POLITICS

Africa is rising while South Africa lags behind – David van Vuuren

DA says country could have been trendsetter in how to grow an economy

Africa is rising while South Africa lags behind

26 May 2016

Allow me to begin this speech with a quote from Ivory Coast President Felix Houphouët-Boigny, who said at his African Democratic Party’s 1985 national congress, 

“I have no opponents, my opponent is poverty.”

This quotes resonates with the DA since one of our main aims is to eradicate poverty in South Africa. 

There are many problems that all African countries currently have in common, like poverty, drought, high youth unemployment, rapid urbanisation and a negative global economic outlook. 

Yet it is interesting to see how different countries on the African continent tackle these problems. Some African countries are more practical in dealing with these problems by following international best practise, which also allows them the privilege to better prepare for tougher times. 

Unfortunately, there are also African countries who struggle with poor political leadership, who remain hell-bent on sabotaging the wellbeing of their own countries, their potential hampered by ideology and arrogance, unable to take the necessary steps to improve their future outlook. 

One way to quickly determine the wellbeing of a country is to look at its economic growth. 

It does not always mean that if a country has democracy, it is free of tyranny or political manipulation and that its economy will automatically grow. 

Honourable Speaker, 

There are many examples where leaders through poor decision taking caused an absolute tumble in the economy of a country. 

These economic downturns can have a long lasting impact and can take decades to turn around. Like we have seen in Zimbabwe over the last two decades. 

But history has also taught us that the people of Africa do not idly sit by and accept difficult situations caused by bad leadership, they take action and let their voices be heard when they’ve had enough.

Honourable Speaker, 

The African country with the fastest growing economy is Ivory Coast. Its GDP is expected to grow by 8.5% this year. Followed in second place is Tanzania, with projected growth of just under 7% and in third place is Senegal with 6.6%. This shows that Africa is indeed rising and compared with much of the developed world, economic growth is relatively high in Africa. 

The economic future of South Africa, who some argue is Africa’s most advanced economy is looking gloomy. According to the International Monetary Fund, South Africa’s forecasted growth for the current year will be a measly 0.6%. 

We are an example of a democratic country with a pathetic economic growth. And as stated by the IMF, our economy is one of the slowest growing economies in one of the fastest growing territories.

The reason for this is simple. Our poor economic outlook is as a result of poor leadership, bad economic policy and even worse implementation thereof. In short, when the ANC leadership in government speak, they scare off investment. 

Honourable Speaker, 

There is a Senegalese proverb that reads, 

“An intelligent enemy is better than a stupid friend.”

The governing party in South Africa, the ANC, has become famous for its patronage networks and inherent cronyism when it comes to political decision taking and governance. 

The ANC was once a party that was committed to equality, freedom and democracy, but it has transformed to a party that has entrenched corruption, fraud and cronyism. 

It is clear that the ANC can only be convinced by the propaganda of their stupid friends. And the ANC today is absolutely blinded by their hatred of their intelligent enemies. 

Honourable Speaker, 

The ANC failed dismally over the last decade to create a growing economy that would lead to the unlocking of economic opportunities that would result in economic development and job creation. 

Instead, the ANC created a situation where South Africa’s economy is on the brink of being downgraded to junk status and where unemployment is at a staggering 36.3%. 

The South African economy was not only the most advanced economy on the continent, it was the biggest. But then along came President Jacob Zuma, and in his first term, Nigeria overtook us and became the biggest economy in Africa. In Jacob Zuma’s second term, Egypt pushed our economy to third biggest on the African continent. 

Honourable Speaker, 

Listen carefully here. The national economy of South Africa, as a result of this ANC’s poor governance, is today only one notch higher than where the provincial economy of Gauteng once ranked on the continent. The entire provincial economy of Gauteng was once ranked the fourth largest economy on the African continent, today, our entire national economy rank third. It’s a shame. 

Honourable Speaker, 

If other African countries can manage to grow their economies by more than 5% year on year, during a very difficult economic outlook, then South Africa surely also has the potential to do it. 

Nelson Mandela said and I quote, 

“I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended.”

Honourable Speaker, 

It seems that contrary to Mandela’s outlook, the ANC have decided to linger on this hillock of poor economic policy, negative economic growth, high unemployment, increasing inequality and poverty. Wilfully, because it serves the current faction’s interests to do so. 

South Africa could have been the African country to set the trend in how to grow an economy. 

Instead, President Jacob Zuma and the ANC has failed the people of South Africa by not creating an environment where every person has the freedom to become economically independent.  

We have a President that is economically illiterate and makes wilful decisions that deliberately sabotages our economy, like when he fired former Finace Minister Nhlanhla Nene. The very same President Jacob Zuma who a court has ruled to reinstate more than 700 charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering against him.  The same president who violated our Constitution, by ignoring the Public Protector’s recommendations regarding the investigation into the renovations at his private home in Nkandla. 

Honourable Speaker, 

President Jacob Zuma and the ANC is currently South Africa’s greatest enemy.

The time has come to vote for change. To vote for a party that can form a government that can grow this economy at 8% year on year. To vote for jobs. 

The time has come to vote for a party that can take this country of ours back to its rightful place as Africa’s economic powerhouse. A government that can govern in a way that will proubly contribute to Africa rising.  

The time has come to vote for the DA on 03 August. 

Issued by David van Vuuren, DA Chief Whip in the Free State Provincial Legislature, 26 May 2016