Chairperson, this morning the SABC 2 news had a member of the Small Business Development Agency who certainly offered glimmers of hope for the development of the sector. However, progress is slow and the effects of poverty are vast.
While we certainly can applaud the rate at which jobs are created, we cannot applaud the lack of security in long-term employment and the fact that many of these posts should not been done away with, leaving families in a similar situation on the expiration of contracts.
Another matter of concern is that the agriculture and mining industries remain at the forefront and their condition remains on the drawing board. The hon Minister of Finance's indication of investing in rural South Africa and providing assistance to farmers does give the rural communities a ray of hope, but many remain unemployed.
We need to necessitate the production and selling of South African goods, with South African labels, and made by South Africans. We need to look at all ends of manufacturing and create a totally self-sufficient industry that employs and empowers our people. We need job security, long-term security, which is established by creating opportunities through sustainable industrial growth. I thank you.