Draw up a national protocol for the distribution of drugs.
Integrate traditional healers into the treatment programme.
Develop an accreditation system for private treatment programmes.
AIDS orphans
The DA will establish Orphan Support Committees across the country to give orphans the practical help they need to adapt to their circumstances.
Children, extended family members and anyone else with an interest in any orphaned child or children will be able to benefit from a range of services, including help with accessing grants and arranging school fee exemptions.
BUILDING COMMUNITIES
Local government that works
Local governments affect our day-to-day lives more directly than any other sphere of government.
South Africans deserve a system of local government that is businesslike and financially prudent, and at the same time community focused and service-orientated.
Funding local government
Local government is in a financial crisis.
While services must be provided to all, the system must remain financially sustainable and ratepayers must not be overburdened.
The DA is committed to keeping rates as low as possible.
Inefficiency, extravagance and corruption must be rooted out so that costs are contained and municipalities live within their means.
The DA will: Develop a nationally agreed framework on rates increases, to ensure that increases are transparent and fair.
Set up an independent Valuation Appeals Board to adjudicate in cases of excessive rates increases.
Require that rates be levied only in accordance with services provided.
Use external Audit Committees to vet local government accounts.
Allow for “betterment levies” on properties within special rating districts, in order to improve services.
To confront the problem of non-payment, the DA will: Place rates service charges in the same position as income tax.
Make maximum use of pre-paid meters.
Take a tough line against councils that insist on unaffordable service levels.
Outsource credit control where municipalities cannot do it themselves.
The DA will get better value for money with competitive outsourcing and privatisation, using rigorous checks and balances to ensure that contractors perform.
Open and accountable local government
DA councillors will be governed by the principle of “Service before Status”.
This principle will be reflected in all council activities by: Using the Executive Committee System to govern cities, not Executive Mayors.
This will ensure that power is not centralised in one person, and that all residents are represented in the key decision-making bodies.
Opening all Portfolio, Executive Committee and Council meetings to the public and the media.
Using recall mechanisms and a Local Government Public Protector to keep local government clean.
Tying councillors’ and officials’ allowances to their performance.
Poverty alleviation
The DA will adopt a number of progressive policies to benefit the poorest of the poor, including: Giving six kiloliters of water and 20kwh of electricity every month free to all households.
Exempting poor households from rates payments.
Supplementing services for the homeless, where necessary.
Allowing pensioners and registered unemployed persons to travel free on subsidised local commuter transport during off-peak hours.
Traditional leaders
Local governments need to recognise traditional leadership structures without compromising the principle of democratic representation.
The DA will: Keep traditional leadership above inter-party political competition by requiring traditional leaders who wish to stand for government to relinquish their status.
Accommodate traditional leaders’ skills in rural government by encouraging their participation in council meetings and establishing Traditional Leadership Forums.
Help traditional systems and customary law to adapt in order to preserve both democratic principles and the strengths of traditional leadership systems.
AN END TO HOMELESSNESS
There is a desperate shortage of acceptable housing for South Africa’s poor.
A large number of houses have been built over the past ten years, but many are of appalling quality and millions of people still lack a proper home.
The DA will re-energise the housing programme with partnerships between communities, municipalities and developers aimed at satisfying needs without placing an insupportable burden on the state.
The DA’s objective will be not just to eliminate the housing backlog, but to build quality homes within healthy, vibrant communities;
to give people more choice;
and to change aspirant home-owners from passive recipients into active participants.
Giving people choice
Policies which focus on formally constructed, state-provided houses will never solve South Africa’s enormous housing backlog.
The DA will move away from the state being solely responsible for delivery, and towards partnerships between the state and the people.
Access to land first, and basic services second, are immediate priorities.
Once people have these, they can live more healthily and with greater dignity, and they can begin to create opportunities for themselves.
The DA will increase the range of choices available to people by replacing the present housing subsidy system with three options: Site and service plus a state-subsidised house.
Recipients will have legal title to a fully serviced site on which to erect their own dwelling.
Across the world, self-build options have allowed the state to help more people; they have proved to be cheaper and to give more satisfaction to the owners.
Site and service plus a state-subsidised house.
Because of the value of the house, the site will be smaller and less well located than the first option.
A rental subsidy.
The DA will increase the quality and the range of low-cost rental stock available by: Offering low-interest loans for the construction of rental stock, provided that affordable rentals are charged.
Promoting housing designs that include a rentable room.
Reduce urban sprawl by developing density requirements and offering tax incentives for compact developments.
Identify run-down inner-city areas and under-used industrial areas for low-cost housing development.
Building sustainable communities
The DA will not allow a focus on reducing the housing backlog to translate into a numbers game; our objective will be to build communities, not housing blocks.
The DA will: Put in place an urban planning system that encourages safe, healthy and pleasant communities and discourages the development of slums.
Introduce a basket of minimum public infrastructure requirements for housing developments.
Private sector housing finance
Many low income households earn too much to qualify for a subsidy, but too little to get a bond, or they struggle to find an affordable house for which a bank will provide a bond.
The DA will make it easier for low income households to access housing finance by: Ensuring that banks do not red-line an area without publicly disclosing the decision and the reasons for the decision.
Entering into risk reduction agreements with banks in red-lined areas.
Allowing the first R5 000 of an individual’s retirement fund to be used to pay for a deposit and legal fees on a first home.
Introducing a “rand-for-rand” subsidy programme, whereby the state will match the amount accumulated by a low-income home-buyer for a deposit.
Developing a basic financial literacy programme, in conjunction with the banking industry, to increase knowledge about personal finance.
The DA will take various steps to raise bond and rates payment levels, including placing rates in the same enforcement position as income tax and outsourcing debt collection.
However, where families find themselves unable to pay due to circumstances beyond their control, the DA will support them by, for example, introducing a national transitional subsidy programme for families who have lost a breadwinner, to buy them some time.
The DA will cut red tape in the identification, allocation and development of land to speed up the rate of housing delivery.
It will also develop a rapid response plan for land invasions.
A TRANSPORT SYSTEM WE CAN TRUST
South Africans have suffered the irritations, inconvenience and costs of a wholly inadequate transport system for far too long.
They deserve better.
The DA will deliver a transport system which is safe, reliable and affordable.
Road maintenance
South Africa’s road transport system has deteriorated to the extent that it jeopardises both the safety of users and our economic growth prospects.
The DA will implement a road maintenance programme, to be funded by a dedicated Road Maintenance Fund, which will eliminate the R64 billion road maintenance backlog over six years.
The DA will also crack down on overloading, and impound offenders’ vehicles for prolonged periods in serious cases.
Road safety
South Africa has an unacceptably high road accident rate.
The DA will entrench a culture of safe driving by: Improving the training and working conditions of traffic officers;
impounding vehicles of drivers travelling at excessive speeds.
Requiring a medical examination for the assessment of alcoholism for repeat drunk driving offenders.
Legislating for compulsory balance of third party insurance.
For commercial vehicles, the DA will require heavy-duty and public passenger vehicles to fit speed control devices and limit the number of hours a driver may drive without a break.
Public transport
To ensure the maximum efficiency of the public transport system, its operation must be left largely to private entrepreneurs.
But the DA will introduce a new state subsidy scheme with a single, multi-use ticket applicable to all certified public transport vehicles, including taxis.
Commuters will be able to choose the mode of transport that suits them best.
At the same time, taxis will be brought into the public transport network.
In addition, the DA will: Allow pensioners and the registered unemployed to travel free of charge on subsidised local transport during off-peak hours.
Improve training for taxi drivers.
Subject taxi drivers to regular competence and medical fitness tests.
Introduce a Charter of Passenger Rights.
MANAGING OUR ENVIRONMENT
South Africans deserve a country in which the natural environment is properly managed.
The DA will manage our precious natural resources in a responsible way, in trust for the whole nation.
A new administrative structure
The DA will create a more effective resource management structure by combining the Departments of Land and Agriculture, Water and Forestry, and Environment and Tourism into a single Ministry of National Resources.
It will also create Provincial Resource Tribunals in each province to act as “courts of record” in cases of conflict over decisions on resource use.
Protected areas
Areas set aside for conservation are national assets and must be properly managed.
The DA will establish vigorous partnerships with private enterprise to fully realise the potential of our nature reserves.
Mining within national parks and provincial reserves will be prohibited.
Fishing and agriculture
Fishing and agriculture are important to the livelihoods of many South Africans.
To protect and preserve these resources, the DA will: Take away fishing quota allocations from those who breach regulations.
Develop more small harbours for the small-scale fishing industry.
Shield farmers from the effects of uncompetitive international trade practices.
Install a rapid response plan for severe droughts, floods and fires.
Conduct research into the levels of chemical residues in food products.
Introduce legislation requiring the clear labelling of all foodstuffs.
Closely monitor the impact of genetically modified organisms on the ecology and consumers, and take steps to prevent their misuse.
Energy
Finding sources of renewable energy is becoming increasingly important.
To encourage greater use of our natural energy resources, the DA will: Set targets for solar panel installation.
Adopt a climate change levy to ensure that industries responsible for pollution bear the costs of clean-ups.
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
The DA will work hard to preserve South Africa’s rich cultural heritage, in all its multi-hued variety, because we recognise that we cannot become a truly great nation without recognising the value of all our component parts.
The diversity of backgrounds and heritage of South Africa’s many different communities makes our country one of the most culturally rich on the planet.
The DA will protect each community’s right to its unique identity by: Establishing a Protector of National Heritage to act as an advocate for the protection of cherished places, artefacts, and landscapes.
Offering tax incentives to individuals wishing to make donations to cultural organisations.
Ensuring that boards to serve arts and culture are chosen through transparent public hearings;
that they are accountable to the communities they serve;
and that funding goes to fulfilling their objectives, not to paying exorbitant salaries.
Spreading funding for arts and culture widely across all cultural communities.
The richness of South African culture is expressed in our 11 official languages.
Acknowledging these languages and making a place for all of them is vital to nation-building
But the ANC government, by excluding languages other than English from official use, has consigned a significant piece of our cultural heritage to the fringes
The Democratic Alliance stands in support of vigorous multilingualism.
We will ensure that in all areas where an official position on language is required, that an explicit policy of multi-lingualism is adopted.
For example: Schools will adopt the language of choice of the parent body.
Universities will be entitled to use a language other than English as medium of instruction where they wish to do so.
Interaction with government officials should be in the language of choice of members of the public, not of officials.
SAFEGUARDING DEMOCRACY
Democratic government
Since 1994, the ANC government has subjected the structure of South Africa’s democracy to repeated assaults.
South Africa faces the danger of becoming a single-party dominant state, in which the ruling party faces no significant electoral challenge, and in which the boundaries between party and state become increasingly blurred.
The DA’s commitment to the voters is to ensure that these dangerous trends are exposed, and that the government’s power is constrained by a properly functioning democratic system.
As a result of a political miracle in 1994, South Africa now has in place a liberal constitution and a democratically elected government.
But the persistence of the democratic values reflected in our Constitution cannot be taken for granted.
The DA has been vigilant in exposing some of the dangerous trends that are showing signs of emerging: the ANC’s aspirations to hegemonic control;
its use of patronage to ensure that even ostensibly non-political posts are filled by  ANC supporters; and its quite blatant packing of the civil service with sympathisers.
There are disturbing signs that the dividing line between state and party, which is fundamental to the separation of powers on which our democracy is supposedly based, is being blurred.
The DA is especially concerned at the way in which Parliament has, in important respects, been prevented from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to maintain oversight of the Executive, and to ensure that the Executive and other executive organs of state remain accountable to it.
The DA believes emphatically that government should be vested with sufficient power to govern effectively;
but equally emphatically, it believes that uncontrolled, unresponsive or excessive power poses a real threat to the health of democracy.
Power must be subject to checks and balances, and it is an important part of the Opposition’s obligation to ensure that this happens.
In pursuit of this objective, the DA pledges to: Build up its own electoral base, and co-operate with other like-minded opposition parties, to prevent the ANC from obtaining a two-thirds majority.
Fight any amendments to the Constitution which reduce checks and balances on the state’s power and, in particular, oppose any attempt to extend the term of the President’s period in office beyond the constitutionally entrenched two terms.
Fight to ensure that the principle of judicial independence is reinforced and maintained.
In considering their recommendations for the appointment of judges by the President, the Judicial Services Commission must not permit qualification requirements and standards of service to be undermined under the guise of transformation.
Work for a change to the electoral system to ensure that it incorporates a constituency element.
The existing simple list system, which ensures that Parliament is incapable of properly and effectively fulfilling its oversight functions, has alienated voters from their representatives.
Promote a truly federal system as the most appropriate form of government for South Africa.
The overconcentration of power in the hands of the President’s office poses an enormous threat to the survival of democracy.
A more federal system will provide for a variety of sites of power, and therefore allow more people to take part in the process of government.
It will also bring government closer to the people, and therefore promote greater political accountability.
Continue to expose corruption and maladministration wherever it appears.
South Africa is a mere decade into democracy and the scars of a deeply divided society are very much with us.
We cannot afford highly polarised politics.
It is the Opposition’s obligation to criticise, expose, and to offer alternative policies, but always to do so in a way that is constructive.
The DA pledges to take on this challenge.
International relations
Because of its status as a significant developing economy, and its successful political transition, South Africa has an important role to play in the international community.
A DA government will develop a policy on international engagement which places respect for human rights at the core of its philosophy.
In particular, it will work actively to create stability and foster economic recovery in Zimbabwe.
The global community
The DA’s foreign policy strategy will be based on the following key objectives: Developing alliances and partnerships with states that share the values entrenched in our Constitution, and that have committed to compatible paths of economic and political good governance.
Striving for the better functioning of international organisations such as the United Nations and the Commonwealth, so that they can fulfil their roles more effectively, by acting as bridge-builders between the North and the South.
Using the forum of the World Trade Organisation and other international bodies to insist on even-handed global trade liberalisation.
Democracy can only thrive in an environment of stability and economic health.
The DA will promote trade with, and investment in, our region, by lending technical resources and political weight to regional free trade area negotiations and building alliances between the SADC and other strategically important regional economic alliances.
The SANDF must shoulder its part in the responsibility for regional peace-support operations, provided that such operations meet criteria on funding, safety and international mandates.
In order to fulfil this function, the SANDF must be transformed into a smaller, better-balanced and younger regular force, and a better-funded part-time force
NEPAD
The DA fully supports the principles of democratic government,
the protection and promotion of human rights,
the rule of law and market economics which are the foundation-stones of NEPAD.
But these principles have not been reflected in NEPAD’s practical implementation, and its credibility is therefore at stake.
The DA will show decisive leadership in properly implementing these ideals and objectives.
In particular, we will negotiate unambiguous criteria for the evaluation of good governance and clear mechanisms for the operation of peer review processes, and it will ensure that these criteria and mechanisms are enforced.
Zimbabwe
The ANC government’s approach towards Zimbabwe has allowed that country’s desperate humanitarian crisis to deteriorate further, and it has worsened the image, investment prospects and stability of the entire region.
In line with NEPAD, the DA will address the continuing crisis by implementing a Road Map to Democracy in Zimbabwe.
The Road Map will: Establish the terms for President Mugabe’s departure, and for multiparty negotiations leading to an interim administration.
Draw up a framework for a negotiated constitution, and for new elections under an Independent Electoral Commission.
In addition, the DA will use 'smart sanctions' to pressure President Mugabe into a commitment to step down, and will make essential humanitarian aid and medical supplies available to the people of Zimbabwe.
Real Development Now: Let’s make a Difference – Together
Fellow South Africans, South Africa can and must be better.
It is an extraordinary country endowed with extraordinary people and a wealth of resources.
If South Africa is going to be the twenty-first century success story that we all know it can be, bold change is needed now.
South Africa is at risk.
Our democracy is facing grave risks.
A democratic alternative is needed to win the wars against HIV/AIDS, unemployment, crime, poverty and corruption and prevent the consolidation of a one-party state.
South African democracy is under threat.
One political party - the ANC -now has the power to change the constitution as it wishes.
It has shown that it is prepared to abuse the constitution for political convenience and expediency.
This happened with the immoral and self-serving constitutional amendment which allowed elected representatives to cross the floor and steal their party's seats and votes.
And many promises have been made and broken in respect of the promotion and protection of cultural diversity.
This applies to traditional leaders as well as cultural and religious communities.
Three 'C's' characterise the nature of the IFP: Caring, Capable & Clean.
Caring - The IFP cares about how decisions taken by government affect people's lives.
Capable - The IFP will provide capable effective leadership in government.
We will not squander scarce resources on failed policies and initiatives.
Clean - The IFP is committed to transparent and corruption-free government.
We will govern according to the highest ethical and moral standards.
Ours are common-sense proposals to address HIV/AIDS, crime, unemployment, corruption and poverty.
Our proposals are designed to give people control over their lives: a hand up, not a hand down.
Social justice for all.
We also have the political will to deal effectively with these problems.
Our economic proposals are aimed at creating a golden cycle of accelerated economic growth, which in turn will create jobs and reduce the spiralling levels of poverty and crime.
But they will require some short-term sacrifices.
Our proposals on crime are designed to create a modern criminal justice and law enforcement system to ensure that people are safe in their communities and to eradicate the culture of crime, impunity and lawlessness.
The challenge of HIV/AIDS is the most serious facing our country since the defeat of apartheid.
We need a multi-pronged strategy and the unwavering political will to pursue it.
The extended family and the community, which in Africa has always taken care of the most vulnerable, must be empowered to assist those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
The tide will not be turned by a grandiose centralised plan, but by efforts from the community upwards.
