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SA still a good news story, insists Zuma

Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma insists South Africa is a “good news story”, and that those who disagree have either not been observant or live in another country.

Responding to oral questions in the National Assembly on Thursday, Zuma said even if there have been disagreements with the type of economic policies South Africa followed in the past (such as GEAR and Asgisa), it doesn’t mean the country hasn’t moved forward.

His comments came after Inkatha Freedom Party MP Mkhuleko Hlengwa asked the president how South Africa could proclaim a good news story while unemployment is higher than 27%.

Zuma responded by saying the current unemployment rate doesn’t mean no employment has been created.

“Compare South Africa with other countries: you won’t find any other country in the world which has made so much progress in 20 years.

“We’re the biggest economy on the continent. You can’t say that’s not a good story. We have clear programmes, such as with infrastructure. It’s a reality. There is development in various ways.”

Zuma acknowledged that the global economic meltdown in 2008 affected South Africa, as was the case with all other countries in the world.

“If someone says nothing is happening (in South Africa) then it means you haven’t observed the progress. Or either you don’t live here. We believe we’ve made progress.”

Radical economic transformation

Zuma said radical socioeconomic transformation was already discussed at the ANC’s elective conference in Mangaung in 2012.

“But we can’t just talk any more. It’s now time to act,” Zuma said.

The Constitution of South Africa, according to Zuma, is “not as explicit” on economic rights as it is on political rights.

“But it does enjoin us not to use legislative and other measures to reverse the discrimination of the past suffered by black people. Government will continue to work with business and labour to achieve the objectives set out in the State of the Nation address to bring black people into the mainstream of the economy.”

Cooperation yields benefits

Zuma also said he is pleased with the good working relations between government, labour and the private sector.

“We’ve been building on an existing good history of working together,” Zuma said, adding that the Nedlac (National Economic Development and Labour Council) platform has proved to be an effective “clearing house” for policies and laws.

One example of the positive outcome of this collaboration, Zuma said, is the agreement that has been reached on a national minimum wage, which was signed by all parties involved. 

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