Speech by the Economic Freedom Fighters' Chief Whip, Floyd Shivambu MP, in the debate on President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address, Parliament, June 19 2014
Mr N F SHIVAMBU: Hon Chair of the House, we are not going to degenerate, as has been the case, particularly from this side. However, we are going to use this opportunity to present a proper interpretation of the capitalist crisis that is defining South Africa today.
Firstly, South Africa is the richest country in the world in terms of mineral resources, both precious and industrial metals as well as minerals. Yet despite that fact, South Africa experiences the highest levels of poverty, at 44% as per your own statistics.
Secondly, for many years Brazil was the most unequal society in the world until they introduced the minimum wage which was at 72% above inflation and implemented the programme called Bolsa Familia, hon Dlamini. Then Brazil was no longer the most unequal society in the world.
Thirdly, we have the most devastating levels of unemployment. That is the reality. Seven million people who are looking for jobs cannot find them, yet they are people who are capable of working and who can contribute to the expansion of South African society. This is happening despite the fact that we have mineral resources beneath our soil - the richest country in the whole world in terms of mineral resources. Why are we there? Why are we in such a situation? It is because the liberation movement pursued a principle that said, seek ye first political power and the rest shall follow. That is what happened.
Twenty years later they have come to realise that we have been pursuing a wrong programme, and they say that we are now in pursuit of the second phase. I am saying that we are in pursuit of radical, economic transformation which does not have a consistent interpretation. Hon Radebe says that it's about the creation of the black bourgeoisie or the comprador bourgeoisie, and he says that proudly here. We know that there is no such thing as a patriotic black bourgeoisie. We know what happened in Lonmin and Marikana, and what they did in Marikana. They are here.