Honourable House Chairperson,
The ACDP notes that the three strategic priorities of this Department, focuses on Industrialisation, Transformation and a Capable State and wish to state that on all three priorities, the Department has failed. Why?
Over the last few decades we’ve witnessed the deindustrialisation of our economy. On Transformation, race-based policies have failed to transform our economy, instead black South Africans face more unemployment, poverty and inequality than ever before. Our state is anything but capable. Instead, we are faced with rampant crime, corruption, failing SOE’s, almost 50% of our municipalities bankrupt and a debt to GDP of 77%.
The ACDP shares the concern of unmet targets in this report and we agree that in order to address industrial decline, a holistic strategic framework is needed to tackle the key challenges of energy and water supply, access to skilled labour, and a functional logistics network. The ACDP has championed the promotion of beneficiation, understanding that we are well endowed with an abundance of raw critical minerals, which we continue to export, only to purchased finished products at exponentially increased prices. This export model is counter intuitive, does not support employment, but rather promotes poverty, inequality and deindustrialisation. In this regard, the ACDP welcomes the establishment of Africa’s first jewellery manufacturing precinct at the Gauteng Industrial Development Zone, which promotes local mining manufacturing, job creation, skills development and value-added exports.
As Kingdom Ambassadors, committed to our country and continent, the ACDP broadly supports the goals of the AfCFTA, with regards to strengthening regional integration and economic diplomacy and infrastructure development, especially in transport and communication networks.
I thank you.
