The ANC project of liberating the masses remains intact because that is the reason why the organisation was formed, said the party’s high-ranking official, Parks Tau, on Tuesday. Tau is the Deputy Minister of of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and member of the National Assembly.
Addressing the Black Business Council (BBC) Summit, Tau said: “The agenda of social economic transformation remains, and was the reason why the ANC was formed.”
Tau was in a panel discussion with other panellists, including the IFP’s Velenkosini Hlabisa, Songezo Zibi, leader of Rise Mzansi, and ActionSA’s Funzi Ngobeni.
Bantu Holomisa of the UDM and Mbuyiseni Ndlozi of the EFF were expected to feature on the panel but were not present.
Economy no longer skewed in favour of one race only
Tau said it should not be forgotten that the economy before the advent of democracy was skewed in favour of white people. In the 30 years of democracy under the ANC, the party has radically changed the country. The political and economic landscape of what the country looked like during the apartheid years, he said.
“Now children can have breakfast to enjoy at schools. The exclusion of black businesses is a thing of the past. Legislative framework has abolished inequality in the workplace. Employment policies that excluded black people no longer exist,” Tau said.
Tau also argued that progressive policies that gave effect to the establishment of the National Empowerment Fund have taken root.
Growth in black business
“Through this instrument, we are able to invest in black business and grow black business,” he said.
Hlabisa told the conference about the changes that the IFP would introduce if it were to run the country. The IFP would offer a gratuity of R3,000 a month to unemployed graduates for 12 months, among other things.
“This would enable graduates to apply for work and attend interviews. And this would happen in all three spheres of government,” he said.
Hlabisa said his party would reduce what he termed “the bloated cabinet” of the present government.
