Thank you, Mr President. Mr President, to get young people more into jobs your Finance Minister, Mboweni's reform plan recommends lowering the regulatory barriers that are locking young people and small business out. He recognises that it is your own government's regulations that are erecting these barriers. This is something that the private sector cannot reduce it, but it is something which your government has to do.
When you became the President you addressed the nation and said, and I quote:
Our most grave and most pressing challenge is youth unemployment. It is therefore a matter of great urgency that we draw young people in far greater numbers into the productive economic activity of our country.
And to that we say, Amen! When you said this in the 2018 state of the nation address youth unemployment in its expanded definition was sitting at 65%. Two days ago we learnt that it has now grown to 70%. Given this dramatic increase you do not accept that interventions that you have made so far have failed to address this pressing challenge. Is it not time given the fact that your own Deputy President said he does not take the Finance Minister seriously. For you is to find the courage to unequivocally back Mr Mboweni and his plan and stop bending the knee to the unions, the communists and other enemies of growth on your benches. [Applause.]