President Zuma needs to do more to address economic downturn 

Today's briefing by President Zuma on the South African economy and mining sector was an ideal opportunity for him to take the country in his confidence, speak decisively about the challenges facing the economy and provide clear plans and measurable deliverables on how his government will boost growth and job creation.

But instead of a plan of action on how to address our economic growth collapse to just 0.9% in the first quarter, we received only more of the vague reassurances which have characterised his term in office. 

If President Zuma was serious about addressing these challenges, and putting the South African economy on a new, growth-oriented trajectory, he would have announced the following:

• Immediate changes to the "winner-takes-all" labour relations framework which have heightened tensions between competing unions and caused more strikes in the mining sector; 
• The appointment of a new, capable and permanent head of the SIU and NDPP to bolster the independence of the judiciary and our country's fight against corruption;
• That accountability would be enforced in his cabinet, and non-performance would be met with removal;
• That all red-tape which is limiting the growth of small businesses would be cut as a matter of urgency, and furthermore, provide guarantees that the Business Licensing Bill would not return to Parliament with any of its problematic components; 
• That the deeply problematic Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Draft Amendment bill, which will kill investment in the mining sector, would not be approved by cabinet;
• That the youth wage subsidy, as approved by Parliament in 2011 would be implemented and that the weak, inappropriate Youth Employment Accord would be removed;
• That there would be no more policy inconsistency in the national government; that the National Development Plan would be implemented regardless of COSATU's opposition to it, and that it would be acknowledged as the only economic plan for the country.

I will write to all political parties represented in Parliament and request that a special meeting be convened to discuss how these important measures can be implemented and how best Parliament can play a constructive role, through its legislative and oversight powers, to boost economic growth and tackle head-on South Africa's economic downturn.

Parliament can no longer sit back and wait for decisive action from government. More and more South Africans enter the ranks of the unemployed each year and they need the reassurance that their elected representatives are doing everything possible to address this. 

In the absence of leadership by the President, we must now act with urgency.

Statement issued by Lindiwe Mazibuko MP, DA Parliamentary Leader, May 30 2013

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