Deputy Speaker, the ACDP is very concerned about the minimal impact that the Department of Small Businesses, Development and Cooperatives currently has in developing and assisting small businesses; particularly as this has a direct impact on our slow- growing economy and high unemployment rate.
The department is expected to create around 90% of the
11 million jobs envisaged by the national Development Plan, NDP, by 2030. But this cannot be achieved until some employees undergo a radical change of attitude.
The department must do much more and all that it can to root out corruption and strongly deal with those who steal from well-deserving applicants for assistance and young entrepreneurs.
We agree with those who say the department has failed out people. But when looking at the recommendations and corrective action that the committee has proposed, we
agree with the recommendations, particularly those aimed at dealing expeditiously with issues of underperformance, filling vacant strategic posts and addressing the 80% failure rate of cooperatives. And those - we believe - who are responsible for financial mismanagement must face consequences. There has not been enough consequences and people had been allowed to continue stealing and looting and disadvantaging those that have applied.
So, the ACDP believes if the recommendations that have been given would be taken seriously and implemented, that there could be a change and a turnaround in the department. Thank you. [Applause.]