Earlier today, President Cyril Ramaphosa re-committed to Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), Affirmative Action (AA) and expropriation without compensation (EWC) as part of the ANC's policy for the future, while the FF Plus maintains its view that this will only damage the country's future and its vulnerable economy even further.
President Ramaphosa was responding to questions posed by Dr Pieter Groenewald, leader of the FF Plus, during question time in Parliament.
Among other things, the President was asked how he plans to reform the economy to be more inclusive as well as how the future process of land reform will be fast-tracked to ensure a more productive economy, but without weakening the country's fiscal position.
From the answers that the President provided it seems that he is confusing the concepts of inclusivity and race. On the one hand he says that the economy must be inclusive and that there is no longer a place for distinction based on race in South Africa.
But on the other hand, he himself ensures that race is inextricably intertwined in the discourse through his commitment to BEE, AA and EWC. It is becoming evident that the white people of South Africa are not really part of his vision for the future of the country.
In this regard, the FF Plus's view differs significantly from the President's perspective. The FF Plus believes that race should indeed not play any role in the economy. When it comes to opportunities, like jobs, study loans and business opportunities, merit should be the only criterion, not skin colour.
President Ramaphosa is busy trying to redress a past injustice with a future injustice where white people must indefinitely pay the price for the ANC government's failures.
The FF Plus accepted the President's challenge to come up with proposals for a better South Africa for all. These proposals will be tabled and will be based solely on free market principles and merit – race will play no part.
Concerning the issue of EWC, it was interesting to note that President Ramaphosa did not respond to the FF Plus's statement that the American Minister of Foreign affairs said that if EWC is implemented, it will destroy the country's economy.
This creates the impression that the President is in denial about the detrimental effects of EWC. He is in effect ignoring the warning issued by one of South Africa's biggest trade partners and that could contribute to the destruction of the economy.
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