Agb Speaker, die VF Plus is op rekord in hierdie komitee dat ons ook die kommer deel oor die armoede wat tans in Suid-Afrika heers. Ons het ook telkemale onomwonde gestel dat die beleidsopsies waarop besluit word om armoede aan te pak prakties moet wees. Kortom, dit moet werk, en as dit nie werk nie, moet dit vervang word met bewese beleidsplanne. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Adv A D ALBERTS: Hon Speaker, the FF Plus is on record in this committee as having said that we also share the concern about the poverty which currently exists in South Africa. We also have stated unequivocally time and again that the policy options that are decided upon to tackle poverty should be practical. In short, they must work, and if they do not work, they should be replaced with proven policy plans.]
While the FF Plus, in principle, cannot support any empowerment measures based purely on race, and must therefore vote against this Bill, we also always pose the following important question with regard to policy and law: Does it work? In other words, has broad-based black economic empowerment, BBBEE, proven itself as a broad-based empowerment tool for the intended groups? The problem that we are facing with BBBEE is that there is unfortunately broad consensus overall that no proper research exists that can clearly indicate that BBBEE has empowered a broad base of black people. In fact, the existing evidence suggests the contrary, with a few exceptions.
Hierdie wetsontwerp poog nou om die toepassing van 'n onsekere beleid te verskerp deur die definitiewe kriminalisering van wanvoorstellings van bemagtiging. Die vraag is weer eens of dit gaan werk om swart bemagtiging af te dwing. Dit is egter ons posisie dat wetgewing wat nie in die eerste plek werk om sosio-ekonomiese dinamika te verander nie, nie sommer deur timmerwerk beter gemaak kan word nie. Somtyds is dit nodig om te erken dat daar terug gegaan moet word na die tekenbord. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[This Bill now strives to intensify the implementation of a dubious policy by means of the definitive criminalisation of misrepresentations of empowerment. The question once more is whether the enforcement of black empowerment is going to work. However, it is our contention that no quick fix simply exists for legislation which is not effective in changing socioeconomic dynamics in the first instance. At times it is necessary to admit that one should go back to the drawing board.]
Minister, there are increasing indicators that we need different interventions to grow the economy, eradicate poverty and ensure the fulfilment of human rights imperatives. Rothchilds Consultancy, one of the leading BBBEE advisers, has admitted that BBBEE has failed and must be replaced with policy instruments that work. We need to rethink our economic paradigm so as to expedite growth. Therefore, as far as BBBEE is concerned, we are merely stumbling blindly into the future without knowing whether we are holding a flashlight to guide us or a dynamite stick that may go off any second. The FF Plus finds it ludicrous that a policy is entrenched even further when there is no clear data to support the policy direction.
Daar is wel stappe wat gedoen kan word om in die rigting van 'n ware inklusiewe ekonomie te beweeg. Dit is om die maatstaf van ras om bevoordeel te word deur middel van swart ekonomiese bemagtiging, SEB, te vervang met sosio-ekonomiese kriteria. Laasgenoemde sal die wetgewing meer in lyn met die realiteite van Suid-Afrika bring, waar groeiende armoede onder alle rasgroepe bestaan.
Minister, oorwegend beskou, doen u goeie werk. Ek hoop dat ons vorentoe ernstig in gesprek kan tree om beter beleidsopsies te implementeer en te formuleer wat werklik nie-diskriminerend van aard is en almal kan bevoordeel. Dankie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Indeed, steps do exist which can be implemented to move in the direction of a truly inclusive economy. They entail to replacing race with socioeconomic criteria as a yardstick in order to benefit from black economic empowerment. The latter will bring legislation more in line with the realities of South Africa, where poverty is increasing amongst all race groups.
Minister, in general, you are doing good work. I hope that in future we can have a serious discussion on how to implement and formulate better policy options that are indeed nondiscriminatory and will benefit all. I thank you.]