Now, they have electricity in their homes and that has increased the demand for the commodities such as fridges, irons and so forth. [Applause.]
However, having said that, I also want to remind you that the ANC was addressing a backlog. Something that happened 300 years ago in the UK, the ANC was able to do within 20 years. Let me also remind the members that despite being deliberately deprived of the critical skills, notably in mathematics, business finance, actuarial sciences and many other critical skills that were to be necessary for the inevitable, pending future, more and more black and white South Africans joined hands and realised that we need each other.
Separate development was uneconomical, irrational, unsustainable and isolationist, as we were isolated from the global market system. These South Africans from all races vowed to destroy the systemic state violent repression, the segregationist policies which were premised on a separate development theory.
They wanted nothing less than majority rule and a people-centred government in order to drive an inclusive economic growth agenda, as outlined in the Freedom Charter.
Now, if we look at what has been happening presently and we are very serious about this thing, we have to remember, hon members, that it is the ANC-led government which has introduced the Ministry of Small Business under the hon Minister Lindiwe Zulu.
What does that say to you? You rose here to say that we are not serious about entrepreneurship. What it is that she is supposed to be doing? The ANC has given the exact mandate to Comrade Lindiwe to actually spearhead entrepreneurship. [Applause.]
It is because we are dealing with the people that were denied the opportunity to even sell peanuts on the trains. They were not allowed to trade in the city centres. Everyone here is enjoying the fruits of the freedom brought about by this ruling party. [Applause.]
Let me also address the problem of load shedding. Yes, hon members, you are absolutely correct, it is a setback. I agree with you, but let me remind you that it is not a unique South African phenomenon. In 1974 in Britain there was also load shedding. Factories were only opened for three days and they were closed for four consecutive days. They were shut down completely in 1974. [Interjections.]