In the next parliament the IFP will continue to champion federalism and decentralisation of power between the three spheres of government: national, provincial and local.
The country is simply too large and diverse to be governed effectively from the centre.
Moreover, the present concentration of power is an autocratic threat, which puts our democracy at risk.
We trust the people to take the right decisions for their own lives.
Local communities know how to run their affairs better than a minister or Mangosuthu Buthelezi civil servant in Pretoria.
Lastly, the IFP believes that in our endeavour to build a better South Africa, all South Africans have an invaluable tradition to tap into – ubuntu/botho.
Our approach to governance is grounded in the ubuntu/botho principle of compassion and humane solidarity – a person is a person through other people.
Ubuntu is the golden thread that run's through the IFP’s approach to government.
It is time to show we care about these things that matter to all of us.
Give the IFP and me real support in this election so that together we can make a difference “Real Development Now.
HIV/AIDS:
The IFP condemns the tardiness and apathy that has characterised the national government's approach to the HIV pandemic, which has robbed us of life and family, and has deeply frayed our society.
No sudden change in national government policy can compensate for the cost millions of South Africans have had to bear.
The IFP has taken a decisive stand in KwaZulu-Natal, where it is the leading party in government, to prevent the spread of HIV.
The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal ordered the immediate distribution of Nevirapine to all HIV-positive pregnant women in the province and defended his initiative against the central government in the Constitutional Court.
This programme will be extended to provide anti-retroviral drugs for infected mothers and for all those living with HIV/AIDS.
The impact of HIV/AIDS on our society is not only a humanitarian crisis but also has a significant economic impact on every South African citizen.
The World Bank has warned that an HIV prevalence rate of 5% could seriously erode economic growth.
HIV/AIDS is the biggest challenge to business development in South Africa.
With a decline in the existing workforce due to HIV/AIDS complications and deaths associated with the illness, it is expected that companies will be affected by loss of skills, increasing training and recruitment costs, lower performance and productivity and absenteeism.
Realising that all South Africans are either infected or directly affected by the consequences of HIV, working together with all the peoples of South Africa, an IFP government will: Clearly and openly treat HIV/AIDS as a national priority with any medicine made available by science.
Assist people living with HIV to live longer and enjoy normal lives by providing antiretrovirals, in partnership with global concerns, and the necessary information for healthy living, nutrition, exercise and overall well-being
Assist children who are infected and affected by HIV.
Prevent the spread of HIV through effective education.
The IFP has a two-pronged approach in dealing with the HIV/AIDS pandemic, namely prevention and caring for those infected.
Prevention methods
Acknowledge that HIV causes AIDS and deal with the issue on the basis of medical science and not ideology.
Abstinence is a prevention method, which is better than a cure.
The focus of education aimed at young people will be on the ABC method (Abstinence, Be faithful and Condomise).
Reduce the stigma attached to HIV by: More widespread education;
More widespread counselling;
More widespread testing;
Talking openly about leaders, friends, role models and heroes who are living with HIV and commend them for their courage.
Test more widely for HIV: Establish testing sites at all clinics and hospitals;
Provide group pre-test counselling using videos/DVD's in clinics, outpatient areas and campus sports and recreation facilities;
Make greater use of saliva tests for screening with follow up one-on-one counselling before blood tests for confirmation;
Send testing mobile units into rural areas, together with community health workers to provide follow up home-based care.
Provide all rape victims with a free course of antiretrovirals and treatment against Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s).
Ensure that clinics in workplaces assist in the distribution of antiretroviral drugs, education, assistance, counselling and monitoring.
Conduct intensive campaigns to treat all STI’s and provide free treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
Provide all HIV positive mothers and their new -born babies with Nevirapine.
Encourage people to know their HIV status in order to have treatment including antiretrovirals.
Promote cultural and family values and education on sexuality.
Assist WOMEN: To become self-sufficient so that they have control over their sexual relationships;
Work tirelessly to dispel the myth that raping virgins reduces the spread of AIDS;
Introduce harsher punishment for rapists, particularly of children;
Improve court facilities for raped women.
Caring for those infected
Provide antiretroviral therapy and constantly improve rollout.
Work in partnership with drugs companies to access cheaper medicines and to treat and monitor patients.
Work in co-operation with all international donors who are willing to assist us to tackle HIV/AIDS.
Establish CARE centres offering: Legal support to help prevent discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS;
Dietary advice;
Support and encourage small scale farming to improve the nutrition of poor or unemployed people.
Increase the number of community health workers and home-based care programmes.
Local communities will be involved and reached with messages about AIDS and treatment programmes for HIV/Aids.
Assisting vulnerable children affected by the impact of HIV/Aids:
Set up CARE CENTRES to provide counselling, assistance to access grants, legal support and dietary advice.
Simplify procedures for orphaned children to access grants.
Increase funding for projects that support families who care for children orphaned due to AIDS.
Develop programmes of foster parenthood promoting the awareness that in the present crisis we all need to take direct responsibility for neglected children
CORRUPTION
While South Africa has made some progress in implementing anti-corruption mechanisms, the IFP sees the need for further reforms of the country’s political, legal, administrative and economic systems in order to discourage corrupt practices.
As part of this, the system and institutions of good governance should be strengthened.
“Blowing the whistle on corruption”
Working together with the people of South Africa to drastically reduce corruption with the aim of eliminating it completely, an IFP government would: Build up the institutional and human capacity necessary to ensure anticorruption measures are in place.
Demonstrate the political will and show an assertive intent to attack the causes and effects of corruption at all levels.
Implement effectively the anti-corruption legislation, not allowing for any exceptions.
The IFP will ensure strong and visible law enforcement and in particular fight the culture of impunity and the perception that there are "untouchables".
Strengthen the protection of those providing information on corruption.
Blacklist businesses involved in corrupt activities with public officials.
Upgrade and expand the Special Investigative Unit to the level of an Anti-Corruption Commission.
Promote a culture of respect for the state so that public servants serve the public.
Expand the role of external and internal auditing to monitor more closely the most likely areas of corrupt activity.
Continuously appraise and enhance all relevant control systems, in particular the performance linked Financial Management and Management Information Systems.
These systems should also serve as a comprehensive basis of disclosure and accountability.
JOB CREATION & ECONOMIC GROWTH
South Africa faces an unemployment crisis of unprecedented proportions.
Millions of our people are out of work.
Their skills and productive labour go unutilised.
They are denied their rightful part in building the new South Africa and a path for personal growth.
Vast segments of our population are being left behind in an equally untenable situation for the rich and the poor.
Unemployment is one of the major causes of crime and poverty and is a drain on the resources of the nation.
It also traps millions of our people in a cycle of poverty and despair.
Job creation is the number one priority of the Inkatha Freedom Party
It must become the number one priority of the government that takes office after the general elections.
Too little has been done in the past 10 years to generate employment.
For over 10 years the IFP has advocated policies and programmes which could significantly reduce levels of unemployment.
These include both a long and a short-term strategy.
We need a long term plan to give South Africa an industrial basis and short and medium term programmes focussing on small business development, encouraging industries that add value to raw resources, outsourcing, export processing zones (such as those that operate successfully in Namibia and Mauritius), agricultural co-operative arrangements and public works programmes.
This moves the IFP to a let’s make it happen stage.
The IFP has the solution
The IFP’s vision for South Africa is as a high wage/high skill economy.
We will transform South Africa’s economy by developing our skills base.
We will offer a regulatory and fiscal environment that is attractive to foreign investment.
We will make investments to develop our long-term industrial basis.
We oppose those who suggest that South Africa’s only future is as a low -skill, sweatshop economy, seeking to undercut the wages of the world’s poorest countries.
That is no ambition for the great nation that South Africa can become.
However, this will take time and we must have short and medium term solutions to deal with unemployment urgently.
The twelve-point plan
The Inkatha Freedom Party has a twelve-point plan to kick-start South Africa’s economy and create jobs.
We do not pretend that this plan will provide instant solutions.
The IFP has always rejected the easy but empty promises of other political parties.
The IFP will be clear and frank with the people.
The road to economic prosperity and full employment will be long and hard.
Privatisation: We will speed up the privatisation of all the parastatals, including public utilities, and the outsourcing of selected government functions to create more efficient business and government services, and to provide resources to reduce the debt drain on our economy.
Privatised assets will not be maintained as monopolies but returned to free market competition to avoid that, for instance, we continue to pay more in South Africa than in other countries for telecommunications
We will also encourage broad-based ownership of shares in these companies by the public, as a form of direct empowerment
Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment: In order to encourage wider participation in the main stream of the economy, we will ensure that Black economic empowerment becomes a broad-based phenomenon, aimed at not only benefiting a privileged well-connected few, but encompassing the broad masses of the poor, especially women.
Promoting Competitiveness: To promote export-led growth, South Africa has to be competitive.
To do this we need to reduce the cost structure of our economy, by bringing down inflation, reducing taxation levels and opening up the South African economy to competition.
We need to break down all existing cartels and monopolies which impair efficiency and growth while forcing all of us to pay more than we have to for most of the services and products we consume.
Real Agricultural Transformation: Agriculture is the main source of potential immediate massive employment.
An IFP-led government will create demands for these products by assisting their international marketing to brand South Africa as an international high quality food producer like Italy, Spain or Turkey.
Promoting South African Exports Abroad: We will refocus our foreign policy to primarily aim at increasing international demand for South African exports.
We will use our missions abroad to assist businesses to succeed in foreign markets.
We will also market South Africa more aggressively as a tourist destination.
More tourism is one of the main sources of potential immediate massive employment equally spread across the country and various segments of our population.
To this end greater assistance and tax breaks will be given to tourism as a national industry.
Investing in Infrastructure: We will allocate money in the budget to invest in South Africa’s infrastructure.
This will act not only as a positive sign to fixed investors, but will in itself be a significant source of employment.
Developing an Industrial Base: We must identify now what South Africa will produce for the global markets in 25 years, and make massive investments in terms of capital and human resources development to enable us to do so.
As Taiwan did, we must make investments that anticipate future technological developments, such as biotechnology.
Cutting Red Tape: We will establish a dedicated Deregulation Task Force in the Office of the President.
This unit will identify and strip away unnecessary regulations, which inhibit growth and employment creation, particularly in the small business sector.
Protecting Existing Jobs: We will require that all legislation is subjected to an Employment Impact Assessment to ensure that legislation is not implemented which will have an overall negative impact on jobs.
We will review existing legislation and amend those provisions that constrain employment growth.
Labour Efficiency for More Jobs: We will work with trade unions and business to improve industrial relations and avoid costly labour disputes.
We will promote legislation to ensure maximum flexibility in the labour market so as to ensure that the best people are employed in the right jobs.
Too many qualified young people remain unemployed because of the unreasonable protection extended to unqualified and less productive employed people.
Promoting Small and Medium Sized Enterprises: We will promote SMEs as engines of employment growth.
We will ensure a significant increase in public sector outsourcing to them and will provide venture capital so that people, particularly young people and women, can start their own businesses.
We will do this through a mentoring system, which will reduce much of the risk associated with lending to SMEs.
Developing the Informal Sector: We will promote the potential of the manufacturing and service dimensions of the informal sector.
With modest skills and resource support, a further million jobs could be created in this sector.
POVERTY
Problem areas
In South Africa at present there is a basic lack of infrastructure, especially roads, water, sanitation and electricity,
and job opportunities in rural and peri-urban communities.
In rural areas there is also poor agricultural activity due to a lack of funds to acquire agricultural equipment, fertiliser and seeds.
High levels of crime, especially stock theft, are also a contributing factor.
There is a further lack of skills and training in modern methods of agriculture.
The IFP will seek to ensure that interventions aimed at bringing immediate poverty relief (school feeding schemes, old age pensions, child support, etc) are prioritised and improved to ensure that the worthy recipient’s can access social assistance within the short term.
The IFP nevertheless, realises that short-term relief programmes can never be a substitute for longer-term poverty eradication methods.
The IFP’s ten-point plan to eradicate poverty
The IFP will adopt a participatory approach to remedy the situation.
This will involve active government co-operation with local communities, NGO’s and the private sector.
Involving local communities will ensure economic empowerment, self-help and self-reliance.
In order to ensure that such local communities become self-sufficient, they will need infrastructural resources, training and funding.
We will establish a government programme that will prioritise a food-production strategy.
A back-to-basics food security campaign, which will mobilise communities to work together to maximise agricultural activity will be launched.
This, coupled with a new agricultural deal for the rural areas will ensure that people go back to the land to optimise its agricultural output.
The IFP in government will correct the general fall-off in infrastructure investment.
We will shift resources from current account expenditure to the capital side to address our infrastructure requirements.
This will create both skilled and unskilled jobs.
The IFP will involve communities, local taxi associations and other interested parties to identify new roads to be built and existing ones to be improved.
Present programmes to supply water and sanitation will be expedited and expanded, including the supply of potable water to every household.
Rural and urban communities will be trained and assisted in forming co-operatives to enhance productivity and to create job opportunities.
Funding systems will be set up to assist with the procurement of equipment, fertilisers and seeds.
The IFP will provide Adult Basic Education and Training and facilitate its programmes through greater financial support.
The education system will focus on vocational training, including better focus on the teaching of science, technology and commercial subjects.
In -service training of teachers in these fields will be promoted and intensified.
The building of schools and community colleges will be accelerated.
The IFP will promote specific sectors that have shown the potential for significant employment growth, including tourism, urban/rural domestic crafts and the service sector.
In order to reverse the trend of urban overcrowding and rural depopulation, infrastructural
and agricultural development in rural areas is a priority.
There will be provision of sporting and recreational facilities in both urban and rural areas to improve the quality of life of community members.
CRIME
It is the first responsibility of any government to protect its citizens.
A government that fails to protect its citizens, is a government that has failed.
But a government that fails even to acknowledge the reality of the situation has failed us twice.
We, South Africans, are tired of being told that although crime is a “problem”, that it is nonetheless “being addressed”, is “under control” or is “stabilising”.
We are tired of hearing that yet another “task team” has been appointed and that yet another crime “plan” or “strategy” has been adopted.
What we want is an acknowledgement that we are facing a crisis.
We want an acknowledgement that government is prepared to do everything necessary to protect the innocent and vulnerable from the reign of terror imposed on them by legions of brigands and thugs.
We want reassurance that someone is in control and that something is being done.
The IFP’s twelve-point plan to fight crime
Upgrading law enforcement: The IFP will ensure more, better paid, better trained and better resourced police personnel who can get the job done.
We need more judges, more courtrooms and more judicial infrastructure.
We need to move massive resources towards the police and the judiciary.
The fight against crime can be won if sufficient money is employed, even if that means cutting down severely the defence budget.
After all, there is no point in acquiring expensive armaments to fight off presently non-existent enemies when crime kills thousands of our citizens.
Devolution of Powers:  Throughout the world the best and most effective police services are operated by cities.
The bulk of crime is localised.
The present centralisation of the police is part of the problem.
Provincial governments have no power at all to develop policing policies or organize, direct or deploy the police.
The IFP-led government will make the bulk of policing the responsibility of provincial and local government.
Zero tolerance: The IFP has a philosophy of zero tolerance towards criminal activity of any kind, including petty crime.
We do not believe that petty crimes and criminals should be overlooked
Serious policing of petty crime has the effect of reducing crimes at all levels and preventing a culture of impunity.
We will have a referendum on the death penalty to provide South Africans with the opportunity to express their opinion.
Urban and Rural Crime Watches: The IFP believes that the protection of property is one of the most important responsibilities of local community policing
We will establish “Urban and Rural Crime Watches” to enable the community to safeguard each other’s and their own properties more effectively
Civic Education: We need to forge better citizens by fighting the culture of crime, lawlessness and impunity.
People must understand the importance of the law and honest living.
Civic education should become available not only in schools, but also in workplaces, community, associations and churches.
Unless we change the hearts and minds of those who are crime-prone, the fight against crime cannot be won.
Funds for victims: As with the Road Accident Fund the IFP supports the initiative of establishing a Crime Victim Fund to assist victims of crime in their respective expenses
Local government uprooting crime: As the closest sphere of government to the community, the IFP believes that local government is best placed to implement real and practical measures to protect the life, liberty and property of citizens and to complement our national and provincial strategies on crime
Community Policing Forums: The IFP will extend the role of community policing forums (CPF's).
CPF's bring together a wide range of institutions of civil society and other sectors of the community, together with other role players such as churches, business chambers, youth organisations and local politicians into one body.
We will empower station commissioners to drive local policing in a partnership with policing forums.
Visible policing: It is important that policing in the community is highly visible.
The importance of physical contact between members of the community and police cannot be overemphasised in the promotion of safe and secure communities.
We will put the “bobby back on the beat” with foot, horse, motorcycle and bicycle patrols.
Targeting known criminals: We will require the police to target localities inhabited and used by known criminals and target street crime by using undercover operations.
The Community Policing Forums will be expected to help in this regard.
We will also establish permanent manned observation points and mobile reporting centres in high crime areas.
By encouraging public co-operation in this way, the IFP will remove the justification for vigilantism.
Make police stations user-friendly: The IFP realises that police stations need to become more user and community friendly.
We will introduce ongoing and relevant in-service training to ensure people get the best service and care.
It is time to say a collective “No” to crime: We all, as citizens of South Africa, have to play our role as responsible citizens, to ensure a safe and secure environment for ourselves and our communities
Communities should be involved in assisting police in the performance of their duties and Community Policing Forums should develop comprehensive plans to identify and addres s key crime problems.
FOREIGN POLICY
For the first time in history, the world has become a single place without barriers, and with a free flow of communication, information and opportunities.
