Chairperson, the biggest issue in South Africa is unemployment. The great job losses during the recent financial crisis have been devastating. However, it would be unfair to blame this unemployment solely on the department. This department has the ability as well as the resources to address this issue on a large scale. There are millions of underemployed people walking the streets reduced to begging. These are people with some sort of skill that can be used within the industrial sector.
In the Minister's words, the programmes of his department must interface with the range of social and economic development strategies across all spheres of government. Therefore the R2,4 billion training lay-off scheme must now become active to start employing those who lost their jobs during the recession.
In addition, while Cope is supportive of the help being offered to companies in distress, we want the Minister to ensure that these companies, indeed, have long-term prospects and are therefore deserving of support. One area in which we can certainly emulate the Asian markets is in stimulating domestic sales by offering buyers subsidies for the purchase of durable consumer products fully manufactured in South Africa.
Cope wants to encourage government to provide for eco-housing, co- ownership, co-housing and modular housing to keep the construction sector busy. We should strive to build a developmental state which is democratic, people-driven and people-centred. Cope will support the Vote. Thank you.