Thank you, hon member. The SA Experiment is a programme that was launched by an independent training institution, the Da Vinci Institute for Technology Management, in October 2007. The programme is benchmarked on a number of internationally proven concepts in which business-driven action learning has been demonstrated to be one of the most effective ways of creating core skills amongst the leaders in both the private and public sectors. This has been done in countries such as Korea, Singapore and Belgium.
The objective of the programme is to facilitate the sharing of knowledge between public and private sector candidates who would consequently collaborate in addressing industry-based challenges as well as problems that are arising in the private sector. It may take the form of a formally facilitated communication, secondment or exchange programme.
In discussion between government departments and the private sector, different approaches may still emerge. It is too early to say specifically, what direction this programme would take in South Africa. This is a private sector initiative aimed at supporting the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa, similar to the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition.
Like many other initiatives that government has been part of, which, for instance, have been initiated by the Business Trust, we will be watching this to see how it is going to develop. At this stage though, there is not enough detail as the parties are still in consultation and further conceptualisation. I would encourage the hon member, however, to contact the Da Vinci Institute for Technology Management for details, as they are the ones who are driving the programme. Thank you.
Thank you, hon Chairperson. Hon Deputy President, if I heard you correctly, you said that this is an initiative from the private sector that will support Asgisa. Yet in the media you were actually quoted - let me translate while I'm standing on my feet - as saying:
The experiment should, however, not be seen as an independent initiative but as part of the government's plan for Asgisa and as part of Jipsa.
Were you misquoted, because the problem that we have is that in the original background document at the launch of Asgisa, nothing was mentioned of this even in the annual report, which was published in March this year?
Yes, hon member. I would assume so, but I don't remember the quote or the detail. I'm telling you now that - as you say, it was not in our original concept document - as we implement Asgisa we meet industries and individuals who are interested in helping. They come across ideas; they bring them to us and we encourage them to test the ideas. This is one such idea. They are testing it, they are refining it and when it is ready, we will see how far we can test it.
We have encouraged them to talk to different departments and we are encouraging the departments to talk to them since this idea has had success in countries such as Korea and Belgium whose economies are successful. So, it is worth listening to them and trying it out.
Here we go, hon Chair; just a very short one.
Do you still want to ask another follow-up question? Let me check with other members first. Okay, let me first check if other members want to ask follow-up questions. All right Mr Watson, you may continue.
Thank you very much, hon Deputy President, for that reply. Is it your intention - seeing that we are now testing the ground on this, which probably is a very good initiative - to report on the success thereof in the next annual report?
Yes, hon member; if there is concrete progress we will definitely want to share it. If there isn't, we will keep quiet. [Laughter.]
Plans to balance the economy, with reference to the export of raw materials, the consumption of imported goods, and the skills base
18. Mr W M Douglas (ACDP) asked the Deputy President:
(1) With reference to her warning that South Africa's economic growth will not be sustainable if it continues to be driven mainly by the export of raw materials and an emerging black middle class that consumes mostly imported goods, (a) why is this the case, (b) by when did this imbalance start happening and (c) what is being done about the skills base in order to supply more locally produced goods;
(2) whether there are any plans in place to balance the economy; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?