House Chairperson,
Honourable President,
Honourable Members,
At the top of a list of priorities mentioned by President Ramaphosa during his SONA speech last week, was economic growth. Unemployment in this country is way too high. For almost 30 years now, we have seen unemployed people protesting, marching and toyi-toying in the streets, yet jobs remain elusive.
The most painful thing for me to watch, Mr President, was when our health-workers, particularly medical doctors, were toyi-toying with their stethoscopes hanging around their necks in protest, to demand jobs they studied and qualified for. South Africa has an abundance of talented, capable, unemployed doctors and nurses who are desperate for work. The ACDP would like to see our economy grow and absorb unemployed professionals, many of whom are working as car guards because they don’t have jobs.
Since US President, Donald Trump, signed an Executive Order cancelling foreign aid to South Africa, there has been much speculation and questions as to whether or not AGOA is included.
May I remind honourable members that AGOA is aimed at expanding American-African trade and investment by stimulating economic growth and assisting sub-Saharan Africa’s integration into the global economy. AGOA has and continues to have a positive impact on South Africa’s economy, with our country being the leading exporter of AGOA products into the US market. If South Africa loses AGOA, we will lose our duty-free access to the US markets, which would result in the introduction of tariffs. The consequence of this would be a reduction in the competitiveness of the South African automotive, agricultural and footwear sectors in the US market.
Another negative consequence would be the loss of investment and market confidence. South Africa has lost its preferential investment destination status on the continent, and the loss of AGOA would contribute to a reduction of market confidence at a time when our economy is struggling to grow at acceptable levels and create much needed jobs.
The ACDP supports government’s plan to send a delegation to the US to meet with the new US administration in an effort to iron out their differences and improve relations. We need AGOA and duty-free access into the US market for AGOA goods help to stimulate economic growth.
Lastly, Speaker, I want to appeal to members of this House to show maturity in bilateral with the US, and to overcome the temptation of playing tit-for-tat with them because that would not bring us any economic benefit.
I also appeal to the ANC and EFF to discard their plans to rename Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive. Leila Khaled is not a South Africa; she is not known by the majority of our people; and she has done nothing to benefit our country. The ACDP does not want to see the US Consulate closed permanently due to an unprofitable name change that will not contribute a dime to our economy. Neither does the ACDP want to see employees of the US Consulate in Johannesburg – a key diplomatic hub in South Africa – lose their jobs because of an unwise, unpopular and foolish decision.
We need more jobs, not less, and don’t want anyone to lose their jobs.
I thank you.