This also, unfortunately, brings problems and threats.
We all, therefore, share in the responsibility of making the world a prosperous and safe place for all.
At present, there is no better known way to promote safety and prosperity than through the rule of freedom, democracy and social justice, which must be made available to all the people of the world.
The relations amongst sovereign states should not be aimed at protecting the prerogative of a single government or people, but rather at achieving within our generation the dream of making the world a place which is free and safe for all of humanity.
One that holds the promise of a dignified life for all people free from poverty, diseases, ignorance and oppression.
Foreign policy should be inspired by these high standards of principle, not by political expediency or rulers or politicians.
A principled foreign policy calls for living up to responsibilities and engaging in decisive and courageous actions together with like-minded international partners.
Globalisation -the ever extending cables of international and transnational connections - is a reality of the 21st century.
We cannot ignore the process of globalisation and it is imperative that South Africa is not left behind in the global economy.
But the IFP believes that it is also important to remember that over a billion people live completely outside this development.
An IFP-led government will seek to ensure that the positive features of globalisation such as the rapid exchange of information and commodities are maximised for all the peoples of the world, whilst working towards minimising and eliminating the negative features.
The IFP believes that South Africa should join hands to create partnerships for progress and development with the democratic, affluent and modern countries of the world.
At the same time, South Africa must strengthen its ties with the rest of the African continent promoting progress, freedom and democracy.
As a country, South Africa is the product of the African tradition and the Western presence and influence.
It is this blend of diverse elements, which makes South Africa both unique and special.
This blend and diversity should be both reflected in South Africa's international ties and partnerships.
The diversity of our internal communities provides us with a cosmopolitan richness that should be reflected in the richness of our international ties, for instance, with countries such as India, China and Malaysia.
In our relations and dealings with foreign governments, an IFP-led government will always promote the best interests of South Africa and Africa as a whole, realising that the future of South Africa is intrinsically linked with that of Africa.
In its foreign relations South Africa must support and promote free and democratic elections in independent states ensuring by means of proactive actions that all political parties have the freedom to contest elections.
Recognising that South Africa’s destiny is intrinsically linked with the destiny of the continent of Africa, the IFP will ensure that South Africa plays its full role in the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the African Parliament.
The IFP supports the NEPAD initiative with the understanding that the process needs to become more nation-friendly and transparent.
It is one that needs to be owned by the very same people it is intended to serve, so that it does not become an elitist instrument aimed at empowering just a few countries.
The IFP believes that negotiation is the primary method of conflict resolution.
We support the role of the United Nations as a conflict resolution and mediation body.
The IFP’s first responsibility will be towards its citizens and we will ensure that South Africans are not detrimentally affected in any way due to developments in the international theatre.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Our guiding principle is to live by the motto on our country’s coat of arms.
We aspire to the creation of a nation united in diversity.
It is a goal to which we all aspire and it is the path to achieving our shared goal of a better life for all.
Our constitution, inspired by the vision of the Freedom Charter unites a nation of many languages and significant cultural, religious and socio economic diversity.
We have to work together to weave the threads that will see us celebrating a nation which is non racial,
non-sexist
and democratic
- a nation that is dedicated to pushing back the frontiers of poverty.
The ANC led government has made much progress in the past 15 years, in the provision of housing, water and electricity to millions of homes.
Our economy has grown, more jobs have been created than in any other time in our history
and we have deepened our democracy.
We have extended social protection to millions of South Africans through the provision of social grants.
There is still much to do to reach our goals and new challenges have arisen.
We have to ensure that we grow the economy to meet the needs of our people squarely.
Lasting victory over poverty and hunger requires the creation of decent work opportunities and sustainable livelihoods.
Education must be at the centre of our efforts to improve the potential of every citizen and enable each one of us to play a productive role in building our nation.
The quality of services the government will provide must be improved.
A vote for the ANC is a vote for a better life for all.
As a mass based organisation that is rooted amongst the people, reaching into every sector of society and every corner of the land, the ANC has the capacity to get all of society working together to make change happen faster.
Building upon our achievements and learning from our experience in government since 1994, we are committed to improving the quality of education,
health care,
sanitation,
and to accelerate the delivery of houses to millions of our people and achieve a better life for all.
Our fight against crime will be a key priority to ensure safer and more secure communities.
Rural infrastructure development and agricultural reforms are at the heart of our plan to improve our country’s food security.
The ANC is best placed to lead our country in the right direction, ensuring growth that is equitable and sustainable, as well as prosperity for all our citizens.
The ANC thanks all the citizens of our country for their input into the development of this Manifesto and we look forward to continuing our dialogue with you in the next five years.
Working together we can do more.
PROUD OF OUR PAST, CONFIDENT OF THE FUTURE
For over 97 years, the ANC has led the struggle to bring about a South Africa that belongs to all our people, black and white.
From the beginning, we held together the unity of the African people in their struggle for freedom and dignity.
We moved on to embrace the unity of all South Africans irrespective of their race, culture or religion.
It is this unity that is a source of our strength and has inspired many who sacrificed their lives so that we can attain our freedom.
On 27 April 1994, we opened a new chapter in the history of our struggle, to build a common citizenship and equal rights for all South Africans.
The ANC has always stood for basic democratic principles that include: a constitution which guarantees human rights for all, the right to a minimum standard of life, including the right to access health, education, social security, food and water;
the right of all people to elect a government of their choice in regular, free and fair elections in a multi-party democracy;
mobilisation of our people to actively take part in decision-making processes that affect their lives;
an independent judiciary;
equality and freedom from discrimination on racial, gender or any other ground;
workers rights,
collective bargaining,
freedom of association; and
freedom of religion.
South Africa‘s democratic elections from 1994 to 2004 were about the aspirations and collective desire for a better South Africa and a better life for all.
They were about a journey to bring an end to the legacy of apartheid and to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.
Fifteen years into our democracy, together we have achieved much in building a new society, uniting all of our people, expanding opportunities that the new freedom brought to our people, reducing poverty and improving the quality of life of millions of South Africans.
Much of the economic and social devastation of apartheid and its scars are still with us.
Our common struggle to build a better South Africa continues.
In December 2007, the ANC met in Polokwane, and delegates brought messages from South Africans, from different cities, towns and rural areas about the problems of our people: high unemployment, poverty, deepening inequality and challenges of service delivery.
We heard and shared experiences about many municipalities, schools, hospitals and government offices not functioning properly.
The ANC agreed on major measures to overcome these challenges.
In the period ahead South Africa will need a government with both experience and political will,
a government that fully understands what needs to be done to address our apartheid past,
a government that puts people first (batho pele) and builds a participatory democracy.
The ANC, working together with the people, can form such a government.
OUR MANIFESTO IS CLEAR AND ACHIEVABLE
Our programme is based on clear objectives and achievable plans.
It requires: continued democratisation of our society based on equality, non-racialism and non-sexism;
national unity in diversity which is the source of our strength;
building on the achievements and the experience since 1994;
an equitable, sustainable, and inclusive growth path that brings decent work and sustainable livelihoods;
education;
health;
safe and secure communities;
and rural development;
targeted programmes for the youth, women, workers, rural masses, and people with disabilities; and
a better Africa and a better world.
These principles will guide us for the next five years, based on the vision of our people – the Freedom Charter, adopted at the Congress of the People in 1955.
The ANC government, together with our people, will implement this programme: it will continue to listen and to consult widely.
We have followed the tradition of popular participation in putting together this Manifesto, through an extensive consultative process involving the Alliance Partners, the mass democratic movement and key sectors of our society.
Members of the public have made a direct contribution to this Manifesto by sending in thousands of suggestions.
Others have expressed their views at public meetings, door-to-door visits, izimbizo and interaction with ANC leaders across the country.
The ANC can thus proudly say that this Manifesto has been drawn up together with our people of South Africa.
If we all work together, we can achieve even more.
TOGETHER WE HAVE ACHIEVED MUCH
Working together, South Africans have achieved much in the first 15 years of democracy.
We brought apartheid to an end.
We set out to re-build and develop our country.
It has been 15 years of nation building, reconciliation and democratisation.
We have built the foundation of a new society by enshrining the basic human and democratic rights of all in the country’s constitution;
building the institutions of our democracy and ensured citizen’s participation in decision-making processes that affected their lives
It has been 15 years of advancing worker rights.
The workers have benefited from the passing of progressive labour legislation and introduction of social security benefits.
An ANC government has introduced laws to protect workers,
create machinery to negotiate wages and working conditions,
set minimum wages for domestic workers, farm workers, hospitality, taxi workers and security sectors
and established maximum hours of work for all.
We introduced affirmative action laws
and legislation to promote skills.
space for their voices to be heard on matters concerning their lives.
More importantly, opportunities for women to access basic services and social, economic and political opportunities have been actively promoted.
It has been 15 years of struggle for gender-equality.
30% of all our parliamentarians, provincial legislature members and councillors are women and 43% in cabinet.
ANC policies will further increase women representation in parliament and government to 50% by 2009.
A number of laws and policies were passed to empower women, to improve the quality of their lives and opened up.
It has been 15 years of peace and stability, which brought to an end to the decades of political violence under apartheid.
It has been 15 years of re-building the economy;
pushing back the frontiers of poverty;
and improving the quality of life for millions.
Our country has become more cohesive and we collectively celebrated achievements in sport, arts and culture.
We have been awarded to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
We became the Rugby World Champions twice, African Soccer Champions in 1996, the Angling World Champions and world class Paralympians in 2008.
Our international responsibilities and recognition have also grown.
The ANC government has strengthened the country’s role in peace, reconstruction, development and integration, especially in Southern Africa and the African continent.
Our membership of the United Nations Security Council provided opportunities to promote peace.
Strategic partnerships with major countries of the South (China, India and Brazil) were strengthened.
Pushed back the frontiers of poverty
ANC policies have pushed back the frontiers of poverty.
In 1996, only 3 million people, had access to social grants.
Today 12 5 million receive social grants.
In 1996, only 34,000 children had access to social grants
Today nearly 8 million children younger than 14 years, receive social grants
In 1996, 58% of the population gained access to electricity.
Today, 80% do.
In 1996, 62% of the population has access to running water.
Today, 88% do.
3. 1 million subsidized houses were built, including 2.7 million free houses for the poor, giving shelter to an additional 14 million people.
Created jobs at a faster rate and provided more economic opportunities
Sound management of the economy and better use of national resources has seen the economy grow every year since 1994.
Investment has increased as a share of Gross Domestic Product from 15% in 2002 to 22% in 2008.
In recent years the economy has for the first time been creating jobs faster than the rate at which new people have entered the job market.
On average half a million new jobs have been added to the economy every year since 2004, reducing unemployment from 31% in 2003 to 23% in 2007.
The Expanded Public Works Programme created a million work opportunities a year ahead of its target.
ANC government policies such as black economic empowerment and affirmative action have contributed to the growth of South Africa's black middle class by 2. 6 million in 2007 and small business support has been streamlined and expanded.
Access to education and health care for millions more
In our primary and secondary schooling we are just a few years away from achieving 100% participation by all our children.
The participation of girls is one of the highest in the world.
About 600,000 children attend crèches and pre-schools.
The matriculation pass rate has risen from 58% in 1994 to 65% in 2007.
Overcrowding in classrooms has been reduced - by 2006 there was one teacher for every 32 learners, an improvement from one teacher for 43 learners that we inherited in 1996.
The mass literacy campaign is now reaching more than 500,000 people who could not read and write.
We are well within target to ensure South Africa is free of illiteracy by 2014.
In higher education, 140,000 students have been supported through our national financial scheme, which is helping to improve participation of the poor in higher education.
Our free primary health care has expanded and 1,600 more clinics have been built.
About 248 out of 400 public hospitals have been revitalised and refurbished.
The public antiretroviral therapy programme has enrolled more than 480,000 people living with HIV and AIDS, making our programme amongst the best and most comprehensive in the world.
These achievements, and many more, were possible because all of South Africa worked together to overcome the challenges facing the country.
Together we pressed forward to our shared vision of a united,
non-racial,
non-sexist,
democratic
and prosperous South Africa.
MUCH MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE
We have set ourselves key targets to reach by the end of the second decade of freedom, including halving the levels of poverty and unemployment by 2014.
Much still needs to be done to reach these goals.
Many households and communities, especially single-headed and child-headed households - remain trapped in poverty.
With changing conditions, new challenges have arisen.
Unemployment is unacceptably high among our people.
There is a special challenge amongst African women, rural persons and young people.
There has been a growth of casualised, low wage and outsourced jobs, contributing to the rise of the working poor.
Inequality has persisted and increased in our society.
Workers’ share of national income has continued to decline.
The rural areas remain divided between well-developed commercial farming areas, peri-urban and impoverished communal areas.
The benefits of economic growth have not been broadly and equitably shared.
Much needs to be done to improve the quality of health care
and education
as well as improving service delivery, especially at local government level.
Crime is a major national challenge and the fight against crime and corruption needs to be stepped up.
We have much work to do to strengthen and increase access to the institutions of democracy, especially parliament, legislatures and the judiciary, so that they serve ordinary South Africans better.
Part of the nation-building process is the struggle against all forms of racism, sexism, tribalism – including xenophobia, which has raised its ugly head in recent years.
We also need to fight racially motivated violence and hate speech.
The recent turmoil in world markets, and before that, sharp rises in the cost of fuel and food, has impacted on the South African economy and the lives of our people.
The cost of living has increased painfully and we can expect economic growth to slow resulting in job losses.
Therefore the ANC will intervene to ensure that Government, together with labour, business and other sectors work together to develop practical solutions that will ensure that in the short, medium and long term South Africa’s economic prospects continue to improve and that jobs losses are avoided or minimised.
Together we can do more to deal with these challenges and bring about faster change.
An ANC government, with the support of all South Africans and with the policies in this Manifesto can take our country forward.
OUR PLAN FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
The ANC has identified five priority areas for the next five years: creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods;
Education;
health;
rural development, food security and land reform;
the fight against crime and corruption.
These priorities will be tackled with all our means at our disposal – the resources of government, the vision of the Freedom Charter and the energy and commitment of our people.
Our priorities will specifically target the needs of the youth, women, workers, the rural poor, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Building on the economic achievements of the last 15 years, we will use various measures to build and accelerate a sustainable, equitable and inclusive economic growth path to address these five priorities.
Our economic and social programmes will work together to ensure they support each other.
The developmental state will play a central and strategic role in the economy.
We will ensure a more effective government; improve the coordination and planning efforts of the developmental state by means of a planning entity to ensure faster change.
A review of the structure of government will be undertaken, to ensure effective service delivery.
An important aspect of a successful developmental state is investment in public sector workers and in turn our people expect that they execute the tasks with which they have been entrusted.
This means that the right and adequate numbers of personnel should be placed in the correct positions, and where this is not the case, government should have the capacity to implement corrective measures, either through training or redeployment where warranted.
MORE JOBS, DECENT WORK AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS
The people shall share in the country’s wealth!
Despite significant progress in changing our economy to benefit our people; unemployment,
poverty and
inequality remain serious challenges.
Decent work is the foundation of the fight against poverty and inequality and its promotion should be the cornerstone of all our efforts.
Decent work embraces both the need for more jobs and for better quality jobs.
The creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods will be central to the ANC government's agenda.
The ANC government will: Make the creation of decent work opportunities and sustainable livelihoods, the primary focus of our economic policies.
We will make maximum use of all the means at the disposal of the ANC government, to achieve this.
This objective should be reflected in the orientation and programme of development finance institutions and regulatory bodies, through government procurement and public incentive rules, in industrial, trade, competition, labour market and other policies.
Ensure that macro-economic policy is informed by the priorities that have been set out in this Manifesto.
Fiscal and monetary policy mandates including management of interest rates and exchange rates, need to actively promote creation of decent employment,
economic growth,
broad-based industrialisation,
reduced income inequality and other developmental imperatives.
Economic policy will include measures to decisively address obstacles that limit the pace of employment creation and poverty eradication, and will intervene in favour of more sustainable and inclusive growth for all South Africans.
Ensure that state-led industrial policy leads to the transformation of the economy.
Adequate resources will be provided to strengthen the state-led industrial policy programme, which directs public and private investment to support decent work outcomes, including employment creation and broad economic transformation.
The programme will target labour-intensive production sectors and encourage activities that have high employment effects.
It will include systematic support for co-operatives by way of a dedicated support institution and small business development;
supporting investment in productive sectors;
and working together with our partners in Southern Africa to invest in our regional economy.
Implement special sector programmes embracing industrial, trade and other measures backed by adequate resources.
This will include the strengthening of the manufacturing mining and other vulnerable sectors, and tide them through the period of the global economic crisis, saving and growing jobs in the clothing and textile sector, strengthening the automobile and components sector, expanding the food industry and other sectors
Ensure that a comprehensive package of measures is introduced to promote beneficiation programmes,
to ensure that the natural wealth of the country is shared, and developed locally,
and accelerates the creation of decent work opportunities in manufacturing and services.
Ensuring that the sector contributes to investment and developmental priorities of the country.
Engage the private financial sector in order to facilitate its transformation and diversification including the development of the co-operative financial institutions as well.
Develop programmes to promote the important role of mining and agriculture in employment,
meeting basic needs and community development,
and commit to continued transformation of these sectors to achieve national goals.
Furthermore, government will ensure meaningful benefits for communities who gave up their land for mining activities.
Tourism and other services will be supported to expand work for our people.
