Secondly, remove those impediments to and constraints on growth that the government already controls. This department focuses on industrial policy and trade, but it cannot hope to succeed in either until it can get tangible backing from other government departments.
South Africa cannot hope to move up the global value chain with double- digit municipal electricity surcharges on top of already expensive electricity. We cannot export more with ports that are among the most inefficient and expensive in the world. We cannot attract foreign direct investment to our shiny, new special economic zones until we spend our infrastructure budgets. Perhaps most urgently, we must implement policy steps to address our dysfunctional labour relations environment and end the continuous cycle of strike action that destroys productivity and undermines economic stability.
HON MEMBERS: Hear, hear!