DTI Annual Report: More over-regulation, less job creation
Today the Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, presented to parliament the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Annual Report for the 2014/15 financial year.
The outcome of the Annual Report is straightforward - under Minister Davies the DTI has directed our economy into a helpless situation through over-regulation and underspending on key job creating programmes. A fundamental policy shift is needed in order to revive the South African economy.
As the apex ministry charged with fostering economic growth and job creation in South Africa, the question by which to assess the DTI's performance is this: Is it becoming easier to do business and create jobs in South Africa. The answer to this question is a resounding “no”.
What Minister Davies fails to grasp is that through endless over-regulation, led by his department, this government is strangling our economy within an inch of its life.
Nowhere is this better illustrated than in the nature of legislation developed by DTI in the last year. While the Companies Act Amendment Bill was removed from the agenda, an array of regulatory bills were developed, including the Licensing of Businesses Bill, Liquor Amendment Bill, Gambling Amendment Bill, and Copyright Amendment Bill.