Hon Speaker, I certainly appreciate the statement about the Native Land Act of 1913 that the Opposition have made. It is making a very good point and I think it's vitally important, because the ills of today emanated in the main from that Act. It is highly appreciated that we can speak with one voice on a matter that is a common problem to all of us. I would like to underline that.
With regard to the growth of the economy, I think there are many factors that lead to how economies move, how organised some economies are, compared to others, and what makes investors move to one area or the other.
I wouldn't say the South African economy has problems that mean people do not take part in it. I think investment is coming into South Africa, but it is no longer, as it was in history, concentrating on South Africa only. It is now seeing other countries as well. But that cannot be seen as a negative thing for the economy. It must be seen in the context that I sketched when I was describing Africa, namely that we want the entire continent of Africa to grow economically.
I don't think that we should have a problem with it if investors begin to spread their investment on the continent. In fact, that could be partly because of what I have just explained, namely that we are speaking with one voice and therefore exposing all the countries and all the possibilities that exist on the continent, and we are saying, here are the things that need to be looked at. Reports have been saying that a number of fast growing countries are in Africa. It means that there is investment. It takes into account the fact that the continent's efforts, what it is doing, are vitally important.
Of course, you could perhaps stand up and utter criticism regarding specific issues, but that is debatable. What would be the reason for doing that, having made the point that it is, in fact, a welcome development that investors are spreading out on the continent - including, by the way, investors from South Africa. The investors from South Africa are getting into the continent, which never happened before. That is good news, because it means we are going to be able to address the problems that face Africa.
The very fact that we are saying there are too many foreigners here is because South Africa has been the only growth point and therefore more attractive to people coming here, and it is also because there have been problems in their countries. Once investments go to every other country, even that trend is going to be arrested, because they will then have opportunities in their own countries.
So I don't think investment going to other countries is a big deal. I think we should appreciate that. We should applaud it. We should say, "Thank God, Africa as a whole is today being seen as a destination for investment and not just South Africa." That is how I would look at it.
As to other issues that people are looking at, I think they are matters we could debate, such as whether South Africa's kind of regulations play a role. Again, there are various sides to the matter. Why? What is happening to the countries where they are making investments? Are those investments to the benefit of those countries? Are there regulations to ensure that investment benefits the local people? I think that is a different area that we could debate.
I think for now we should be saying that it is wonderful. Many investors in the world that we've talked to see South Africa as the gateway to Africa. Therefore, we agree that if we want to operate properly in Africa, South Africa has more developed infrastructure with which to do so. Many of them are putting their headquarters in South Africa in order to go to Africa. It's not a problem. I say it's not a negative trend. It is an important trend for the continent. That's how I view it. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Establishment of new military rapid reaction force
8. Rev K R J Meshoe (ACDP) asked the President of the Republic:
(1) What were the reasons for establishing a new military rapid reaction force, the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC), as proposed by him and agreed to by the African Union (AU) during its summit in May 2013, when the AU has already agreed to have an African Standby Force;
(2) whether the establishment of the planned military rapid reaction force will advance the commencement date of operations of the planned African Standby Force; if not, why not; if so, (a) by what date is it anticipated to start operations and (b) what are the further relevant details;
(3) whether Western countries will be requested to assist with training, equipment and financial contributions to the work of the ACIRC? NO1701E