Hon Chairperson, I make the following declaration on behalf of Cope. The changes in business law arising from the principal Act as well as these amendments are extensive. Government must not exert undue pressure on business to get all its ducks in a row. The Minister's insistence on implementing this legislation on 1 April will not allow business time to digest all the changes. Moreover, the Minister should be engaging the business community so that a seamless change can take place from the old order to the new.
In order for investors to be attracted and for business activity to be encouraged, certainty and clarity have to be obtained. The department should closely and consistently monitor the kind of inconsistency and ambiguity that crept into the principal Act, which made all of these amendments necessary.
Cope would like to see that realistic timeframes are given so that business and government move in step. Cope would also like the Minister to make a statement to Parliament a year after the Act comes into operation to inform the House about how many foreign companies sought domestication in terms of section 335 of the Companies Act of 1973. Such information will be very valuable in gauging business confidence and investor sentiment.
While we agree with many of the amendments, we will not support this Bill if the Minister refuses to show flexibility regarding the date of implementation. Thank you.
UMBHEXESHI OYINTLOKO WEBHUNGA: Sihlalo, egameni le-ANC, ndifuna ukuthi abantu ekudala baxhamla bayalibala ukuba amathuba avuleleke nakwabanye abantu kulo Mzantsi Afrika mtsha, kwaye abantu abakhe babanjwa angekhe babethelelwe emnqamlezweni unaphakade. Ethubeni abantu bayalinikwa ithuba labo, futhi ndiyothuka xa i-DA iziphikisa. Izolo bebethetha nge 'open society' namathuba ayo, namhlanje bathetha into enxamnye naloo nto. Kuza kufuneka ukuba basicacisele.
UMphathiswa akayiqalanga izolo le nkqubo. Amalungu ekomiti ayazi kakuhle le nkqubo ebehamba nayo oko. Kungaphezulu kwenyanga ezintandathu iqhuba le nkqubo.
Ukugqibela, ndifuna ukuthi asilocandelo lezoshishino kuphela elalichaphazeleka. Angekhe sivume ukuba i-ajenda yamakhapitali ihlale isilawula. Egameni le-ANC siyawuxhasa lo mpoposho. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraphs follows.)
[The CHIEF WHIP OF THE NCOP: Chairperson, on behalf of the ANC, I want to say that the people who have been benefiting for a long time forget that opportunities are open for other people in the new South Africa, and people who were once incarcerated cannot be crucified forever. After a while people must be given their chance, and I am shocked that the DA is contradicting itself. Yesterday, they were talking about an ''open society'' and its opportunities, but today they are saying the opposite. They must explain.
The Minister did not initiate this programme yesterday. The committee members know it very well because they have been involved in the whole process. This programme has been running for more than six months.
In conclusion, I want to say it was not only the Department of Trade and Industry that was involved. We cannot allow the capitalist agenda to continue governing us. On behalf of the ANC we support this announcement. [Applause.]]
Bill accordingly agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.