Develop and invest in a programme to create large numbers of ‘green jobs’, namely employment in industries and facilities that are designed to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Ensure that the mandates of development finance institutions are clear and truly developmental and that their programmes contribute to decent work outcomes, achievement of our developmental needs and sustainable livelihoods.
Lead a massive public investment programme for growth and employment creation.
In the period ahead, government will accelerate and expand its investment in public infrastructure.
This will include expanding and improving the rail networks, public transport, and port operations, dams, housing construction, information and communications technology and energy generation capacity as well as education and health infrastructure, and in the process create additional decent work opportunities whilst meeting the basic needs of the society.
Step up a massive programme on expanded public works linked to infrastructure and meeting social needs with home-based care, crèches, school cleaning and renovation, community gardens, removal of alien vegetation, tree planting and school feeding.
In order to avoid exploitation of workers and ensure decent work for all workers as well as to protect the employment relationship, introduce laws to regulate contract work, subcontracting and out- sourcing, address the problem of labour broking and prohibit certain abusive practices.
Provisions will be introduced to facilitate unionisation of workers and conclusion of sectoral collective agreements to cover vulnerable workers in these different legal relationships and ensure the right to permanent employment for affected workers.
Procurement policies and public incentives will include requirements to promote decent work.
Create an environment for more labour-intensive production methods, procurement policies that support local jobs and building public-private partnerships.
Vigorously implement broad-based economic empowerment and affirmative action policies and adjust them to ensure that they benefit more broad sections of our people, especially the workers, youth, women and people with disabilities.
Policies will, in addition, actively promote skills development and equity at the workplace.
Launch a much larger national youth service programme and a new national youth development agency, focusing on access to funding and employment creation, which will be linked to skills development opportunities and build decent work opportunities for young people.
The above-mentioned practical steps of the ANC government will enable us to decisively defend our economy in the present global and domestic economic climate and take measures to advance our own developmental agenda.
This will include an economic stimulus package, which will assemble various policy instruments to stimulate the economy to avert massive slowdown in the economy.
In addition, government will take active measures through an appropriate social package to avert or minimise job losses, protect vulnerable sectors and cushion the poor from the economic down turn.
FOOD SECURITY – ENSURING NO ONE GOES HUNGRY
The Freedom Charter says: Rent and prices shall be lowered; food plentiful and no one shall go hungry.
The ANC is committed to creating an environment that ensures that there is adequate food available to all, that we grow our own food and protect the poor communities from the rising prices of food and eradicate hunger.
The ANC government will take the following practical steps: Promote food security as a way to lessen our dependence on food imports.
Introduce a food for all programme to procure and distribute basic foods at affordable prices to poor households and communities.
Government will develop an appropriate institutional approach for the implementation of this programme
Introduce measures to improve the logistics of food distribution such as transportation, warehousing, procurement and outsourcing in order to reduce food prices in the long term.
Continued enforcement of stronger competition measures will be used to act against food cartels and collusion, which inflate food prices.
Expand access to food production schemes in rural and peri-urban areas to grow their own food with implements, tractors, fertilizers and pesticides.
Other government measures will support existing community schemes, which utilise land for food production in schools, health facilities, churches and urban and traditional authority areas.
Ensure an emergency food relief programme, on a mass-scale, in the form of food assistance projects to the poorest households and communities including through partnerships with religious and other community organisations.
RURAL AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LAND REFORM
The land shall be shared amongst those who work it!
Despite significant progress made over the last 15 years, people living in rural areas continue to face the harshest conditions of poverty, lack of access to land and basic services.
The ANC is committed to a comprehensive and clear rural development strategy linked to land and agrarian reform,
improvement of the conditions of farm workers and farm-dwellers
and builds the potential for rural sustainable livelihoods.
The ANC government will: Intensify the land reform programme to ensure that more land is in the hands of the rural poor and will provide them with technical skills and financial resources to productively use the land to create sustainable livelihoods and decent work in rural areas.
Review the appropriateness of the existing land redistribution programme, introduce measures aimed at speeding up the pace of land reform and redistribution and promote land ownership by South Africans.
Expand agrarian reform programme, which will focus on the systematic promotion of agricultural co-operatives throughout the value chain, including agro-processing in the agricultural areas.
Government will develop support measures to ensure more access to markets and finance by small farmers, including fencing and irrigation systems.
Ensure a much stronger link between land and agrarian reform programmes and water resource allocation and ensure that the best quality of water resources reach all our people, especially the poor.
Ensure that all schools and health facilities have access to basic infrastructure such as water and electricity by 2014.
Introduce the provision of proper sanitation systems in the rural areas.
Strengthen partnership between government and the institution of traditional leadership to focus on rural development and fighting poverty.
Work together with the farming community to improve the living conditions of farm dwellers, including the provision of subsidized houses and other basic services
Provide support for organised labour to organise and unionise farm workers and increase the capacity of the Department of Labour to enforce labour legislation
EDUCATION IS AT THE CENTRE OF OUR EFFORTS
The doors of learning and cultures shall be opened!
Education is a means of promoting good citizenship as well as preparing our people for the needs of a modern economy and a democratic society.
Building on the achievements in education, the ANC government will aim to ensure progressive realisation of universal schooling, improving quality education and eliminating disparities.
This requires a major renewal of our schooling and education system.
The ANC government will: Work together with educators, learners, parents, school governing bodies and other stakeholders, to make education the priority of all.
Work towards a free and compulsory education for all children.
As the immediate step it will ensure that at least 60% of schools are no-fee schools..
Ensuring that South Africa is completely liberated from illiteracy by 2014 through our mass literacy campaign – Kha ri Gude.
Introduce a sustainable Early Childhood Education system that spans both public and private sectors and gives children a head start on numeracy and literacy.
The ANC government will also train and employ 15,000 trainers per annum and strengthen support for creches and pre-schools in rural villages and urban centres.
Improve the quality of schooling, particularly performance in mathematics, science, technology and language development.
Measures will include provision of incentives for mathematics and science teachers.
Promote the status of teachers, ensuring the employment of adequate numbers,
and improving their remuneration and training, as an important part of our drive to ensure that quality teaching becomes the norm, rather than the exception.
Together with the trade unions, we need to ensure that teachers are in school, in class, on time, teaching, that there is no abuse of learners and no neglect of duty.
Increase graduate output in areas of skills shortages.
This will include measures to streamline Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAS) and other institutions to addressing existing and forecast skills shortages.
Embarking on the re-opening of teacher training colleges where appropriate.
Revive the role of state owned enterprises in skills development and training.
Place Further Education and Training colleges at the centre of a popular drive to develop skills development for the economy.
Encourage students from working class and poor communities to go to tertiary institutions by reviewing and improving the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
Extending school feeding schemes to all deserving high schools and improving the implementing of the feeding scheme in all deserving primary schools.
FORWARD TO ACHIEVING HEALTHCARE FOR ALL
The Freedom Charter commits us to a preventive health scheme run by the state; Free medical care and hospitalisation provided for all, with special care for mothers and young children.
There have been many achievements in improving access to health care, however much more still needs to be done in terms of quality of care, making services available to all South Africans and ensuring better health outcomes.
The ANC government will aim to reduce inequalities in our health system, improve quality of care and public facilities, and boost our human resources and step up the fight against HIV and AIDS and other diseases.
Health reforms will involve mobilisation of available resources in both private and public health sectors to ensure improved health outcomes for all South Africans.
In practical terms, the ANC government will: Work together with all key sectors in our society through a social compact to continue to transform the health care.
Introduce the National Health Insurance System (NHI) system, which will be phased in over the next five years.
NHI will be publicly funded and publicly administered and will provide the right of all to access quality health care, which will be free at the point of service.
People will have a choice of which service provider to use within a district.
In the implementation of the NHI there will be an engagement with the private sector in general, including private doctors working in group practices and hospitals, to encourage them to participate in the NHI system.
Improve quality standards for both public and private sectors, which will include specific targets for the provision of adequate numbers of workers at all levels of the health care system, including recruitment, training and filling of vacant posts.
There will also be a focus on increasing health worker training output in the public sector – including through re-opening of nursing training colleges.
There will also be improvements in the working conditions and provision of decent wages for workers.
Improve management and leadership skills at all levels of the health system, as well as meeting the national standards of quality care and ensuring an explicit accountability framework.
Upgrade and improve public hospitals and clinics, as well as the administrative systems and buildings so that long queues and waiting times are reduced and improved quality care is available.
Reduce the rate of new HIV infections by 50% through aggressive prevention campaign and expand access to appropriate treatment, care and support to at least 80% of all HIV positive people and their families.
More resources will be devoted to strengthening the implementation of the national plan on HIV and AIDS and STI.
Partnerships will be built with labour, business and community organisations to step-up the national fight against HIV and AIDS.
Improve the health status of the population and achieve the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
This will includes measures to scale up HIV prevention, address the challenge of TB and reduce child HIV infection rates through upscaling the Prevention for Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV to 95%in all districts.
Accelerate the campaigns on health promotion and disease-prevention by changing social values and norms through common community action.
Furthermore, communities will be encouraged to adopt healthy diets and to exercise and to take part in campaigns against drug and substance abuse.
Continue to raise awareness about addressing sexual and reproductive health rights of women and strengthen the enforcement of these rights, as well as ensuring that they are incorporated in the HIV and AIDS programmes.
Review existing drug policy and strategy to support effective implementation of the NHI and strengthen the managerial and technical capacity of government.
Government will also conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of a state-owned pharmaceutical company.
Invest in research and development in the health sector, including infant mortality research, HIV prevention technologies, health status surveys, development of new medicines, and indigenous knowledge systems.
TOGETHER INTENSIFY THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME AND CORRUPTION
Fighting crime and fighting the causes of crime will be a priority of the ANC government in the next five years and there is a need to overhaul the criminal justice system to ensure that the levels of crime are drastically reduced.
Corruption must be stamped out.
The ANC government will: Establish a new modernised, efficient and transformed criminal justice system to develop the capacity for fighting and reducing crime in real terms.
Government will review the functioning of the police, the judiciary and the correctional services to achieve integration and coordination.
Actively combat serious and violent crime by being tougher on criminals and organised syndicates.
In this respect, we will increase the capacity of the SAPS through recruitment, rigorous training, better remuneration, equipping and increasing the capacity of especially the Detective Services, forensics, prosecution, judicial services and crime intelligence.
Establish and strengthen the new unit to fight organised crime.
Provide greater support for the SAPS, especially to combat the attacks on the members of the SAPS, Including through introducing legislative measures to protect law-enforcement officials in the execution of their duties.
Combat violence and crimes against women and children by increasing the capacity of the criminal justice system to deal with such violence.
Mobilise communities to participate in combating crime through establishing street committees and community courts, amongst others.
Step up measures in the fight against corruption within society, the state and private sector, including measures to to ensure politicians do not tamper with the adjudication of tenders.
Measures will also be taken to ensure transparent process of the tendering system as well as ensuring much stronger accountability of the public servants involved in tendering process.
BUILDING COHESIVE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
There shall be houses, security and comfort for all!
The ANC will continue to protect and strengthen the gains we made over the last 15 years.
Through our programmes for housing, social security, sport and recreation, we aim to continue to build a better life for all.
Housing is not just about building houses.
It is also about transforming our cities and towns and building cohesive, sustainable and caring communities with closer access to work, social amenities, including sports and recreation facilities.
Our social security system, such as the provision of social grants, is aimed at empowering our people to take active part in the social and economic life of our country.
In addition, ANC policies will continue to promote the role of inter-faith organisations in promoting cohesive, caring and sustainable communities.
In the next five years, the ANC plans to: Expand the provision of the child support grant to children aged 15 to 18.
This will be implemented in a phased manner and will be linked to compulsory schooling requirement.
Legislative measures will be taken to ensure that we realise this requirement.
Work towards bolder expansion of unemployment insurance.
Introduce a contributory social security system to provide for guaranteed retirement, disability and survivors’ benefit, while streamlining the road accident, occupational injuries and the unemployment benefits.
The ANC government will consult closely with trade unions on any changes to the pensions system.
Establish a consensus on our future social security system to make it comprehensive and inclusive.
Increase access to secure and decent housing for all through government’s newly adopted housing programme, including continued conversion of hostels into family housing units, strengthening partnerships with the private sector and the banks to increase access to decent housing.
Other plans include acceleration of public rental and social housing by ensuring more provincial and local government is earmarked for this purpose, support for community-self building efforts and housing co-operatives, and ensuring that land close to urban centres is made available for low cost and public housing.
Ensure that all qualifying military veterans will receive subsidised housing.
Speed up the revival of school sport and ensure that it forms part of the school curriculum.
In addition, the ANC government will ensure that the provision of sport facilities in poorer communities receives priority.
To create further opportunities for the training of sports administrators, referees and coaches so as to improve standards in sport.
Promote partnerships with interfaith forums to promote social education for moral regeneration, religious tolerance, social cohesion and development.
Ensure that the 2010 FIFA World Cup leaves a proud legacy that our children and our communities will enjoy for many years to come, and contributes to the long-term development of the country.
The ANC government will work with all stakeholders to ensure that this world event contributes to create decent work opportunities, particularly for the youth, women and street traders;
promotes procurement of local goods, services and products;
and that housing units and sports facilities developed for the event are made available to local communities after the event is over.
A BETTER AFRICA AND A BETTER WORLD
There shall be peace and friendship!
The ANC believes that economic and political cooperation with other countries can improve the lives of our own people and will continue to work towards a better life for all, a better Africa and a better world, without hunger, disease, conflict and underdevelopment.
The ANC government will: Work together with people of our continent and its diaspora for cohesion, unity, democracy and prosperity of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Union and strengthening our capabilities to respond to the challenges we face.
Continue to work towards regional economic integration in Southern Africa on a fair, equitable and developmental basis,
promoting SADC integration based on a developmental model that includes infrastructure development,
cooperation in the real economy and development of regional supply chains.
The ANC government will ensure that trade unions and representatives of the business community are represented in SADC.
Spare no energy in our efforts to find urgent, democratic and lasting solutions to the situation in Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Western Sahara, Somalia and other countries.
Continue to support the global campaign to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.
Conduct awareness campaigns among our people to prevent incidents of xenophobia, and work for the integration into our communities of all who are resident in our country, acknowledging the contribution that foreign nationals make to our economy.
Work together with the countries of the South to continue to promote south-south relations and agitate for a fairer and more humane international trade and financial system and a just world order.
Commit to the peaceful resolution of all conflicts in Africa, the Middle East and rest of the world.
We support a two state solution as a model of peace between Israel and Palestine, recognizing the right of Israel to exist as a sovereign state and support the establishment of a strong and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.
House the Pan Africanist Women Organisation (PAWO) following the outcomes of the historic conference of PAWO held in South Africa in 2008.
CONCLUSION
Our country does need change in the way government relates to our people and in the delivery of services.
We are committed to a service delivery culture that will put every elected official and public servant to work for our people, and ensure accountability to our people.
We will continue to develop social partnerships and work with every citizen.
We will manage our economy in a manner that ensures that South Africa continues to grow,
that all our people benefit from that growth
and that we create decent work for the unemployed, for workers, for young persons, for women and for the rural poor.
We will remain in touch with our people and listen to their needs.
We respect the Rule of Law,
human rights
and we will defend the Constitution
and uphold our multi-party democracy.
We have achieved much in the last 15 years, but we are committed to do more.
Working together we can do more!
A vote for the ANC is vote for a better life for all.
INTRODUCTION
The DA has a vision for South Africa
In this vision, men, women and children living anywhere in the country are able to go about their daily business in their communities knowing that they are safe from criminals;
that their local government provides basic services quickly, efﬁciently and affordably;
that the public transport system allows them to move around quickly and safely;
and that help with housing is available for those who need it.
This country is free and prosperous, and opportunities to use one’s talents abound.
For those who have been disadvantaged by our discriminatory past, measures exist to help them to catch up.
For the new generation of South Africans, a quality education system, accessible to all, ensures that no young adult will ever again have to struggle under the burden of a substandard education.
South Africa belongs to all its people equally.
Land is opportunity.
This country ensures that South Africans who were deprived of the land by the apartheid government can be helped to reclaim their land and use it productively, while simultaneously ensuring that there is a vibrant and productive agricultural sector.
The government of this country knows that its duty is to work relentlessly to improve the lives of all its citizens.
It runs a public service that is a help, not a hindrance, to its citizens.
It has a special responsibility towards the poor, who have available to them a range of measures to help them climb out of the poverty trap, and it provides basic income support to those who have no prospect of ever being able to support themselves.
This government provides a countrywide network of clinics and hospitals that ensures that no South African has to die from a preventable condition or be neglected by an overworked health system.
Citizens who are vulnerable to abuse, and women and children in particular, know they can rely on an effective police service to protect them.
This country is a melting pot of cultures, in which all citizens are made to feel not only welcome, but also a vital part of the country’s success.
Our individual identities are celebrated, but we also embrace a vision of South Africa as united under a cherished national ﬂag.
This country is one in which everybody recognises the need to work together to preserve our rich and varied cultural history, and to care for an extraordinary natural environment that is the envy of the world.
For every facet of this vision, the DA has a complete and detailed policy programme to make it happen in every corner of the country in which the DA governs.
This is a plan for the rainbow people – one nation with one future.
1. THE OPEN SOCIETY: THE CONSTITUTION IN ACTION
Only when the people of South Africa can vote freely for the public representatives of their choice, and demand that those who are elected put their personal interests aside and act only in the voters’ interests, will our democracy be truly open, free and accountable.
Yet South Africa’s list-based electoral system, and the government’s reluctance to fully empower watchdog bodies, have left the people of our country with a system founded on patronage, where the needs of those without money and connections mean little.
