PRESS RELASE: WC Government Must Seek Economic Autonomy as ANC-led GNU Accelerates Towards Fiscal Disaster, Says RP

WC Government Must Seek Economic Autonomy as ANC-led GNU Accelerates Towards Fiscal Disaster, Says RP

(Afrikaans below)

In its Budget Day media statement, the ANC illustrated the root cause of South Africa’s economic woes. It identified that the budget took place in a challenging “low economic growth environment”, before stating that the budget priorities must be “wealth and income redistribution” and “advancing fundamental transformation”.

There is no point in identifying the problem if you are not going to propose a solution. South Africa, and the ANC, need to grasp the fundamental truth that a transformation agenda inhibits growth and prevents positive transformation, whilst a growth agenda will deliver positive transformation as its inevitable by-product.

South Africa needs to increase the ease of doing business by reducing government bureaucracy (starting with race-based policies such as BEE) and allowing the private sector to help resolve the key economic and logistical bottlenecks, such as rail, electricity, and the ports.

Increasing taxes, whether VAT or by other means, is not the solution. Taxpayers are already exploited to the limit, with the wealthy leaving the country en masse.

The DA has correctly identified these issues and looks set to oppose the budget, which the Referendum Party applauds. This, however, is not enough. This budget confirms that the GNU is not going to prioritise or deliver growth. The DA has held an outright majority in the Western Cape Parliament for 16 years. It is time for the Western Cape Government to take all steps necessary to obtain control of its own economic decision-making, including taxation. It is not serving the best interests of the people if it does not.

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WK-regering moet ekonomiese outonomie soek terwyl ANC-geleide RNE op fiskale ramp afstuur, sê RP

In sy Begrotingsdag-mediaverklaring het die ANC die worteloorsaak van Suid-Afrika se ekonomiese probleme uitgelig. Dit het erken dat die begroting in 'n uitdagende “lae ekonomiese groeikoers-omgewing” aangebied is, maar het toe verklaar dat die prioriteite “herverdeling van rykdom en inkomste” en “die bevordering van fundamentele transformasie” moet wees.

Daar is geen nut daarin om 'n probleem te identifiseer as jy nie 'n oplossing bied nie. Suid-Afrika—en die ANC—moet ’n fundamentele waarheid besef: ’n transformasie-gedrewe agenda belemmer groei en verhinder betekenisvolle transformasie, terwyl ’n groei-gedrewe agenda noodwendig positiewe transformasie tot gevolg sal hê.

Om ekonomiese herstel aan te dryf, moet Suid-Afrika die gemak van sake doen, verbeter deur regeringsburokrasie te verminder (beginnend met rasgebaseerde beleide soos SEB) en die privaatsektor toe te laat om te help met die oplossing van sleutel-ekonomiese en logistieke uitdagings, insluitend spoorvervoer, elektrisiteit en hawens.

Die verhoging van belastings—hetsy deur BTW of ander middele—is nie die oplossing nie. Belastingbetalers is reeds tot die uiterste uitgebuit, en welgestelde individue verlaat die land in groot getalle.

Die DA het hierdie kwessies tereg geïdentifiseer en lyk gereed om die begroting te opponeer, iets wat die Referendum Party ten volle steun. Maar opposisie alleen is nie genoeg nie. Hierdie begroting bevestig dat die RNE nie ekonomiese groei as prioriteit stel of gaan lewer nie. Die DA het die afgelope 16 jaar 'n volstrekte meerderheid in die Wes-Kaapse Parlement gehad. Dit is tyd dat die Wes-Kaapse regering alle nodige stappe neem om beheer oor sy eie ekonomiese besluitneming, insluitend belasting, te verkry. Enige iets minder sou wees om die mense in die steek te laat.