Chairman, while we do not object to the budget, we feel nonetheless that we need to express our utmost concern about how our industrial policy is progressively being shaped under the leadership of this department. There are two components in this department, and we do not object to that being the case. However, one is becoming subservient to the other, and that is a matter of great concern.
The first component is that of promoting economic growth, trade and industrialisation; the second component is that of attaching social programmes and concerns of extended welfare programmes for industrialists to all that which promotes economic growth. By necessity, these two components are in tension, and possibly in conflict. We are now faced with a situation where the component from which the salvation of South African economic terms comes, is that of promoting economic growth, which is becoming completely subservient to the social component. The burden may become such that the state can no longer carry it.
We are very concerned that this pattern is identical to the pattern followed by Greece, Spain and Italy. We have often called on the Minister to have the courage in a time of harshness and difficulties such as this one to prioritise economic growth. We must have the courage of embracing austerity over the conflicting and concurring reasons which are attached to various programmes aimed at developing the economy and the industrial basis. The industrial basis is unfortunately shrinking, even though the inflation figures have been doctored to hide that very fact. Thank you.