The African National Congress (ANC) sent in an economic heavyweight to kick off this afternoon\u2019s debate on President Jacob Zuma\u2019s State of the Nation address delivered last week.<\/p>\n
Trade and industry Minister Rob Davies opened the National Assembly sitting by mentioning a range of initiatives undertaken by his department to illustrate that government does in fact create economic opportunities and foreign investment.<\/p>\n
He also took a swipe at opposition parties who pretend they have a quick fix for South Africa\u2019s economic woes: \u201cThat is misleading and they\u2019re like snake oil sales people offering a quack remedy.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Davies, analysts are more upbeat about SA than its own citizens because the country\u2019s long-term fundamentals are encouraging.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pessimism of the private sector is not shared by the outside world,\u201d Davies said.<\/p>\n
The Industrial Policy Action Plan (Ipap) affords government the opportunity to create new manufacturing hubs and employment. He singled out the clothing and textile as well as the automotive industry where significant investment is taking place.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of these successes are a product of the policy framework we\u2019ve put in place and the developmental stance on tariff setting and standards to defend our borders against influxes,\u201d Davies said.<\/p>\n
He also briefly mentioned the launch of a targeted black industrialists programme.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd it\u2019s not for politically connected cronies. The definition of a black industrialist is tight: You have to be involved in a company that is controlled by black people and individuals have to be working in the manufacturing industry,\u201d Davies said.<\/p>\n
Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) MPs Mbuyiseni Ndlozi and Floyd Shivambu interrupted Davies on two occasions, accusing him of misleading the house about job creation numbers.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe manufactures jobs, but says nothing about the eight million unemployed people in South Africa,\u201d Ndlozi said.<\/p>\n
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