The DA’s governance policy aims to put power back where it belongs – in the hands of the voters and citizens.
The electoral system
The closed list proportional representation system used to elect our national and provincial representatives is fair and inclusive, but voters have no say over who represents them.
Voters should be able to elect their public representatives directly, and know who their MP or MPL is, without sacriﬁ cing the fairness of a proportional system.
The DA, therefore, proposes a system that is a mixture of proportional representation and constituencies.
75% of national and provincial public representatives will be elected in 90 three-member constituencies, while 25% of national and provincial representatives will be appointed on the basis of a list system in direct proportion to their party’s share of the vote.
In this way, the composition of Parliament will reﬂect the election result.
This system ensures that most MPs are directly accountable to their voters, and the three-member constituencies allow voters to feel they have at least one representative who speaks and acts in their interests.
At the same time, party lists ensure that the end result accurately reﬂects the electorate’s choices.
Timing of national, provincial and local elections
Currently, elections in each sphere of government are held every ﬁve years.
The DA will increase this period to six years, to give an administration enough time to achieve its goals while leaving voters with regular chances to remove those who fail.
However, the DA will separate elections at the different spheres of government so that voters can properly consider the different national, provincial or municipal issues and candidates.
An election at one of these levels will take place every two years, on a speciﬁc date that is ﬁxed in legislation.
An electoral threshold
The South African electoral system encourages a proliferation of very small parties that add very little value to Parliament.
The DA will limit the emergence of marginal parties by requiring every party to attain a minimum of 1% electoral support before they can send representatives to Parliament, legislatures or municipal councils.
Election of the president, premiers and mayors
The existing system by which the president, premiers and mayors are elected (by other public representatives) takes power away from voters.
The DA will give voters, not the party, the ﬁnal say over who their leaders should be.
Presidents, premiers and mayors will be elected directly using the ‘two-round’ or ‘run-off’ system.
If a candidate receives more than 50% of the vote he or she is automatically elected to ofﬁce.
If no candidate receives a majority, the top two candidates run against each other, and the candidate that secures a majority in the second round is duly elected.
These leaders will be required to abide by a strict two-term limit.
The DA will ensure that no person who has been convicted on any charge of corruption, fraud, theft or violent crime will be permitted to hold public ofﬁce.
Federalism and provincial and local government
South Africa’s provinces all too often merely clone centrally determined policies.
This deprives South Africa of many of the beneﬁts of a more federal system, including bringing government closer to the people and accommodating diversity.
Therefore the DA will: Reduce to a minimum the norms, standards and policies imposed on provincial and local governments by the national government.
Allow provinces to raise substantially more of their own revenue without increasing the overall tax burden, while guaranteeing them a share of the national revenue.
In provinces under our control, the DA will: Pass provincial legislation, as provided for in the constitution, to reﬂect the priorities and needs of those provinces.
Devolve more real power to competent local governments, but intervene quickly and decisively when these powers are misused.
Institutions supporting constitutional democracy
Chapter 9 of the Constitution creates various bodies to support constitutional democracy and open government, such as the Public Protector.
These institutions must be robust defenders and vigorous promoters of the open society.
But some have been plagued by problems of politicisation and nonperformance.
The DA will strengthen them by requiring that: Ministers play no role in making appointments.
Individuals who hold a high-level political post cannot be appointed to a Chapter 9 institution until one year has elapsed since they held that post.
A multi-party Parliamentary committee is established to protect the interests of the Chapter 9 Institutions and address their concerns.
2. THE OPPORTUNITY SOCIETY: MAKING RIGHTS REAL
Schools
School education lies at the heart of the open, opportunity society;
it is here that children start to formally develop the skills and talents that will allow them to make their way in the world and assert their rights.
Yet millions of South African children leave school illiterate and innumerate because too many poorly managed, under-skilled and apathetic teachers deliver one of the worst standards of education in the world.
By working closely with schools and teachers to improve their performance, and by creating a healthy learning environment, the DA will ensure that all children, no matter how deprived, are able to choose whatever career their natural talents and inclinations lead them towards.
Structuring schools for maximum performance
The DA will direct the education system towards valuing excellence and rooting out poor performance.
Schools which meet carefully deﬁned performance criteria will be given more power to manage their own affairs, because experience shows that capable schools work best when they can manage matters such as stafﬁng, discipline and timetables themselves.
However, around 60% of South African schools do not yet meet these performance criteria and they will be the focus of various initiatives including: Training for principals, deputies and heads of department.
A review of all teacher appointments to ensure that they are appropriate.
Regular management audits.
Regular performance assessments aimed at building teacher capacity.
Bold steps are needed to confront schools that are completely dysfunctional.
The DA will, among other things, create a dedicated dysfunctional schools task team to help these schools, implement a mentoring programme for them using school managers with proven track records, and set clear performance targets.
Categories of schooling
In order to inject new vision and energy into weak schools, the DA will create a new category of institution known as “step-up schools”.
Any group of individuals meeting certain requirements will be able to take over the management of a school and run it as a state school.
The school will be rewarded for improved results, but will be closely monitored.
Early childhood education is crucial in preparing children for school.
The DA will introduce a per-child pre-school state subsidy for this, weighted according to parental income.
The DA will place a strong emphasis on ensuring that the requirements of special-needs learners are adequately met.
State-provided schooling options will be available for learners with a range of special needs, and we will facilitate the establishment of more remedial classes within schools.
Funding school education
The DA will support fee-free schools.
However, in allocating money, we will use a formula which takes into account schools’ performance, to give those schools that consistently produce outstanding results an incentive to continue doing so.
To further increase the options available to poor parents, every state school will be required to accept a minimum percentage of non fee-paying pupils.
In addition, the DA will institute a nation-wide bursary voucher programme aimed at giving the most academically promising 250 000 children from low income families the opportunity to receive a better school education.
School teachers
To increase the number of quality teachers we have available, the DA will: Work with universities to establish satellite teacher training campuses in remote areas.
Institute full study bursaries for quality candidates who undertake to teach in speciﬁc under-privileged areas for two years.
Pay teachers for performance, not years in the system.
It is imperative that teachers are able to properly convey their subject to their learners.
The DA will ask all teachers to write standardised knowledge assessments in the subjects they teach, and we will make pay increases and promotions dependent on the results.
Curriculum, learning and evaluation
The DA will conduct a detailed review of Outcomes-Based Education, with a view to correcting defects with as little disruption as possible and ensuring that it is relevant to our needs.
Schools should be able to opt out of the national curriculum if there is a demand for this in the school community, and if the proposed curriculum meets certain requirements.
To identify problems with schooling early, the DA will conduct systemic learner assessments at grades 3, 6, 9 and 12.
A decision on which language of teaching to use should be made by the school governing body in accordance with the Constitution.
The DA will ensure the development of teaching materials and programmes in all the required languages in schools.
All children should be able to follow a vocational career path from early on, not just from grade 10 when Further Education and Training Colleges become accessible.
The DA will extend the FET system to cover grades 8 and 9 as well.
The school environment
A healthy learning environment depends on respect for legitimate authority.
The DA will give control of their classrooms back to teachers with a range of measures, including: Stronger support for the right to expel disruptive learners.
A demerit points system for learners culminating in expulsion.
Diversion programmes for youth at risk, taking them out of their damaging home environments and allowing them to learn valuable skills.
Dedicated remedial schools for disruptive learners.
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
When innovation, renewal and the pursuit of excellence are placed at the centre of a country’s priorities, jobs multiply, services become more efﬁcient, and citizens have a myriad of opportunities available to them.
Yet the South African government has been unresponsive to international developments, and many parts of the country and the economy remain technologically far behind the rest of the world.
The DA will, by restructuring our higher education system, building constructive partnerships with private industry and research institutions, and making government a vigorous driver of technological innovation, make South Africa the ﬂourishing centre of innovative development on the African continent.
An innovative environment
The DA wants to encourage an environment in which all South Africans work together to make our country work better.
To build the systems and structures that will support and promote such an environment, the DA will: Create a new Ministry of Advanced Education and Technology, bringing together higher education and the functions of the current Department of Science and Technology.
Fund important research institutions like the Council for Scientiﬁc and Industrial Research adequately, distance politicians from decision-making roles and protect their independence.
Prioritise the liberalisation of telecommunications, which will slash the time and cost involved in communicating with each other and the world.
Play an active role in bringing innovators across the SADC region together.
Innovative education
Building a culture of innovation starts with schools.
Over the next ﬁve years, the DA will aim to double the number of maths and science passes with: Dedicated bursaries and schools for maths and science aimed at learners who show an aptitude for these subjects.
Allocating more time to maths and science in all schools
Benchmarking learners’ performance in science and maths, both domestically and internationally.
We will also ensure Internet access for every learner within ﬁve years by: Extending the DA’s Khanya Programme, which provides software, computers and support to poor schools in the Western Cape, to the rest of South Africa.
Partnering with private sector computer training companies to help with training teachers.
To build a stronger tertiary education sector, the DA will create three categories of public tertiary institution, each of which is aimed at achieving a speciﬁc purpose:
Colleges of Higher Education will develop skills learnt at school, so that students are better prepared for the workplace or further studies.
Universities will provide academic or technical training up to post-graduate level.
A small number of universities in South Africa will be given the status of Centres of Research, driven largely by highlevel research and developed as centres of research excellence.
We will ensure a high quality of output by: Establishing a unit to rank institutions according to quality of output.
Driving national development goals through subsidy allocations.
Innovative government
A DA government will lead the way in innovation by incorporating innovative technologies and ideas into government services.
Priorities will be: Safety: internet-based tracking systems will allow real-time recording of crime statistics, which will vastly improve the speed and accuracy of authorities response.
Health: technology will allow pharmacies to link up to hospitals and clinics, so that state patients can collect medicines from closer to where they live.
Correctional Services: GPS tracking devices will allow authorities to know exactly where any paroled prisoner is at any time.
Information databases and tracking systems in departments such as Home Affairs and Housing, which will cut down on fraud, give more information to customers and improve quality control.
Systems to allow for downloading documents (such as identity documents) and applying for services (such as grants) on-line.
Systems to track municipal, provincial and government spending so that excessive debit amounts can be monitored and investigated centrally.
THE ECONOMY AND JOBS
An opportunity society gives citizens the ability to follow their dreams, use their talents, and support their families.
However, while a small elite in South Africa is well protected in comfortable jobs, millions of others face a lifetime of futile searching for productive employment.
The DA sees a country where citizens are not satisﬁed with handouts from the state to survive, but are helped by their government to make the most of their individual talents and take charge of their own lives.
Unleashing potential
The lack of employable skills and capital to allow people to take opportunities affects all communities in South Africa.
The government must not dictate economic development, but it has a critical role to play in creating the right conditions for economic growth and job creation.
A DA government will increase savings and expand the tax base, so there is more money available to stimulate the economy,
and we will implement speciﬁc measures to create meaningful black economic empowerment and develop skills.
Increasing savings
South Africa needs to boost its domestic savings rate so that more money is available for investment in opportunities for the people of our country.
The DA will increase the pool of funds available for investment by: Introducing a mandatory retirement scheme for workers in the formal sector earning above R60 000 per annum.
Eliminating all taxation on interest accumulated over 12 months or longer.
Vigorously pursuing measures to reduce banking costs to make savings accounts more affordable
Promoting the wider use of retail bonds and municipal bonds.
Protecting the tax base which generates the income the state needs with a sound, stable ﬁscal and monetary system.
Acquiring skills
The Democratic Alliance is committed to providing businesses with the right mix of incentives to hire more workers and develop their skills.
Millions of South Africans without market-related skills have been sidelined by the jobs market.
In particular, the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) system, which is supposed to provide skills training, is costly, wasteful, overly bureaucratic and largely ineffective.
Bureaucrats, rather than employers, identify the skills that businesses require.
The DA will scrap the SETA system and instead provide incentives to small, medium and large employers to invest in the productivity of their workers.
We will fully reimburse employers for any money that they spend on their employees’ productivity through approved training programmes.
To attract skills to South Africa, and encourage our own skilled citizens to return, highly-skilled immigration should be encouraged, with a simpliﬁed fast-track process for all work visa applicants with scarce skills.
Creating jobs
The DA will provide every possible encouragement to the small and medium business sector, which is the net job creator, to hire more people.
We will: Reduce our corporate tax rate to 27%, to align us more closely with our competitors in South Asia, East Asia and the Paciﬁc.
Design a speciﬁc and simpliﬁed VAT, income and provisional tax regime for small businesses.
This will not only cut the costs of doing business but also draw more ﬁrms into the tax net.
The DA will use various measures to remove the impediments that employers face in taking on new workers by: Reviewing all labour legislation in partnership with labour and business.
Introducing a six-month probationary period during which ﬁrms will face no punitive penalty for dismissing underperforming workers.
As a further incentive for job creation, the DA will give matriculants the right to claim a wage subsidy from the state for their ﬁrst job.
Individual employers, for example, will be able to claim a 150% tax rebate on the ﬁrst R2400 of a new matriculant’s annual salary.
An export processing and job zone (EPJZ) is a geographical area where trade barriers are eliminated and labour-intensive manufacturing is encouraged.
South Africa’s current Industrial Development Zones will be converted into fully-ﬂ edged EPJZs in which: Only labour-intensive industries will be permitted.
New ventures enjoy a sustained tax holiday.
Duty free imports of machinery, equipment and raw materials are allowed.
Firms are exempt from some more onerous labour laws.
The DA will continue to use public works programmes; however, we will not use them simply as a poverty alleviation tool, but as a real opportunity for South Africa’s most disadvantaged citizens to develop marketable skills.
We will, therefore, require contracted employers to include a training element in their programmes, the cost of which they can reclaim through the tax system.
Broad-based black economic empowerment
Removing the discriminatory laws of the apartheid government is not enough on its own to empower disadvantaged South Africans.
The DA is fully behind broad-based black economic empowerment.
If correctly implemented, it will pull people into the economy, reduce unemployment and stimulate growth.
However, BEE has become elitist rather than broad based, and as a result it has excluded millions of deeply disadvantaged South Africans from the economy.
The DA will review the BEE scorecard to ensure that it accurately prioritises the interests of those who have fallen by the wayside, not those who are already reaping the rewards of the new South Africa.
This review will focus on: Placing less emphasis on ownership, and more emphasis on skills training and socio-economic investment, in the weightings accorded to the various categories used to evaluate businesses.
Developing ways to prevent credits from being used over and over again by the same individuals.
Establishing an ombudsman to resolve questions of compliance quickly.
Whatever scorecard emerges from this process will be implemented properly, and any individuals found manipulating the requirements to suit their own interests will be excluded from any further opportunities to obtain government business.
Efﬁcient government
The government is a major player in our economy and it must run as efﬁciently as possible.
The DA will: Privatise assets that the state holds, including South African Airways, and liberalise services that the state has traditionally run, such as electricity generation, so that the private sector can run them more efﬁciently.
Focus on improving the speed with which government at all levels provides services by, for example, recording of all calls made at service delivery points, placing ability at the core of staff selection processes, and acknowledging  outstanding performance.
Promoting transparency and ﬁghting corruption
Excessive regulation is destructive, but good regulations give more power to consumers, protect the vulnerable and create an open, clean and competitive environment.
A DA government will put in place a sound regulatory system that allows all South Africans to beneﬁt from a healthy, growing economy.
We will create a stable economic environment
and we will clamp down on white collar criminals and price ﬁxers.
Bolstering regulatory institutions
Various regulatory institutions help to enforce good business practices, protect consumers and create a stable economic environment.
All of these must be strengthened and protected.
By maintaining a credible monetary policy, the South African Reserve Bank helps to attract investment and makes our economy more stable.
The DA will give it the independence it needs to continue with its inﬂation targeting mandate, as inﬂation hurts the poorest of the poor and those living on a ﬁxed income the most.
Organisations such as the Competition Commission, the Banking Ombudsman and the Pension Funds Adjudicator all ﬁght on behalf of consumers to ensure compliance with legislation and good business practices.
They must be given the authority and the ﬁnancing they need to investigate complaints proactively.
A competitive environment
South Africa’s economy is plagued by limited competition, high proﬁt margins and restricted entry.
The DA will strengthen the legal and technical measures available to combat anti-competitive behaviour by: Giving full immunity to the ﬁrst individual who breaks ranks and reports anti-competitive activities.
Ensuring that it is possible to hold senior managers of companies implicated in anti-competitive behaviour personally liable for their conduct.
Fighting corruption
Corruption makes a mockery of any attempt to create an open economy.
To enforce transparency and independent oversight, the DA will: Introduce legislation to recreate the Directorate of Special Operations (the Scorpions), give them the powers they need to wage war on the corrupt, and ensure that they report directly to the Director of Public Prosecutions, not any political ﬁgure.
Increase the budgets of other corruption-busting agencies, such as the Independent Complaints Directorate and Public Protector, and guarantee their political independence.
Establish an ad hoc multi-sectoral commission to oversee the appointment of the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
Stipulate that no one who has been convicted on any charge of corruption theft or fraud ever be entitled to hold public ofﬁce.
Separate tendering processes completely from any political inﬂuence.
Rewrite the existing whistleblower legislation to remove loopholes that institutions use to victimise whistleblowers and provide more protection to whistleblowers.
AGRICULTURE AND LAND REFORM
Agriculture is a core industry in South Africa.
In the past it has allowed us to be a net exporter of food, and it has the potential to be a vibrant area of opportunity creation for disadvantaged South Africans.
But agriculture has been neglected and the land reform programme has been shamefully mismanaged.
