Visa regulation job losses not important enough for debate, says Mbete

28 August 2015

The clearest indication yet of the ANC’s indifference towards unemployment is the Speaker of the National Assembly’s rejection of the DA’s call for an urgent debate on the indefensible visa regulations.

Earlier this month I wrote to the Speaker, calling for a debate of public importance, in terms of National Assembly Rule 103, on the impact that the newly promulgated visa regulations are having on our economy and jobs.

In her responding letter, Ms. Mbete outright rejected my call, stating that a debate in terms of Rule 103 should be of “sufficient immediate public importance to give it precedence over other programmed business”.

In other words, according to the Speaker, job losses as a result of the visa regulations are not important.

This despite the fact that the impact of the new visa regulations on the South African economy in 2014 was a negative R2.6bn and a loss of more than 5 800 jobs, this according to an impact assessment report by Grant Thornton, commissioned by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa.

The report predicts that in 2015, the number of lost foreign tourists due to changes in the immigration regulations is likely to increase to 100 000, with a loss of 9 300 jobs and the total net loss to the South African GDP of around R4.1 billion.

But it is not only current jobs that are being shed. According to the Tourism and Business Council of South Africa, for every 12 tourists that arrive on our shores, 1 job is created. Therefore the industry’s ability to create jobs for the millions of unemployed South Africans is being severely undermined.

Government must now face the fact that South Africa’s full-blown jobs crisis is a matter of urgent public importance.

The DA believes that the opportunity to find a job brings with it dignity, independence, a sense of self-worth and freedom. The impact these visa regulations are having on this must be dealt with urgently.

Text of the letter:

19 August 2015

Mr J Vos MP Democratic Alliance

Parliament of South Africa PO Box 15

CAPE TOWN 8000

Dear Mr Vos

REQUEST FOR DEBATE ON A MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Your letter of 11 August 2015 in which you request a debate, as a matter of public importance in terms of Assembly Rule 103, on the newly promulgated visa regulations and the impact they are having on the economy refers.

A debate in terms of Rule 103 should be of sufficient immediate public importance to give it precedence over other programmed business. It is my view that while this is an important matter, it may be taken forward by other means in the near future . In addition, the Deputy President has answered a question, posed by the Leader of the Opposition , on this exact matter on 12 August 2015 .

I therefore cannot accede to your request for a debate on the matter in terms of Rule 103. Yours sincerely

B Mbete MP

Speaker of the National Assembly

ENDS

Statement issued by James Vos MP, DA Shadow Minister of Tourism, August 28 2015