Chairperson, it can probably be said that there is unity amongst parties in this House with regard to the overarching idea of socioeconomic freedom. It would be rare to find anyone that is not committed to eradicating poverty and social injustice. However, when it comes to the exact type of outcome and the methodology concerned, then we all start to disagree substantially across the spectrum, as informed by economic notions from libertarianism to communism.
Die ANC se konsep van 'n ontwikkelingstaat verteenwoordig een van die vele ekonomiese sienings, maar dit is belangrik om dit te analiseer omdat dit tans die dominante paradigma verteenwoordig. Die ontwikkelingstaat veronderstel 'n ekonomie waarin die staat 'n sterk en besliste rol speel in die rigting wat die ekonomie inslaan. Dit behels inmenging in die mark deur allerlei staatsgeleide programme, soos regstellende aksie en swart ekonomiese bemagtiging, asook deelname aan die mark self deur, byvoorbeeld, die beoogde staatsmynhuis. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The concept of a developmental state held by the ANC represents one of many economic visions, but it is important that one analyses it because at present it represents the dominant paradigm. The developmental state presupposes an economy in which the state plays a strong and defining role with regard to the direction in which the economy is heading. It entails intervention by means of various government-controlled programmes, like affirmative action and black economic empowerment, as well as participation in the market itself through, for example, the envisaged government mining house.]
The developmental state is thus one that prefers a planned economy and is distributive in nature. The question, however, against the backdrop of human rights, is whether it creates a just economy. In other words, does it eradicate poverty? Does it cherish freedom? Does it ensure that no new victims are created in its wake?
The proof, of course, is in the pudding. If we have regard for the consequences of this policy, we can glean the following, amongst other things. Firstly, policies like affirmative action and black economic empowerment have led to the enrichment of but a few and the impoverishment of hundreds of thousands of white families; secondly, strong economic growth is evading us due to a market that is not free enough to allow for budding entrepreneurs and that is permeated by systemic corruption; and, lastly, instead of fostering growth through a truly free market, government is merely distributing wealth, thus thinning the tax base that is financing a bloated state service and millions on grants. This is also known as a Ponzi scheme.
Dit sal die regering dus baat om nie die land se Grondwet bloot te interpreteer soos dit hom pas nie, maar ook om ag te slaan op sekere fundamentele menseregte daarin vervat. Die sosio-ekonomiese regte in die Grondwet is in beginsel opeisbaar vir almal, maar is in werklikheid net realiseerbaar vir swartes weens rasse-diskriminasie. In werklikheid het ons hier te doen met strukturele ekonomiese geweld wat deur die ANC toegepas word.
Uiteindelik sal sosio-ekonomiese vryheid net gerealiseer word wanneer ons die regte ekonomiese beleid begin toepas wat groei toelaat. Deur voort te gaan met rasse-diskriminasie 18 jaar nadat die ANC begin regeer het, is om te begroot vir 'n toekoms waar die internasionale gemeenskap nie 'n probleem sal h indien minderhede, en spesifiek die Afrikaner, eensydig afskei van die ANC-regime nie. Sonder ekonomiese vryheid sal daar uiteindelik gesoek word na politieke vryheid. Daardie dag is naby. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Therefore, the government will benefit from not simply interpreting the Constitution of the country as it suits itself, but also taking note of certain fundamental human rights contained therein. The socioeconomic rights in the Constitution are in principle claimable by everyone, but can in actual fact only be realised by blacks due to racial discrimination. In effect, what we have here is structural economic violence which the ANC is practising.
Eventually, socioeconomic freedom will only be realised when we start practising the correct economic policy which allows for growth. To continue with racial discrimination 18 years after the ANC started to govern is to budget for a future in which the international community won't have a problem if minorities, and especially the Afrikaner, unilaterally secede from the ANC regime. Without economic freedom the search for political freedom will be the ultimate result. That day is near.]
Thank you, Chairperson.