A DA government will take seriously the need to stimulate agricultural production and remove the bottlenecks holding up land distribution and restitution.
We will thereby ensure that South Africa can once more become self-sufﬁcient in food, and that many more people can beneﬁt from the lifechanging opportunities of a successful land reform programme.
Agriculture
The DA recognises the importance of South Africa’s agricultural sector and we will re-energise it by: Building conﬁdence by guaranteeing the willing seller/willing buyer principle.
Reinstating the Territorial Reserves (the Commando system) to help with rural security.
Reviewing the budgets and guaranteeing the political independence of research organisations like the Agricultural Research Centre.
Planning adequately for ﬁnancial and weather-related problems.
Establishing or developing experimental farms to expand our knowledge of what can be achieved in our environment.
Land distribution
The DA will implement a land reform programme that seeks to speed up the pace of land reform.
To do so the DA will: Increase the land reform budget to an amount that can realistically allow targets to be reached.
Conduct an audit of the land held by the state, with a view to making the 1.2 million hectares of unsurveyed state land potentially available for redistribution.
Become a far more active player in the land market.
Even if only half of the land that comes onto the market every year is purchased, up to a quarter of privately owned land could be redistributed in 10 years.
Land restitution
Returning the land appropriated under apartheid laws is central to healing the divisions of South Africa’s past.
In addition to addressing funding short-falls that plague the restitution programme, the DA will: Help to build skills-transfer partnerships between beneﬁciaries, farmers and rural industries, while building on successful partnerships already in place.
Ensure that the Land Bank is professionally managed and free of corruption, so that emerging farmers can get all the help they require to become productive.
SPORT
The DA recognises that sport can play a transformative role in shaping and inﬂuencing the identity of the people of South Africa, as individuals and as a country, as well as in enriching our lives and empowering us.
Yet opportunities for sporting achievement are currently generally available only to a privileged few.
The DA will give any South African with sporting talent, both able-bodied and disabled, the opportunity to use this talent.
The DA will establish a South African Sports Academy for both able-bodied and disabled sportsmen and women and build it up as a centre of sporting excellence, tasked with identifying and developing South Africa’s potential heroes.
The academy will be funded by the state, and report to Parliament, but operate independently.
It will: Provide a venue where top-quality sports training facilities can be found.
Send recruiters out to roam the country to identify new talent.
Establish a bursary scheme designed to give anyone with potential the opportunity to develop and fulﬁl it.
Recruit local and international coaching staff comprising the best available expertise in any particular area.
TOURISM
Tourism opens up enormous potential for opportunities and jobs.
While South Africa is already attractive to tourists, there is much potential that has not been properly exploited.
By 2014, the DA aims to make South Africa one of the top three destinations for any long-haul foreign tourist.
In developing our tourism potential, the DA will aim to: Showcase and protect our unique natural and cultural resources.
Put impoverished rural areas on the tourism map.
Create new tourist products and add value to our existing products.
To do this, the DA will: Develop public-private innitiatives that grow tourist products at the lower end of the market.
Improve skills training for new tour guides, tour operators, B&B owners and tourism safety ofﬁcers by means of an educational voucher system.
Improve tourist safety with a special unit in the police that tracks trends in crimes against tourists and responds accordingly.
3. THE CARING SOCIETY: HELPING THOSE WHO CAN’T HELP THEMSELVES
Social development
People born in conditions of disadvantage, or with disabilities, face a superhuman struggle to take advantage of the opportunities that others take for granted.
While an impressive social grants system exists in South Africa, it excludes many who need it and is exploited by many others who don’t need it.
The DA recognises that the potential of millions of South Africans is compromised from the beginning of their lives, and we will expand the options available to all individuals to allow them to take advantage of an open opportunity society for all.
At the same time we will ensure that these opportunities are used constructively and for the purposes intended.
Children
Children born into poverty must be able to access the food, health care and education they need to learn and grow.
The DA will: Require a child’s guardian to take speciﬁc steps, including providing adequate food and health check-ups and ensuring the child’s school attendance, before being able to claim a Child Care Grant.
Require that child support grants not be paid directly to any teenage mother, but instead to an adult family member.
Investigate mechanisms, such as cash bonuses for teenagers who do not have children before they reach 21, to reduce teenage pregnancies.
Ensure that the requirements of special-needs learners are adequately met with a range of state-provided schooling options.
Teenagers and young adults
Young adults must be given the opportunities they need to start careers and build their lives.
Therefore, the DA will: Allow any South African aged between 16 and 24 to perform a year-long voluntary community service in the public service (in schools or hospitals for example), or in the SAPS or SANDF.
Create a Youth Development Programme for youth at risk, which will give young people access to a skills development programme followed by six months of on-the-job-learning.
Allow any young person who successfully completes matric to participate in voluntary community service, volunteering at the SAPS or the SANDF or the Youth Development Programme to claim an opportunity voucher to subsidise study costs or start a business.
Encourage employers to take on young workers through learnership programmes and wage subsidies.
To accompany these programmes, the DA will crack down hard on drug and alcohol abuse – a problem that leads many young South Africans to destroy their lives.
Among other things, we will reinstate the narcotics bureau, triple funding for the central drug authority and tighten up on bail for drug offences.
Adults
Social grants exclude millions of South Africans who are of working age but who have no prospect of ever ﬁnding gainful income.
The DA will, therefore, make an Income Support and Unemployment Grant of R110 per month available to all South Africans earning below R46 000 per annum who do not receive another state grant.
Given the problems that many disabled South Africans face in obtaining their disability grant (DG) reliably, the DA will require that recipients be given adequate notices of reviews and that certain categories – such as cerebral palsy – are exempted from the review process.
We will also investigate further tax concessions to disabled taxpayers and taxpayers with disabled dependents.
The elderly
The state old age pension is a lifeline for many elderly South Africans, but recipients must pass a means test, which excludes many needy people who have tried to provide for their old age.
The DA will, therefore, provide a universal old age pension, available to all South Africans.
Current measures to protect the aged against abuse are inadequate.
The DA will create an ofﬁce of the Human Rights Commissioner for the Aged within the existing Human Rights Commission, charged speciﬁcally with investigating complaints of abuse and conducting regular investigations of facilities for the aged.
HEALTH
Only people who are healthy, energetic and mobile are able to properly use their talents, follow their dreams and care for their families.
Yet the state health system is plagued by poor management and a catastrophic shortage of doctors and nurses, leaving sick patients queuing for hours and often unable to obtain even basic medicines and treatment.
The DA will build a system of hospitals and clinics that delivers a prompt, quality service to all our citizens.
We will do this by ensuring that every hospital is well managed, by bringing the private sector into state hospitals, and with a full throttle campaign to train and recruit more doctors and nurses.
Hospitals
Under a DA government, every public hospital will be required to manage itself, not be managed from afar by the provincial administration, and it will be funded on the basis of the level and quality of care it provides.
The management of South Africa’s worst hospitals will be put out to tender, with private sector health providers being free to tender to take over the management of these hospitals.
To ensure high quality service: Hospitals will be subject to strict standards and rigorous performance requirements, similar to those currently expected of private hospitals.
A quality rating system will be applied to all hospitals, and an independent Ofﬁce for Standards Compliance will conduct these evaluations.
Primary health care
The DA will boost the ability of clinics to provide quality primary health care by: Using competitive tendering to delegate some services, such as nutrition programmes and preventive health, to community organisations, private doctors or other providers.
Incorporating traditional healers into the formal health system structure.
A voluntary registration system will give traditional healers access to certain beneﬁts in return for, for example, maintaining proper patient records and offering some Primary Health Care services (provided they have been trained in this), such as vaccinations.
Human resources
The DA will substantially increase the number of doctors and nurses being trained in South Africa by: Reopening state-funded nursing colleges.
Removing restrictions on nursing training in the private sector.
Scrapping a policy which prohibits private medical schools.
We must also make it as easy as possible for anyone who qualiﬁed in any medical ﬁeld in another country to work here, by: Working towards the creation of a protocol for the ethical employment of health staff across the SADC region, to allow South Africa to use medical skills across the entire region.
Deﬁning medical skills as Scarce Skills to allow applications to work in South Africa to be processed more rapidly.
Medicines
State patients often spend hours or days at hospitals waiting to collect medicines they have been prescribed.
The DA will introduce the technology and systems that will allow patients to collect medicines from any accredited pharmacy, making collection much more convenient and far less time-consuming.
HIV/Aids
With one of the highest infection rates in the world, South Africa is feeling the full force of the devastation wrought by HIV/Aids.
The DA will reduce the number of new infections by convincing South Africans to act to reduce their risk of infection.
We will: Create a Deputy Ministry of HIV/Aids, and locate a Presidential Aids Campaign in the Minister in the President’s ofﬁce.
Involve all public representatives in promoting Aids awareness.
Integrate faith-based organisations into the prevention campaign.
An efﬁcient, comprehensive antiretroviral treatment programme is a key part of South Africa’s onslaught on Aids, and a Central Antiretroviral Treatment Centre, with a branch in each province, will manage the implementation of the programme, collate information and report regularly on results.
HOUSING
Every South African should be able to ﬁnd a place that he or she can call home, and live safely and reasonably comfortably.
Yet South African housing policies provide a handful of people quality formal housing while leaving millions of others homeless.
The DA will ensure that in addition to a formal housing programme millions more housing opportunities are created by focusing on releasing land, upgrading existing accommodation and providing decent services where people live.
The DA will focus on building sustainable communities and avoid wherever possible the social disruption and upheaval of relocating families.
Focus on opportunities
Millions of South Africans live in dilapidated and inadequate shacks, which expose them to disease, crime, foul weather and enormous discomfort.
The reality is that the ANC government’s subsidy programme will reach only a fraction of them.
The DA will, therefore, restructure the subsidy system so that it can reach many more people.
Our programme will focus on: Providing in situ upgrades to existing accommodation, so that dwellings can be made safe and habitable.
Freeing up land for housing opportunities, making services available on this land and giving freehold title to this land as rapidly as possible.
Making space for the market to come in to construct low cost housing and assist with upgrades, by cutting the cost of land and subsidising  building materials.
Ensuring fairness
In the allocation of housing opportunities, every South African in need must be given a fair and equal chance.
Lists for beneﬁciaries will be determined according to processes that are open and transparent, lists will be publicly available and anyone who abuses the system will be prosecuted.
Ensuring delivery
The DA will ﬁnd more land for housing opportunities by: Identifying run-down inner-city areas and underutilised industrial areas.
Making more extensive use of mechanisms such as land swaps.
Establishing a land fund to assist local authorities to acquire land.
Freeing up underutilised state land.
Sustainable communities
The DA will encourage the development of towns and cities which are pleasant, and supplied with adequate services, and which work well.
The DA will: The DA will put in place well-targeted interventions, in partnership with local communities, to help these areas by: Promote inclusionary housing zones,
by setting a target for municipal councils of focusing 15% of all new housing developments on the affordable housing market
, by introducing density bonuses to stimulate the development of affordable housing on private land,
and by making the development of state land subject to a certain percentage of low cost housing.
Ensure that construction standards are realistic, enforceable and affordable.
Reward innovation in housing development, particularly where the development can be adopted for mass housing beneﬁt and more affordable designs and materials can be procured as a result.
In communities plagued by unemployment, crime, one-parent families, and poor education conditions make the development of healthy communities difﬁcult.
The DA will put in place well-targeted interventions, in partnership with local communities, to help these areas by: Developing a basket of minimum public infrastructure requirements which must be provided in housing developments.
Identifying slum areas across the country and targeting them individually with a rehabilitation plan, and supplying neighbourhood committees with support to implement the plan.
Stamping down hard on drug abuse, and introducing intervention programmes for youth at risk of falling into crime.
Ensuring that order for law-abiding citizens prevails.
Criminals must not be allowed to occupy state-subsidised rental houses;
steps must be taken to enforce payment of rates by those who can afford to do so;
rates service charges must be placed in the same position as income tax;
and a rapid response must be developed for illegal land invasions.
Housing ﬁnance
To make home ownership more available and affordable, the DA will: Allow the ﬁrst R5 000 of a retirement fund to be used for a deposit and legal fees on a ﬁrst home.
Permit pension-backed loans from retirement funds to fund home purchases.
Introduce a “rand-for-rand” subsidy programme, whereby the State will match the amount accumulated by a low income home-buyer for a deposit with an equal contribution, up to a maximum of R2 000.
Implement programmes to re-house families in accommodation that is affordable to them.
Continue to look for ways for Stokvels to grow and encourage more people to place their trust in them.
4. THE SAFE SOCIETY: KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SECURE
People cannot take advantage of opportunities if their lives are under siege, if their rights are not respected by their fellow citizens or if their vision is limited by fear.
Yet the web of terror that crime throws over South Africa is so strong and far-reaching that no-one is unaffected by it.
We do not need to accept crime as an inescapable reality.
The DA will ensure that anyone who commits a criminal act knows that they will be swiftly found, prosecuted and punished by a proﬁcient, professional and zealous criminal justice system, and we will promote a society that respects the law.
Preventing crime before it occurs
The more trained police ofﬁcers on the streets, the better we will be able to prevent crime and bring criminals to justice.
The DA will increase the number of SAPS members to 250 000 – in contrast to the government’s target of 190 000.
This must go hand in hand with steps to improve these ofﬁcers’ performance.
The DA will: Ensure that all police ofﬁcers possess the correct basic skills and pass regular ﬁtness tests.
Employ police ofﬁcers on the basis of merit, not quotas or political alignment.
Empower the Independent Complaints Directorate to stamp down hard on corrupt ofﬁcers.
Speciﬁc steps will be taken to identify likely criminals before they are irretrievably corrupted by prisons.
Therefore, diversion programmes – along the lines of the DA’s Chrysalis Academy in the Western Cape – must provide alternatives to young South Africans at risk of falling into a life of crime.
The DA will ensure that information on crime is shared widely and that local safety initiatives are encouraged.
We will also develop ways to allow the private security sector and the SAPS to work together to strengthen the ﬁght against crime.
Finally, crime prevention requires dealing decisively with the problem of drug and alcohol abuse.
Among other things, the DA will reinstate the Narcotics Bureau, tighten up border security, and devote more funds to rehabilitation.
Detecting and responding to crime when it does occur
Successful crime control depends on quality information.
The DA will create a Crime Information Management System that will give the SAPS and the public access to crime statistics on the internet as crimes are reported, so that information can be analysed, trends identiﬁed, and detailed statistics produced.
This will also allow individuals to make informed decisions about where it is safest to live and work, and to employ measures to protect themselves and their families.
To improve the reliability of our crime statistics, the DA will conduct a comprehensive annual victim impact study to indicate the extent to which crime reporting in particular categories matches actual incidents.
Investigations are frequently undermined by the inability of our forensic science laboratories to process evidence.
The DA will focus on reducing backlogs at these labs, implementing staff retention strategies and setting higher standards of training.
Our detectives are over-worked and under-trained.
The DA will employ an additional 30 000 detectives, and create mechanisms to allow for lateral entry into the detective service from the private sector.
Specialised units to deal with speciﬁc types of crime allow expertise to be pooled and certain crimes to be prioritised.
They must be reinstated.
The Family Violence, Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Unit (to protect vulnerable women and children) and the Commandos (to help protect rural communities) will be priorities.
Successfully prosecuting and convicting criminals
Our criminal justice system must be able to guarantee that those charged with crimes are prosecuted speedily and given appropriate sentences – something it cannot do now.
In addition to a range of measures to improve conditions at courts, the DA will bring in private sector skills to speed up the process.
Legal practitioners will be given tax incentives and other encouragement to spend a few hours a month in the public court system, and the DA will work to have a period spent working as public prosecutors or defenders as a requirement to be registered as a lawyer.
To ensure that criminals serve the time they deserve, the DA will: Ensure that “life means life” and there is no parole for life sentences.
Require that exacerbating factors, such as the use of a weapon, result in longer sentences.
Require prisoners to be drug free to qualify for parole.
Detaining and rehabilitating those convicted
To allow the prison population to be safely and properly managed, the DA will build an additional 8 prisons to house 28 000 prisoners.
First-time, minor offenders must be kept out of prison as much as possible, by diverting them into community service or reform schools and using electronic tracking bracelets to track their movements.
In addition, there is a need to dramatically increase prisoners’ involvement in productive labour, both to equip them with skills they can use outside prison and to allow them to partly atone for their crimes.
The DA will ensure that all able-bodied prisoners work.
Income earned from this work will go towards the upkeep of the criminal and to a Victims of Crime Fund.
Income-generating and self-supporting halfway houses will be created in every district to give prisoners access to help to rebuild their lives on release.
Compensation and relief for victims of crime
In an open opportunity society for all, victims’ rights are at the heart of the criminal justice system.
The DA will create a statutory body called the Directorate for Victims of Crime, which will administer a toll-free helpline for victims, run a national victim support training centre, and administer a Victims of Crime fund.
The fund will include money from various sources, including prisoners’ earnings, and anyone suffering physical damage as a result of a crime will be eligible to claim from it.
In addition, a Victims’ Register will enable victims of violent and sexual offences to register on a secure and conﬁdential database and be kept updated on any developments relating to the case of the offender – including, for example, notiﬁcation if bail or parole is granted.
5. THE EFFICIENT SOCIETY: EFFECTIVE AND ENABLING INFRASTRUCTURE
Home affairs
A fundamental requirement for an open opportunity society is a set of ground rules on citizenship and residence that is reasonable and fair, and properly enforced.
At the same time citizens, visitors and investors must be able to obtain documents and services they need to go about their lives reliably, efﬁciently and impartially.
