The Gauteng State of the Province Address (SOPA) by Premier Panyaza Lesufi basically serves as proof that the ANC in the province is in big trouble.
This becomes clear when one realises that for the first time, the Premier actually provided a fairly accurate analysis of the problems faced by Gauteng instead of simply making wild, populist statements. This shows that the reality of its waning support is finally starting to dawn on ANC leadership in Gauteng.
In addition, polls indicate that the ANC’s support is still dwindling. And on top of that, the anger of communities that used to support the ANC is almost tangible. The ANC experiences it firsthand during every oversight visit of the Gauteng Legislature’s committees to these communities.
This situation creates specific opportunities, because there is a greater willingness to listen to reason and entertain realistic views on economic growth.
The fact of the matter is that the ANC has mismanaged Gauteng’s economy for years. As a result, the province has no economic growth to speak of, extensive unemployment and growing poverty.
These problems cannot be tackled effectively without sustainable foreign investment.
It is, however, exceptionally difficult to attract such investment due to the ANC’s failed policy of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), which enriches only a few individuals, Affirmative Action (AA), expropriation at zero value and other forms of harmful government interference in the economy.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus), therefore, pointed this out to the Premier in its reply to the SOPA and requested him to engage with national government to initiate a process of policy reform. The Freedom Front Plus also warned the Premier that Gauteng’s economic problems will continue to deepen without such reforms.
Also, history teaches how to facilitate economic growth by looking at which states and regions have achieved successful economic growth. The province should follow the example of countries and regions such as South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan and Mauritius.
The Gauteng government will also have to start listening to the needs of foreign investors. It will quickly become evident that many businesses have good ideas for doing upliftment, which will work much better than the existing BEE programmes that only empower the same handful of individuals over and over again.
The Freedom Front Plus further notes Lesufi’s mournful complaint about the party’s proposal that a number of schools should remain Afrikaans regardless of the BELA legislation.
Lesufi is clearly under the impression that Afrikaners have more rights than they deserve, but the reality is that they are actually treated like second-rate citizens in their own country.
The Freedom Front Plus will continue to fight for a better economic dispensation, which will benefit everyone, and equality for Afrikaans.
