ANC policy cannot facilitate growth in Gauteng

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The Gauteng government’s new economic development plan (Gauteng City Region Economic Growth & Development Plan 2030), launched last week, is doomed to fail if it does not move away from the ANC’s ideological approach of managing the economy on the basis of race instead of merit.

Although the new economic development plan is a good starting point, it remains flawed because it does not address the real causes of Gauteng’s economic decline.

The province is trapped in a vicious cycle of poor growth and unprecedented unemployment spanning nearly two decades. Implementing the same policy will not deliver a different outcome.

The time has come for drastic action by adopting policies proven to promote growth and job creation worldwide and over the course of more than a century. This includes freeing the market from excessive regulation and eradicating corruption.

The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is convinced that its economic policy will put Gauteng on a growth trajectory. The aim is to ensure that economic growth exceeds population growth so that the majority of economically active people can find work.

This will, in turn, reduce dependence on social grants and ease the burden on the fiscus.

Investment is essential for achieving this, particularly foreign investment which can take advantage of the rand’s weak value against the dollar.

The United States (US) has already indicated that billions of dollars are available to invest in South Africa provided the ANC creates a more favourable environment by completely scrapping policies such as Black Economic Empowerment (BEE).

The Freedom Front Plus advises the Gauteng government to establish subnational trade ties with states in the US. The Constitution makes provision for provinces to conclude such agreements, which could create a direct channel, free from national geopolitical tensions, for investment.

The Freedom Front Plus wants to reiterate that Affirmative Action and BEE cannot be reformed – they must be abolished. Merit should be the sole criterion for appointments and investment. This will restore a high level of expertise in the public service and create a genuinely investor-friendly climate.

The Freedom Front Plus is ready to replace failed ANC policies with proven, merit-driven solutions that will deliver real growth and job creation to get Gauteng’s economy back on the right track so all the people of the province can benefit.