Deputy Speaker, the DA notes with alarm the Zuma administration's decision to continue to pursue its changes to labour legislation, despite the mounting evidence of the disastrous impact they will have on employment and the President's stated priority of fighting poverty. Studies have shown that the amendments to the Labour Relations Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Employment Equity Act will cost the South African economy at least 1,1 million jobs.
While millions of South Africans continue to live in extreme poverty, desperate for a livelihood that will enable them to create a better future for their children, the ANC-led government is embarking on a pointless, ideologically inspired and, may I say, perverse campaign. This will do nothing but worsen our already drastically high unemployment rate.
Just this week calculations have shown that the amendments to the Employment Equity Act will cost South Africans living in the Western Cape and in KwaZulu-Natal many jobs, and it is because of the ANC's national racial quotas. It is because of the ANC's definition of equity targets, which uses old apartheid categories, that there will be a disproportionate effect on coloured people and Indians in the Western Cape and in KwaZulu- Natal. It is because of the ANC's equity policies that there will be this disproportionate impact on coloured and Indian South Africans.
Perhaps, then, we will call on the hon Marius Fransman, the new leader of the ANC in the Western Cape, to reach deep within his soul and for once speak with some integrity about the impact of job losses that result from ANC policies and what they will mean for South Africans today. Perhaps it is the hon Marius Fransman who will for once dig deep into his soul and tell the truth about the consequences of ANC policies with regard to job losses.
The DA will continue to push for policies that create jobs and do not destroy jobs and that will fight poverty and not make poverty worse. The people of the Western Cape can be assured that we will take action on this. Thank you. [Applause.]