By Doreen Mokgolo
African National Congress president Cyril Ramaphosa has promised not to scrap the black economic empowerment (BEE), employment equity or the national minimum wage policies.
He said: “These are policies of the ANC which were put in place to ensure women, black people and people living with disabilities are represented in the employment spaces.
“It is outrageous that parties are threatening to scrap the policies should they win the upcoming elections. This is an attack on workers.
“They see nothing wrong with paying illegal foreign nationals slave salaries,” he said.
The party’s president was speaking during the ANC’s Siyanqoba Rally at FNB Stadium, where thousands of members from across the country gathered for the ANC’s final election campaign ahead of the 29 May elections.
This is where the party held its first Siyanqoba Rally which was addressed by Nelson Mandela on 4 April 1994.
Fighting for their return to government after 30 years in power, Ramaphosa said over the next five years the party plans to focus on six priorities to take the country forward.
“We will implement a job plan to put more South Africans to work, including those who are over 35 years, build industries, invest in an inclusive economy and tackle the high cost of living.
“We will invest in our people and provide services that they need; and defend the democracy and freedom we fought hard for,” he said.
Ramaphosa said during election campaigns across the country they picked up some service delivery challenges due to poor delivery in various metros.
“If the metros fail to deliver on their mandates, the province and the national government will take over. We have already started this.
“We will not allow our people to continue suffering because of metros that are failing to deliver,” he said.
Ramaphosa said they plan to maintain social grants and to implement a basic income grant for the unemployed.
“With so many people still unemployed, we will continue to provide the Social Relief Distress grant which increases from R350 to R370.”
The party also plans to prioritise food security and VAT exemption on essential items, and take action against price fixing. They will expand and subsidise basic services like water, houses and electricity for the poor.
Picture above: ANC Siyanqoba Rally.
Image source: Doreen Mokgolo