Yet South Africa’s Home Affairs system appears to be designed to limit our potential and restrict choices, not expand them.
The DA will create rules on entry into South Africa that encourage people who want to contribute to our development, and we will maintain effective border controls to ensure that those who do not meet the requirements cannot enter.
We will also ensure that no South African is denied schooling, a job or a grant because of bureaucratic inefﬁciency or patronage.
Registering birth
The DA will ensure that every hospital has one nurse accredited to register child births.
Focusing on skills needs
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is best placed to understand South Africa’s skills and investment needs, yet it currently plays no role in deciding on policy on entry requirements for potential workers and investors.
To place greater priority on skills and investment, the DA will place Immigration Services with the DTI, which will manage documentation for foreign citizens who want to visit, work, study or invest in South Africa.
The Department of Home Affairs will be responsible only for services for South Africans.
The current immigration framework, based on quotas, is restrictive and cumbersome and makes it almost impossible to recruit desperately needed skills.
In order to allow our immigration policy to contribute towards addressing the country’s skills challenges, the DA will: Scrap the quota system and replace it with a points system, which will give preference to skilled immigrants without imposing absurd limitations on numbers.
Actively encourage the assimilation of foreign nationals in our communities, to make immigrants feel at home.
We will work with non-governmental organisations, community and cultural organisations to provide immigrants with training programmes about the country’s diverse cultures and languages.
Encouraging tourists
The DA seeks to maximise the potential of tourism and we will open the country’s borders to legitimate visitors.
We will: Extend the validity period of a visitor’s permit from three to six months.
Allow students who have studied in the country or legal workers who meet certain criteria, and who have worked here for ﬁve consecutive years, to qualify for permanent residence.
Combating illegal immigration
Immigration policy must be designed to make it difﬁcult for illegal immigrants to penetrate our borders.
The DA will keep detailed electronic ﬁnger-print records of all arrested illegal immigrants, give the SAPS access to this database to help in the war on crime,
and initiate a SADC treaty compelling the country of citizenship of illegal immigrants to bear all costs related to their repatriation.
The DA will also set up an Immigration Inspectorate within Immigration Services to deal speciﬁcally with immigration-related complaints, and introduce a proportional ﬁ ne system for offending employers.
Tight border control
The integrity of our borders is central to maintaining peace and order, keeping social services costs under control and achieving our economic goals.
The DA will: Permanently assign SANDF border patrols in high risk border locations, and use SANDF expertise and equipment to assist with patrolling and information-gathering.
The government’s decision to take the SANDF away from border operations has severely compromised border control.
Establish and maintain special Border Units in the SAPS dedicated to border patrols, whose members will receive specialised paramilitary training, and permanently deploy specialised Rural Reaction Units to  crime ‘hotspots’.
Commission a full, independent security audit along our borders as a priority to provide details on the state of our border fencing, resources, and success rates in meeting objectives.
Conduct regular patrols of border areas to repair and maintain fencing.
Improving home affairs services
Citizens and foreign nationals must also be able to rely on a prompt, efﬁcient and friendly service from their Home Affairs Ofﬁce.
In addition to quickly addressing stafﬁng shortages, the DA will: Establish a Home Affairs Ombudsman to deal with complaints from the public about the services they receive.
Create more accountability by recording all communication between staff and applicants and installing cameras in all ofﬁces.
Launch a nationwide campaign, accompanied by intensive training for staff, titled ‘My Home Affairs, My Pride’ to encourage Home Affairs ofﬁcials to take pride in their jobs.
Make application processes more efﬁcient with electronic submission systems, direct electronic link-ups between all Home Affairs ofﬁces, vending machines in all ofﬁces where documentation can be obtained without having to queue and the distribution of forms for identity documents at schools and clinics where they can be easily accessible.
Set targets for the processing of documents, with staff being held accountable for not meeting targets and rewarded for exceeding them.
TRANSPORT
When people are able to move around the country and across our borders freely and quickly, and when goods can be transported easily from one end of the country to another or to any global market-place, then opportunities expand and the number of jobs available grows.
South Africa’s commuter transport system is unreliable, unsafe and restricted.
Transport of goods is limited by a dilapidated roads network on the one hand, and an inefﬁcient rail transport system which remains many years behind the times, on the other.
The DA will create an integrated transport system embracing rail, road, sea and air to ensure that no South Africans are constrained in their work or play by limited transport.
Integrated transport
The DA will create an integrated transport system by bringing all forms of transport, including, for example, ports and airports, which currently fall under the Department of Public Enterprises, together under the Department of Transport.
Road infrastructure
To avoid toll roads wherever possible, and make enough funds available for maintenance, the DA will establish a dedicated Road Maintenance Fund, sourced primarily from the fuel levy, which will enable South Africa to eliminate the R120bn maintenance backlog over six years.
If toll road concessions are to be considered in the future, a percentage of their proﬁts must go towards community development or a pool for subsidising rural transport.
Overloading by heavy duty vehicles is destroying our roads.
The DA will: Reduce the maximum permitted axle weight and length of heavy vehicles in conjunction with other SADC countries, to meet international norms.
Introduce mobile weighbridges.
Require mandatory overloading and tyre pressure sensing devices on heavy-duty vehicles.
Introduce legislation or regulations to enforce the transport of certain categories of goods by rail.
Road safety
South Africa has an unacceptably high accident rate which costs the economy dearly.
The DA will entrench a culture of safe driving through a combination of education, zero tolerance for dangerous driving and higher driver testing and enforcement standards.
We will: Recruit, train and accredit trafﬁc ofﬁcers at all levels of government to international norms and standards.
Introduce a massive safety enforcement and education drive levelled at motorists and scholars alike in order to reduce our accident rate by 25% per annum.
Use mobile testing stations and mobile jails (for example, specially equipped buses) to get people found to be under the inﬂuence of alcohol off the streets immediately.
Make speed control devices on heavy-duty and public passenger vehicles mandatory.
Phase in mandatory daylight running lights on all vehicles.
Reintroduce compulsory basic balance of third party insurance for car owners.
Embark on a massive drive to impound all unroadworthy vehicles through properly manned roadblocks.
Public transport
Our cities and towns are deeply congested as a direct result of the lack of convenient, reliable and safe public transport.
The DA will aim to create a system whereby private providers deliver public transport services, but are governed by a sound regulatory system to guarantee safety and affordability.
The DA will: Widen commuters’ options with a state subsidy for a single, multi-use ticket applicable to all certiﬁed public transport users, including taxi-commuters.
Introduce training programmes for taxi drivers to improve driving skills and compliance with the rules of the road.
Allow pensioners and the registered unemployed to travel free of charge on subsidised local transport during off-peak hours.
Create a Public Transport Inspectorate, responsible for ensuring that all vehicles are safe and user-friendly (particularly for the disabled).
Commuter Rail is key to reducing city congestion.
The DA will expand the rail network and introduce new and speedier services, particularly from high density residential areas and airports.
Rail infrastructure
The state must retain ownership of the rail infrastructure, but assets and operations currently owned by the state will be transferred to the private sector or capable metros where this will improve their effectiveness.
Signal failures and cable theft are prevalent.
The system needs modernising, and exposed cables in vulnerable areas need to be placed underground.
Only half of Metrorail’s coaches are operational.
The DA will embark on an accelerated refurbishment programme involving all private sector coachbuilders.
All new coach acquisitions must be supplied in kit form to enable assembly and material beneﬁciation to be optimised locally.
We will expand the Railway Police Service to other transport zones, including bus stations and taxi ranks.
Aviation and airports
The key to success in air transport is sound regulation and adequate support from the state, and healthy private sector competition.
SAA holds a monopoly on international and domestic routes.
The DA will privatise SAA, and ensure that it cannot dictate the size of the market.
Any airline should be able to supply any domestic or international route.
South African airports are the front desk to tourists and the international investor, and they must be welcoming and efﬁcient.
The DA will: Privatise the Airports Company of South Africa and split it into a separate entity for each South African airport, so that airports can compete against each other for business.
Bind these entities to strict quality and service standards.
LAND AND TITLE
The right of every citizen to acquire land and enjoy it freely is central to a society based on opportunity.
A DA government will work on changing the terms and conditions through which people hold, use, occupy and access land so that all South Africans can acquire land and enjoy property with secure title and the right to use and enjoy it.
To give all South Africans better access to land ownership, the DA will: Offer all households, rural and urban, freehold title to the land they occupy wherever possible, to help them access the capital value of the land.
Guarantee security of title to any land legitimately purchased.
Expedite the opening of localised registers in the deeds registry.
Backlogs in registration of titles constrain many from being able to properly enjoy their title, and local registers will speed up the process.
Work to develop a functioning secondary property market in poor areas by working with developers to increase the supply of affordable housing stock below R200 000, and with banks to develop more affordable mortgage  ﬁnance plans.
The statutory limitation on the sale of subsidy-linked houses within a certain period acts as a barrier to secondary market transactions and must be reviewed.
Communal land tends to be under-developed, because the people who use it often do not have tradable security of tenure.
The DA will help to liberate the users of this land by establishing a commission to investigate and survey the land held in trust by traditional leaders.
This will be followed by a consultative process with community stakeholders and traditional leaders to ﬁnd means to provide freehold title to the people who live on this land.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY
A degraded environment limits possibilities for all of us.
Yet, although our natural environment is unique and valuable, its contribution to our economy and our lives is often ignored in favour of short-term special interests.
The DA will integrate the sound management of our environment and energy economy into all our policies.
Human development will be integrally linked to environmental preservation by, for example, expanding access to alternative energy sources, protecting our sites of natural value, strictly controlling water use, and expanding opportunities in ﬁshing.
Governance
The management of the environment will be realigned to create more clearcut responsibilities.
The DA will: Create the Ofﬁce of Sustainable Development in order to monitor alignment across all government departments with the national sustainable development strategy.
Ensure that in every provincial executive committee the MEC responsible for economic planning is not also responsible for environmental management.
This will provide improved checks and balances.
Climate change
South Africa cannot afford to wait in responding to the challenges of climate change.
The DA will focus on a number of mitigation measures, including identifying appropriate areas for carbon sequestration, and sectoral targets for improved energy efﬁciency.
Adaptation measures will involve increased investment in water infrastructure,
more rigorous planning for extreme weather events and education for communities likely to be affected by changing climate conditions, particularly in the ﬁeld of agriculture.
Energy
Eskom’s monopoly reduces options for alternative energy usage.
The DA will aim to generate 15% of energy from alternative sources by 2020.
The eventual establishment of a price for carbon, and the rigorous enforcement of environmental laws, particularly related to mining, water and air quality, will serve to increasingly internalise energy costs and make other energy sources more viable.
To further encourage this, the DA will: Submit all energy generation sources to the rigours of long term planning, and improve public participation in determining the country’s future.
Introduce tariff support and incentives for the uptake of renewable energy.
Ensure that one million domestic solar water heaters are installed by 2014.
Make increased energy efﬁciency a national priority.
Sites of natural value
South Africa is one of the world’s most important areas of biodiversity.
We must protect these resources ﬁercely.
The DA will: Allow no mining in any national or provincial parks or within coastal public property under any circumstances.
Stipulate that not all land must be regarded as suitable for development.
Ensure that government provides ongoing workshops around the country to empower communities, NGOs and local councillors with the knowledge required to understand and contribute to environmental management.
Transport
The use of vehicles has negative environmental consequences.
Transport policy must minimise these consequences as far as possible.
The DA will: Legislate to phase in the use of catalytic converters and unleaded fuel on all private and public transport vehicles over three years
Support the introduction of electric and hybrid fuel efﬁcient passenger cars.
Adopt policies to limit noise pollution, air pollution and trafﬁc congestion in our urban environments.
Water management
South Africa is headed for a water crisis unless we respond now.
The DA will make space for alternative energy by allowing any electricity producer access to the national grid.
The DA will reduce this threat by working to ensure that: The ecological reserve is determined and defended for all rivers.
All water users are strictly licensed, and that serious penalties for contraventions of licences are enforced.
Planning for future industrial, mining and agricultural expansion takes into account the true capacity of catchment areas.
We work with all stakeholders to encourage sustainable water use.
Pollution from acid mine drainage is severely compromising our water systems.
The DA will ensure that: Mines are held responsible for treating water before it is released into rivers.
Prospecting and mining licences are granted in areas of the country where the effect of mining operations will have the least impact on water systems.
The State funds research into the effects of microcystins on human health.
The public has a right to be informed about the threats of poor water quality where they exist.
The DA will ensure that water quality data is regularly published by municipalities, and a national hotline is established to allow citizens to alert ofﬁcials to local problems.
Fisheries and ocean management
The sustainable management of South Africa’s ﬁsheries resources is important for the creation of opportunities in coastal communities.
The DA supports the principle of comanagement of our marine resources, and we will ensure that: The number of ﬁshery control ofﬁcers is increased.
A unit within the SAPS is established to concentrate on cracking organised criminal operations that distribute and sell illegally removed ﬁsh.
Total allowable catch is determined by science, and is not open to political manipulation.
New job creating opportunities are created in the fields of aquaculture and non-consumptive use.
THE PUBLIC SERVICE
Every opportunity the government facilitates depends on a public service governed by the basic values of professionalism, efﬁciency and accountability.
Yet South Africans have come to expect indifference and incompetence from a public service driven, at heart, by a belief that it is there to serve its own interests rather than those of our citizens.
The DA will transform South Africa’s public service into an institution we can all trust and value, by creating a culture of service, by recognising the need for talent, not political allegiance, and by putting in place systems that are efﬁcient and accessible.
Leadership
A public service can only be as good as those who lead it.
Public service managers under a DA government will be appointed on the basis of expertise, not political allegiance.
They will be properly motivated and remunerated to do their jobs, but they will be obliged to enter into performance agreements with regular assessments as a standard feature.
Centralisation has created a senior management service that is rigid and overwhelmed by regulations and paperwork.
Senior managers will be given ﬂexibility to administer their own departments, introduce their own management systems and hire and ﬁre their own personnel.
As part of this process, the DA will abolish the Central Bargaining Chamber so that departments can negotiate directly with employees’ organisations on terms which meet their speciﬁc needs.
However, with greater power comes greater responsibility and public servants will be answerable for their actions and expected to meet measurable targets.
Talent
There is a skills crisis plaguing the public service, and the more specialised the position, the more government is struggling to ﬁnd skills.
A culture of constant learning (Tshanduko) needs to be promoted in the public service.
The DA will establish a College of Excellence to train public servants, offering ongoing training courses to all public servants and specialised programmes for management level staff.
Training will equip public services not only with the necessary skills needed to deliver services efﬁciently and effectively, but will also instil a strong work ethic based on the values of hard work, diligence, responsibility, political neutrality and selﬂess service.
In addition to this, the DA will:  Undertake regular comprehensive skills audits of the public service to identify the skills required.
Set up a public service bursary programme targeting talented matriculants, where their tuition fees are paid for in a ﬁeld of study related to the public service in exchange for a determined number of years of government service.
An astonishingly high turnover rate in the public service means that money and time spent on developing public servants is wasted and delivery stutters.
The DA will keep skilled workers in the public service, by: Improving selection processes, with accurate job descriptions and duty sheets and a clear focus on ﬁnding the right skills to match them.
Ensuring that outstanding performance is acknowledged so that hard-working, valuable public servants feel appreciated.
Providing employee wellness services and beneﬁts, so that public servants feel valued and that their wellbeing is important to their employer.
Performance
There must be constant and ongoing interaction between the government and its voters at all times.
The DA will, therefore, introduce a Citizen’s Charter, setting minimum standards of delivery so that the public service can be held to account.
Standards will include: A maximum 30-day turnaround time for national correspondence.
Clear complaints and feedback mechanisms.
The publication of national performance indicators.
A corrupt public service hampers service delivery and limits opportunities to a select few.
To root out corrupt public ofﬁcials, the DA will set up a Unit, along the lines of the Heath Special Investigating Unit, to investigate and oversee the prosecution of public ofﬁcials who are found guilty of corruption.
The ﬁnancial mismanagement of government departments destroys public trust and compromises service delivery.
The DA will: Amend the Public Finance Management Act so that the Auditor-General submits audit reports on departments and public entities directly to Parliament, separate from the departmental annual reports, to ensure that these reports are given exclusive attention.
Establish a steering committee of top ofﬁcials which will intervene to help entities who have received a qualiﬁed or adverse audit opinion from the Auditor-General three times in a row.
The committee will appoint a team of consultants to intervene.
The DA will require every public servant, led ﬁrst and foremost by the senior management, to sign a performance contract when they enter the public service, containing measurable and relevant performance indicators.
Performance management assessments will occur on a regular basis and incompetent or neglectful public servants will be rooted out of the public service.
Across-the board pay increases and seniority-based salaries must be replaced by compensation based primarily on performance – the value each public servant creates in his or her ﬁeld.
Efﬁciency
The government often does not know how much it costs to deliver the most basic of services.
Activity based costing is a highly effective way of providing managers with accurate and relevant information about the cost of their organisation’s products and services and whether these are being provided in the most cost effective way.
The DA will use activity-based costing to obtain an accurate idea of cost of service delivery in all spheres of government.
The private provision of services funded by the state can cut government expenditure and improve quality because the services are being purchased from competitive providers.
New policies often ignore the costs of implementation to both the government and the private sector.
The DA will introduce a Compliance Costs Act to require all legislation tabled in Parliament to be accompanied by a certiﬁed statement of the likely compliance costs to the public and private sectors.
In addition, we propose that: Before any new regulations or policies are introduced, an assessment of their regulatory impact be done to ensure that we are not creating more red tape, and that new rules and regulations will have the desired effect.
