Chairperson, while we understand that this department is the engine room of South Africa's economy and that the Industrial Policy Action Plan, the Ipap, is doing a great deal towards trying to stimulate growth, our economy is still not getting appropriate traction. One problem is that the focus in attacking poverty is skewed on a race basis instead of a socioeconomic basis. While this department is willing to protect the fruits of culture that emerge from communities in the form of traditional knowledge, it still isolates communities based on race where economic empowerment is concerned. A truly inclusive economy is one that is truly inclusive, not by way of double speak but by way of truly including everyone.
The 2010 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, report on poverty in South Africa has already indicated that the socioeconomic divisions in South Africa have become intraracial, meaning that all peoples are becoming either poorer or richer. This problem can only be addressed by appropriate policy responses that are based on socioeconomic needs and not racial divisions.
We also find it disconcerting that overregulation of all businesses are introduced by the ill-conceived Licensing of Businesses Bill that, to the credit of the Minister, now has been withdrawn for redrafting. The introduction of such an anti-economic Bill in the first place however, is very disconcerting. As such we cannot support this Budget Vote. Thank you.