSINESS POLITICS @ #ANC_103 To enhance radical economic transformation we will engage in a number of activities and I will mention just a few. We are de-racialising the economy. We must break the stranglehold of monopoly capital on our economic development. It is imperative that the Competition Commission continues to address monopolistic, collusive and anti-competitive behaviour and become even bolder in their preventative and punitive measures. Our economic development also depends on our ability to untangle the red tape that stifles the growth of our economy. The ANC will make sure that the middle class, particularly the black middle class, continues to grow as part of socio-economic transformation. ANC members and structures must ensure that the values that inform the role and outlook of the middle class are consistent with our historic values, namely sacrifice, accountability and integrity. The ANC government also remains committed to the programmes envisioned under the New Growth Path and the Industrial Policy Action Plan. The ANC government has also established the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission, to speed up the delivery and improve the maintenance of water, energy, health, education and transport infrastructure and other key projects. Bakwethu, Umnotho ombiwa phansi kufanele ubathuthukise abantu bonke ikakhulukazi abasebenzi basezimayini nemiphakathi ehlala eduze nezimayini. Njengoba kusho i-Freedom Charter, lomnotho ususezandleni zikaHulumeni. Iwona uHulumeni okhipha amalayisense. Kodwa ukuba sezandleni zikaHulumeni, akukabasizi kangako bonke abantu. Kulonyaka uHulumeni kakhongolose kufanele aphothule izichibiyelo zomthetho ozoqinisekisa ukuthi abasebenzi basezimayini nemiphakathi bayahlomula emnothweni wokumbiwa phansi. Banking has become much more accessible to the majority but the excessive charges and fees mean that many people can still not afford banking services. ANC branches must work more closely with our Alliance partners on their financial sector campaigns to make banking services even more affordable to our people and to ensure that this sector becomes more diversified. ANC branches must also take an active interest in the development of local economies through encouraging local entrepreneurs. Bakwethu, Enye yezinto uHulumeni kaKhongolose azenze kahle kakhulu kuleminyaka edlulile, ukufakelwa kukagesi ngisho ezindaweni ezisemaphandleni. The successful electrification of new households and the growth of the economy have placed an extensive strain on the electricity grid than at any other time. To enhance energy security, the ANC government is accelerating the pace to bring the Medupi and Kusile power stations onto the grid. We are also licensing Independent Power Producers. We are also assessing projects in the region which have the potential to produce power in the short term. We also continue to evaluate options to maximise our energy mix including coal, gas, nuclear, solar and renewables. We call on ANC members and South Africans in general, to support the ANC government in efforts to save energy and to be part of finding a solution to this national challenge. Comrades The price of oil is unpredictable and the recent drop in the price is an important development. As long as the oil price remains low, the ANC calls on businesses to pass on the benefits to our people. We call on households to use this opportunity to reduce their debt burden and save more. Fellow South Africans, We cannot ignore the scourge of corruption that eats at the fabric of our society and constrains economic development. The right of workers to form and belong to trade unions is enshrined in the Constitution. The ANC government has put in place a range of laws such as the Labour Relations Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the Employment Equity Act and other mechanisms to protect workers’ rights and to bring about equality in the workplace. However, we are concerned that the transformation of the workplace is not taking place fast enough. Semi-skilled and unskilled workers remain highly vulnerable to exploitation. We urge all trade unions to ensure that no worker is left unorganised. An unorganised worker, is an exploited worker. A national minimum wage for South Africa will be a progressive step forward and the ANC, together with our Alliance partners, are investigating the modalities of implementing such a mechanism. Compatriots When our strategic ally, COSATU, was going through a challenging period, the ANC as the leader of the Alliance, sought to intervene to assist COSATU to find solutions to the problems that threatened to divide the organised working class. We reiterate that the integrity and unity of COSATU is non-negotiable. The ANC will continue to support the decisions that COSATU makes as an independent partner of our revolutionary strategic Alliance. The ANC calls on all workers not to allow themselves to be divided and to remind themselves that when the labour movement is divided, the only winners are the bosses. President JG Zuma
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 16:17:03 +0000
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