Hon Chair, after the 2019 elections, the South African President announced the reconfiguration of the government to promote coherence, better co-ordination and to improve efficiency. This included the merger between the Ministries of Trade and Industry and of Economic Development with key policy priorities that include inclusive economic growth and job creation to address our multiple challenges.
After a Medium-Term Budget Statement Policy by Finance Minister, Mr Tito Mboweni, which resulted in the rand losing 3 to 4% of its value overnight and Moody's downgrading our economy to just one notch above junk status, there has never been a more important time for these two departments now merged into one to rise to the challenge of addressing economic growth and job creation. In this light, the ACDP during the Budget Review and Recommendations Reports, BRRR, process made the following recommendations: One, beneficiation can reduce unemployment and hence the department must itemise all possibilities where beneficiation can take place and set timelines incorporating monetary systems with a view to implement beneficiation in the short, medium and long term. In the spirit of improving economic growth and creating jobs, the department must seek to create partnerships with education and the private sectors with the view to crafting curriculums gear to developing skills much needed in the private and public sector.
Of the 25 years of democracy where many in South Africa fought against racism, classism and tribalism, the battle to achieve social cohesion has not been one. Hence, the
ACDP recommends that all racial barriers policies which still use the apartheid classification of African, Coloured, Indian and White be scrapped. The broad-based black economic empowerment, BBBEE, has failed to reduce our Gini coefficient and BBBEE must be scrapped. Let's look at importing or protecting our poultry industry from imports which was dumped in South Africa. I thank you. [Time expired.]