Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council -
(1) notes that government, business, labour and community groups signed a milestone agreement in Pretoria on Monday under which an "aspirational" target of 75% was set for the level of goods and services that should be procured locally by both government and the private sector;
(2) further notes that the Local Procurement Accord emerged following consultations held under the New Growth Path, which itself aims to bolster the domestic manufacturing sector in support of a larger goal to ensure the creation of five million new jobs by 2020 by stimulating the demand from manufacturers and bolstering production;
(3) notes that government indicated that an immediate objective was to leverage public procurement in line with the amended Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, PPFA, which would come into force from 7 December; and
(4) takes this opportunity to welcome this progressive initiative by civil society, government and labour to intervene in the economy and to stimulate local growth in the midst of an international economic crisis.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.