Chairperson, I do not have enough time to speak to all the issues, so I will take a holistic view. It is trite to say that an economy is built around people. Depending on how people are treated and how much initiative they show, an economy will grow or die. It is the FF Plus' view that an economy must be free from state intervention and that regulation thereof must only take place in the most extreme of circumstances.
In this regard, the ANC government has thought it good to implement interventions to bring about workers' justice based on a historical view of the economy and its drivers. This has given birth to the current interventions based on race known as affirmative action and employment equity. Hierdie ingrypings mag dalk gebore gewees het uit 'n sin vir geregtigheid, maar tans blyk dit dat hierdie sosiale stuk gereedskap in 'n doelwit op sigself ontaard het, en dat dit nie meer as bloot 'n middel tot 'n doel beskou word nie.
Regstellende aksie het 'n nuwe reeks slagoffers geskep. Dit is 'n feit dat, desnieteenstaande die nuwe rykdom wat onder blankes sedert 1994 geskep is, vele besig is om te verarm en baie, soos ander minderheidsgroepe, hulle tans in plakkerskampe bevind.
President Zuma weet dit, want hy het self sulke gemeenskappe besoek. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[These interventions may have been born from a sense of justice but, at the moment, it seems that this social tool has become a goal in itself and that it is no longer regarded as merely a means to an end.
Affirmative action has created a new set of victims. It is a fact that, notwithstanding the new wealth that was created amongst whites since 1994, many are becoming impoverished and many, like other minorities, are currently living in squatter camps.
President Zuma is aware of it because he himself has visited such communities.]
The point is: social justice cannot be achieved by enforcing a blunt instrument to fix a previous system. It will inevitably create a new set of problems with new victims. And, Mrs Yengeni, we can enumerate many stories of injustice from both sides of the black and white divide.
However, in order to achieve a solution to our labour and employment problems and to ensure justice in labour relationships, one must have regard to a higher order of thinking. Einstein himself indicated that you cannot solve a problem on the same level; you have to take a step up.
Die feit is dat Suid-Afrika se arbeidsmark deel is van 'n groter stelsel met kleiner onderdele waarvan ons kennis moet neem. Die ANC het vir 15 jaar aan die stuur van 'n groeiende ekonomie gestaan wat nie genoeg werk vir die behoeftes van Suid-Afrikaners geskep het nie. Dit, op sigself, is 'n aanduiding dat die Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskap en die regering 'n ernstige sistemiese fout het. Daar sal dus gekyk moet word na hierdie fout, en waar dit l, en dit moet reggestel word om die samelewing in ekwilibrium te bring. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The fact is that South Africa's labour market is part of a bigger system with smaller components that we should take note of. For 15 years the ANC has been at the helm of a growing economy that did not create enough jobs to meet the needs of South Africans. This in itself is an indication that the South African society and the government are faced with a serious systemic flaw. Attention should thus be given to this flaw, and where it lies, and it must be rectified to bring society into equilibrium.]
The FF Plus has a suggestion in this regard. The FF Plus believes that we must stop looking at the past and push forward into the future, which must become a better place, by implementing imagination, initiative and hard work. The current system of social assistance is unsustainable. We therefore have no choice but to fix this system. How will we do this?
The Minister talked about new partnerships. He is on the right track. We need a new deal.
Ons het 'n nuwe kontrak nodig. [We need a new contract.]
... a new deal between the majority and the minorities wherein the minorities will assist the majority in accessing the economy, growing and managing it, while, in turn, the majority will make the necessary amendments to create a governance system of power sharing. In this way, we believe decent employment, economic upliftment and social justice can truly be achieved. At the same time, you will have new partners at the helm of the South African ship, who will feel that they have control over their own destiny in this country.
Die jaar 1994 is 'n lang tyd terug. Die huidige stelsel werk nie. Die politieke woelinge aan die linker- en regterkant wys dit duidelik, soos die middelgrond inkalwe.
Daarom moet ons no hard, eerlik en kreatief dink oor ons toekoms in die land. 'n Beter en regverdige toekoms kan net behaal word deur weer eens te onderhandel vir die skep van 'n regverdige en ewewigtige bestel.
Kom ons herskik nou. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[The year 1994 is a long time ago. The current system is not working. This is clear from the political turbulence on the left and right, while the middle ground is caving in.
That's why now is the time to think hard, honestly and creatively about our future in this country. A better and equitable future will only be created by negotiating once again for the establishment of a fair and evenly balanced regime.
Let's renegotiate now.]
We look forward to speaking with the hon Minister, the Cabinet and the President about this project. Let there be dust, Minister. Thank you. [Applause.]