Zizi Kodwa afraid to expose that the ANC has no jobs plan
11 January 2016
ANC National Spokesperson, Zizi Kodwa’s failure to accept our challenge to a debate on the economy and jobs on baseless grounds is nothing more than a desperate attempt to shield the party from its atrocious track record on stimulating the economy and job creation.
This comes after Mr Kodwa, in a New Age report, declined the DA’s challenge for a debate on the economy following the launch of our jobs campaign and the unveiling of our jobs-ticker last week in Johannesburg. Mr Kodwa’s response thereto represents a ruling party in sharp decline and a party that has been exposed for not having a plan to create jobs and economic growth.
Mr Kodwa contends that he would not accede to our debate challenge because he refuses to debate a party-political national spokesperson. This is extremely bizarre and I would like to take this opportunity to remind Mr Kodwa that he is in fact a national spokesperson.
His rationale is, quite simply, without basis and is a thinly veiled attempt to again sidestep the real issue at hand; which is economic growth and job creation that the ANC has failed dismally to address. Moreover that it has no plans to address this issue in the immediate and long term.
The 1.4 million South African’s who have joined the ranks of the unemploymed since the beginning of President Jacob Zuma’s tenure will not be fooled by this rank cowardice and deserve answers from the ruling party who have purported that jobs and unemployment are the apex priority of the ANC government.
In all predictability, it is becoming increasingly clear that the ANC government’s true apex priority is to shield itself from accountability.
In proving the ANC’s ideological confusion and inexplicable decisions that have seen unemployment rise to 8.4 million and 774 more people join the ranks of the jobless daily. The DA would have put its five-step plan to Mr Kodwa. This plan would be to:
1. Invest in integrated energy, transport and ICT infrastructure for job creation;
2. Give more people the education and skills they need to get a job;
3. Radically reform the labour regime to support job creation;
4. Provide direct incentives for job creation; and
5. Create a nation of entrepreneurs by making it easier for South Africans to start and grow their own small businesses.
Mr Kodwa, no doubt, at the behest of his handlers at Luthuli House has declined this debate which is unsurprising. In the vacuum of ANC leadership in this regard; the DA will be taking its plan to the people of South Africa.
Issued by Phumzile Van Damme, DA National Spokesperson, 11 January 2016
