Chairperson, hon members of this House, guests in the gallery, men and women of South Africa, first of all, let me say thank you, South Africans, for your confidence in the ANC ... [Applause.] ... which has given us another five years to roll back three centuries of socioeconomic and racial discrimination which deprived our country - that is why we are going at a little slower pace - of harnessing the potential of all our peoples.
Trade and Industry's objectives in its Budget Vote No 36 are to roll back monopoly practices, advance black industrialists, and grow an inclusive employment-creating economy through radical economic transformation in our developmental state. The Industrial Policy Action Plan, Ipap, underpinned by a strategic trade policy, is pursuing the New Growth Path. In this way, we are busy recapturing essential policy space, policy space that will enable us to steer our country in the right direction, safely through the global storms that continue to buffet our shores. This is why the ANC is supporting the people's budget.
However, we cannot ignore the effect of protracted strikes on the economy. Short, sharper strikes create more room to manoeuvre and get better results for the workers. Recently a National Union of Mineworkers, NUM, strike successfully negotiated an increase of R1 000 in the first two years for lowest-paid workers, followed by R950. I would be the first to say that is not enough, but I do welcome a strategic result. I want to say to the captains of industry - and I suggest you have tea and wine and tell them as well - that they should not continue to act with impunity in certain industries and continue to ignore the productivity of the workers in favour of their wealth, and ignoring the continued plight of the workers due to their wages.
In the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry the ANC said these challenges - the challenges of eliminating poverty and creating decent and sustainable employment - called for radical economic transformation. However, most opposition parties actually believe you can overcome poverty and create sustainable employment while the country pursues business as usual. [Interjections.] In fact, what they want is to maintain the status quo. Well, the ANC is giving this House notice ... [Interjections.]