By: Hon. PN Msimango; IFP MPL
Tuesday, 20 November 2018
KwaZulu-Natal Legislature; Pietermaritzburg
Hon. Speaker;
The MF’s Motion that is before us today, notes that “progressive regulation is topical in our young democracy.” Indeed, KwaZulu-Natal as part of South Africa is still involved in a momentous task to bring about policies and regulations that will benefit our people, especially those who were disadvantaged by apartheid. And as Hon. Member has indicated, the objectives of designing policies is to “produce greater human welfare.”
Hon. Speaker; policies are a roadmap which dictates how the province must move forward towards ensuring that the lives of all citizens are improved and made better.
In fact, South Africa is praised for good policies. And without any doubt, the presence of the IFP in the body politic has contributed to these good policies. However, government and all parties represented in the legislatures of this country still face the challenge. The challenge is that the implementation of these policies leaves much to be desired. As Members of this House, we must intensify our efforts to ensure effective monitoring of these policies.
Hon. Speaker, the IFP has always been committed to brainstorming, analysing, debating and putting in place policies which will benefit all the people of our country, especially those who are poor. As an example, Hon. Gcabashe in the debate in this House, expressed his gratitude to the IFP President and the IFP for our vision in enacting the policy which governs Amafa.
Indeed, what is important to the IFP is that our people’s lives must be better than yesterday. And it is against this background that the IFP states as follows:
“For twenty years the IFP has promoted policies which place economic growth at the forefront of efforts to raise living standards and to stabilise the socio-political environment of all South Africans…”
The IFP further “acknowledges that economic growth, even if largely driven through industrial expansion, is unlikely by itself to reduce unemployment levels to satisfactory levels. The IFP therefore supports development of a special job creation programme to offer answers to this serious problem…”
Hon. Speaker, the IFP believes that much attention must be given to our education and training systems if we want to make the lives of our people better. We must ensure that the youth of our Province is encouraged to stay in classes and study. Likewise, teachers must do their work with diligence. In particular, our youth must concentrate on those subjects which will contribute towards economic growth.
Attention must be paid also to the adult population. Opportunities must be provided for them to participate in skills training programs with a view to acquire skills that will enable them to earn a living. Our people’s mindset must move from being seekers of jobs to being creators of jobs. This is the route that carries the promise of lifting our country from poverty.
Hon Speaker, the realisation of the MF’s Motion also lies in role that must be played by our people. Our people must empower themselves so that they are able to elect people of good character leadership and who are patriotic to occupy strategic positions in the Legislatures and Government. They must elect people whose history show that they are not easily tempted to engage in corruption, fraud and nepotism.
Our people are hungry for leadership and policy makers who are committed to saving them from triple structural challenges of unemployment, poverty and inequality and to rescuing them from the scourges of escalating costs of living and alarming crime levels.
Indeed, this country needs decisive, patriotic, committed and honest leadership and policy-makers that will deal these ills which plague our people.
In fact, 2019 will give our people this opportunity. They must elect the IFP as the party that will serve them with integrity in the spirit of Ubuntu.
I thank you
