Deputy Speaker, the DA has always maintained that small business development is not a policy imperative that should solely be confined to a single part of government. That is our position that this department is entirely unnecessary. Rather, small business development should be championed across numerous portfolios where it has direct relevance. From Home Affairs, we should have a start up visa regime to incentivise foreign investors to bring in capital and start from enterprises to tourism were large numbers of
small make up the tourism sector such as guest houses and tour operators.
With the youth unemployment rate reaching almost 60% in the third quarter of this year, there can be no illusions, ifs or buts, about the urgency of boosting job creating growth, especially for the unskilled and those lacking work experience. Small businesses can and must be the key driver of job creation and skills developments, but they cannot do so if they are hamstrung by red tape.
That is why the DA will continue to champion the passing of the Red Tape Reduction Bill during this sixth Parliament, echoing the one that we introduced at the Private Members Bill in the fifth Parliament that can ensure a more enabling environment for small business.
South Africa need not flounder in high and growing unemployment. With the flourishing small business sector, we can catalyse an economy where labour is absorbed, skills are developed in alignment with real need in the economy and growth is generated to produce shared prosperity for all. [Applause.]