All current policies and regulations in every department be evaluated, through a Regulatory Impact Assessment Test, in order to identify cumbersome areas of over-regulation.
A properly functioning e-service will expand citizens’ choices and opportunities to access basic services needed to better their own lives, and the DA will close the gap between Government On-line and the aspirations and expectations of end-users by:
Using public education programmes to make it clear what services can be obtained on line;
Expanding the service-rendering ability of the 1020 Call Centre along the lines of commercial call centres;
Employing sufﬁcient and appropriately skilled people at public internet terminals and equipping community development workers with mobile internet devices.
6. THE SOCIETY THAT HAS A PLACE FOR ALL
A country that is one nation with one future does not mean a country which does not celebrate and protect our individual cultures and our diversity.
The DA will work to build a common South African identity, while creating opportunities for self-expression to the many cultures and identities which enrich our nation.
Education
Schools must play an important role in making South Africans more tolerant and more appreciative of the diversity around them.
The DA will: Support a national school pledge, but ensure that the process of deciding on the wording of this pledge is properly inclusive, and that those in positions of political power uphold the values it underlines.
Ensure that children are empowered to engage with the future of their country, by teaching them about their rights and their responsibilities.
Outcomes Based Education must be reviewed comprehensively to ensure that teachers are well placed to teach these values effectively.
Media
The media can be a powerful tool to encourage multiculturalism, diversity and tolerance.
The DA will never allow the media to be used to promote ideologies or spread propaganda.
But we will: Promote a weekly two-hour debate slot on a popular national radio station that deals with current affairs, with the aim of being educative, provocative and driving people to connect with other South Africans.
Use the national public broadcaster to give different cultural groups a platform to talk to other South Africans about their language and their beliefs.
Spread positive information about South Africa by, for example, introducing a competition encouraging South Africans to express what it means to them to be a South African.
The arts
South Africa has a rich artistic heritage which can help to build bridges across people’s different understandings of our country.
Aside from helping to develop the infrastructure for an active arts industry, the DA will: Encourage each province to establish its own regional arts festival.
Create an annual National Arts Awards ceremony, with the aim of encouraging new audiences and developing the stature of all artists in our society.
Through this artwork, South Africans will be able to deepen their understandings of the different experiences of being a South African.
Heritage
The DA understands that there is never a single, deﬁnitive truth about South Africa’s past, and the heritage of each South African is the heritage of the whole country.
To ensure that heritage sites are as reﬂective as possible of our diversity, the DA will create a Protector of National Heritage to act as an advocate for the protection of cherished places, artefacts and landscapes, to manage complaints and consult on the development of new heritage sites.
Public participation
Making people aware of their potential to affect the destiny of the country will contribute to their sense of ownership of the country and will make them feel more South African:
All South Africans should have the capacity to really inﬂuence the way the country is run, and the DA will create a constituency-based electoral system which will make public representatives directly accountable and responsive to their voters.
Signiﬁcant decisions, such as changes to street names, must never be made without taking the opinions of key stakeholders and representatives into account.
More people must be encouraged to play a more active role in bettering the society around them by becoming more involved in civil society.
A DA government will, among other things, maintain a comprehensive database of civil society organisations needing assistance from the public, and pay money owed to civil society organisations timeously.
Diversity
All South Africans have the right to feel equally at home in this country and to have their voices heard.
To celebrate our diversity, the DA will: Change the focus of public holidays from commemorating past events to celebrating South Africa.
A “South Africa Day” will be established to celebrate all things South African.
Depoliticise national awards by replacing politically inﬂuenced titles with more inclusive designations.
Allow any South African group that meets certain criteria to apply to establish a representative body that will maintain and promote its cultural interests.
These bodies will then be registered and able to access funding and various kinds of assistance to help them to represent and display their cultural identity.
7. SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD
Defence
In an Open Opportunity Society for All, citizens know that their government is able to physically protect them from external aggression and, if necessary, defend the integrity of other countries who share our values.
Yet poorly selected, badly trained and inadequately managed members of the SANDF are in no position to protect our borders or values, and the poor state of the SANDF’s equipment makes their burden even greater.
The DA will maximise the SANDF’s strength and capability by structuring it for more efﬁciency, by re-instilling discipline and by focusing clearly on creating a professional force.
Defence force structure
The DA will ensure that the SANDF is in the best possible state of combat readiness at all times with a small, professional full-time defence force and a much larger reserve force ready to play its part at any given moment.
The full-time force will be organised so that two rapid deployment battle groups are available, capable of being deployed within 24 hours to anywhere on the continent.
We will create a Reserve component of between 80,000 and 90,000 personnel, which is more than four times the current Reserve component of 17,750 personnel.
Employers should be encouraged through tax incentives to allow employees to serve in the Reserves and prohibited in law from discriminating against employees who perform voluntary military service in the Reserves.
Military discipline
The SANDF is an essential service, and it should operate as such, with rigorous discipline.
The DA will improve the Military Justice System through targeted interventions with staff to make their employment packages and working conditions more attractive.
Finally, the DA will clarify the role, status and powers of the military unions, and ensure that unions are held accountable for their actions, by means of legislation.
Human resources
SANDF training is outdated, inadequate and superﬁcial.
The DA will ensure that: The quality and content of SANDF Basic Training is upgraded and maintained.
The number of training hours dedicated to both weapons and equipment training is increased for all defence programmes;
The military is not sheltered employment.
By raising the bar for all recruits, the DA will ensure that the SANDF attracts only the best.
At the same time, we will develop the SANDF’s proﬁle as an employer of choice with a marketing campaign and by changing internal processes so that all soldiers have equal opportunities for career advancement.
The DA will enforce high levels of ﬁtness and health requirements for all soldiers.
The DA will ensure that military veterans who have served their country well are adequately protected with medical cover and retirement beneﬁts.
Accountability and leadership
SANDF members, and even senior leadership ﬁgures, are frequently not held accountable for failing to meet objectives.
The DA will improve the accountability of the SANDF by: Developing military leadership at all levels across the SANDF by rolling out the University Reserve Training Unit (URTU) at all universities.
Ensuring that SANDF leadership is held directly and personally responsible for what takes place under their watch.
Peacekeeping operations
The SANDF must shoulder its part in the responsibility for peace support operations.
But certain criteria must apply: No external deployments must be authorised until internal commitments are adhered to.
No operation should be acceded to without an agreement on funding, clear entry and exit criteria, and a domestic and international mandate.
A contingency fund for any peacekeeping operation must exist, including a budget line set aside for unplanned or emergency operations.
This will allow Treasury a degree of certainty with regard to ﬁnancial planning, and will also ensure that we do not over-commit ourselves or make promises we cannot keep, while still fulﬁlling our regional obligations.
Equipment
The equipment acquired in terms of the Arms Deal is not suitable for all South Africa’s needs.
The DA will ensure that future equipment replacement happens on a programmatic and affordable basis.
Equipment acquired by the SANDF must be: Matched to the vision and mission of the SANDF.
Suitable for the military objectives and tasks it has to carry out.
At the cutting edge of technological developments.
Able to add to the deterrent capacity of the SANDF.
There are serious problems with the SANDF’s ammunition stocks, with old ammunition allegedly being issued for use in training and deployment exercises.
The DA will ensure that all old ammunition is recalled and replaced within one year.
FOREIGN POLICY
In an open opportunity society for all, a government must be willing to promote the values that underpin this society in every corner of the world.
Yet the values that South Africa has promoted are reﬂective of brutality and oppression, not freedom.
The DA will ensure that South Africa becomes a vigorous promoter of democracy and freedom,
and a ﬁerce defender of human rights.
Foreign policy based on human rights
By placing individual human rights and good governance principles at the centre of South Africa’s foreign policy, the DA will steer South Africa towards becoming a respected voice in the world community and a leader in promoting democracy
and human rights.
The DA will: At the United Nations, fully support the landmark “responsibility to protect” resolution which authorises interventions when a state violates the human rights of its own people.
End the “African solidarity approach” adopted by South Africa in regional bodies such as the AU.
Rather, we will align South Africa’s practices and interests with other democratic states on the continent.
Actively seek to ensure that all AU members subject themselves to the African Peer Review Mechanism, with a clear understanding that they will be given the resources and support needed to carry reviews out efﬁciently and with integrity.
Use aid, trade and other preferential arrangements to incentivise the spread of democracy and dis-incentivise undemocratic practices on the continent.
Push hard for an agreement in the African Union that Robert Mugabe must step down and the outcome of the most recent election be given effect.
A rules-based multilateral world order
The DA will work for a rules-based international order founded on multilateralism and a shared respect for common principles.
We support attempts to reform international institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
These organisations must better reﬂect current global realities, including a stronger voice for representatives of the developing world.
Advancing conﬂict resolution in Africa
South Africa, as one of the strongest voices on the continent, must play a part in helping to promote democracy and stability.
The DA will: In alliance with our international partners, address the shortcomings of the African Union peacekeeping operations and pressurise the G8 nations to implement their commitment of support for the build-up of ﬁve African peacekeeping brigades.
Establish public and cultural diplomacy agencies as an indirect but inﬂuential way of reducing conﬂict and instability elsewhere.
These agencies will help export our own values, examples and aspirations of openness and prosperity to our continental and regional neighbours.
Support the use of judicial instruments, including the International Criminal Court (ICC), to bring warlords and rights transgressors to justice.
Use South Africa’s diplomatic strength to help repatriate billions stolen from the people of Africa by predatory leaders, using the Kimberley Process – which has helped De Beers cleanse blood diamonds from the world market – as a model.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
In an open opportunity society for all, the government uses the international stage to further its citizens’ interests and make more opportunities available to them.
South Africa has neglected many opportunities and allowed ideology to trump realism in many of its international negotiations.
The DA will use South Africa’s international muscle to bolster South Africa and Africa’s trade, press for institutional reforms of the subsidy systems and policies of the EU, the US and others, which marginalise our region and markets, and promote our integration into the global marketplace.
South Africa’s stance in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and in other international bodies must work to the advantage of South Africa’s export industries and must be driven by trade interest, not ideology.
Speciﬁcally, the DA will: Press for the extension of the US Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), from which Africa as a whole has beneﬁted.
Lobby the European Union (EU) to ensure that its ineffective EBA (Everything But Arms) trade access initiative for Africa is reconﬁgured.
In the light of the 2008 Doha development round collapse, we will re-initiate efforts to negotiate a free trade agreement between the Southern African Customs Union and the US.
Work for consistency in requirements imposed by various regional bodies which often require contradictory positions.
Continue to hold G8 nations to their 2005 agreement to double aid to Africa by 2010 and to provide debt relief for Africa’s poorest nations – but to explicitly acknowledge that good governance is the key requirement for such enhanced assistance.
The DA will continue to help South African companies to move into Africa.
In particular, we will help to grow development corridors, such as the successful Johannesburg-Maputo corridor, by: Prioritising the removal of bureaucratic and administrative impediments.
Providing transparent and accountable commitments to the private sector to safeguard their investments.
Providing neighbouring countries with technology and skills assistance.
Chinese investment in Africa is becoming increasingly important, and the DA will engage with the Chinese government to establish the rules of the road regarding its economic involvement in South Africa.
China’s rapidly expanding inﬂuence on the continent holds promise for Africa, especially for infrastructural development and exports.
But there are also many concerns about China’s record on the environment
and worker protection.
A NEW AGENDA FOR CHANGE AND HOPE FOR ALL
Once more our country stands at the threshold of a historic moment.
South Africans from all walks of lives have an opportunity to implement an Action Plan for Change in our advance to a united, non racial, non sexist and prosperous South Africa.
For the first time since our historic elections of 1994 that ushered in our new democracy, our people have a chance to further deepen democracy, defend the constitution, and move with speed to implement the ideals enunciated in our constitution.
We therefore call on you, the people of South Africa to vote for the people's congress - COPE, the party that has a new agenda to accelerate the national advance to: fearlessly defend the constitution and uphold the rule of law;
systematically eradicate poverty,
grow the economy,
create decent work and substantially reduce unemployment;
protect the environment and our natural resources for future generations;
equip and educate our children to be globally competitive and ready to function in the knowledge economy and provide our people with opportunities to acquire the necessary skills to realise their full potential;
significantly improve the quality of health care and increase health literacy;
fight and reduce crime and provide better safety and security for all;
enhance the gains made in the empowerment of women to achieve gender equality;
empower and develop the youth to realise their full potential and play their rightful role in society;
strengthen families, family life and communities;
unite the nation to act together to build a truly non-racial South Africa;
and, contribute to the development of Africa, strengthen South-South cooperation and build a more just world.
LEADERS WHO ARE HONEST SERVANTS OF THE PEOPLE
COPE will present South Africa with a leadership that is committed to serving the people, protecting and preserving public resources and assets and ensuring that corruption, waste and mismanagement are eradicated.
COPE will also ensure that: candidates presented by parties for elections publicly declare their assets to the Independent Electoral Commission;
candidates must publicly declare any criminal convictions to the Independent Electoral Commission;
parties must publicly report the source of the funds and material assistance they receive before each election day and annually;
all candidates should declare whether they are taxcompliant before election day;
the asset-reporting procedures for elected representatives and Members of the Executive are strengthened;
transparency on the awarding of government tenders is improved and strengthened;
the legislation to protect whistleblowers is improved and strengthened;
mechanisms are improved to ensure that employees in the public service and functionaries in State Owned Enterprises are professional in their conduct and protected from intimidation and victimization by public representatives and members of the Executive;
the procedures prescribed in municipal legislation for ward councilors report regularly to their constituencies are extended to members of the national and provincial legislatures.
COPE - A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE
Our country is full of good hard working people who deserve a government that is truly accountable and committed to serving them and does not tolerate corruption and personal greed.
To achieve this objective, COPE will: enable people to directly elect their most senior representatives, namely, the President, Premiers and Mayors, to enhance accountability of all public office-bearers and improve public participation in all forms of governance;
ensure that these popularly elected representatives can only be removed from office by the people, through clearly defined and nationally agreed to constitutional procedures;
ensure the people directly elect their public representatives to the national and provincial legislatures in such a manner as to achieve a mixture of direct election and proportional representation, drawing from the experience of the current electoral system at local government level;
ensure that the national and provincial governments should have procedures defined by law, to regularly report and account to the people and publicly to report on the content and outcome of these processes;
ensure good, accountable and participatory governance at all levels by entrenching processes of public consultation as prescribed by the Constitutional Court;
ensure that workers in the public sector, including the police, teachers and health workers, and others, should have the right to form and belong to trade unions to represent them in negotiations with the state, about wages, working conditions, etc. and that such organized labour unions would not be affiliated to political parties, or to confederations so affiliated;
so as to ensure that such unions act at all times in a professional manner and uphold the best principles of public service;
ensure that all spheres of government are obliged by law to work consistently to create a climate of tolerance for different points of view, and the active involvement of the people in determining all elements of their future;
take additional steps to empower the institutions supporting democracy, especially to ensure that our nation is governed in a manner that strictly respects our Bill of Rights;
to promote a free and responsible citizenry who live without fear, confident about themselves and their future, yearning to contribute positively to the well-being of society and thereby create their own future;
continuously work at improving the protection of the independence of the judiciary, freedom of the press and the independence of the Reserve Bank;
institute a governance and constitutional review process on the functioning of the governance process, including all spheres of government, traditional leadership, civil society, international obligations, etc, to ensure that our country has a governance system that operates according to the principle - the people shall govern!
COPE - RESPECT FOR THE VALUES AND THE PRINCIPLES OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN PEOPLE
We can only build the new South Africa on the basis of a value system which defines the identity of the South African nation, giving us pride in ourselves as a people, constituting part of what makes all of us - Proudly South African!
Accordingly, a COPE government will put in place processes directed at advancing: the values of Ubuntu / Botho, which include: human and social solidarity,
respect for human life,
safety and security for all citizens,
harmonious and respectful relations between the young and the elderly, with the young understanding the imperative to give due recognition to the older generations,
respect for the dignity of women, protect the innocence of children, encourage and positive influence on, and direct the energy of, the youth, give due recognition to the needs of people with disabilities;
and, the protection of the dignity of every person;
the practice of voluntary community service and corporate social responsibility and promote philanthropy;
that all of us as South Africans, black and white, men and women, rural and urban, united in our diversity, will work hard to take our country from good to great and will, actively work to achieve social and national cohesion, develop a new and vibrant patriotism as well as a shared national identity;
attachment to, and respect for national symbols, and the achievement of the objective contained in our constitution that - the aim of education shall be to teach the youth to love the people and their culture, to honour human fellowship, liberty and peace;
freedom of artistic expression, and therefore active encouragement of the plastic and performing arts,
including theatre, music, painting and sculpture, literature, sport and all other forms of human creativity;
respect for the democratic gains achieved through the immense sacrifices of millions of our people, liberating and enabling the citizens freely to participate in the process of determining their destiny, with no fear of repression, intimidation or abuse of political power to silence voices of dissent;
promote healthy lifestyles and the participation in sports, especially in centers of learning and work to ensure continued resource and patriotic support of all national teams by all South Africans;
work to ensure a successful 2010 and use it to help foster national cohesion and;
the initiation of a National Dialogue which would accelerate the progress towards the achievement of the strategic objectives of building National and Social Cohesion, to create a truly democratic, united, non-racial, non-sexist, and prosperous South Africa.
Together with traditional and religious leaders we should promote progressive values that derive from ourcultures, tradition, religions and beliefs across the board.
COPE - GROWING THE ECONOMY AND INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY TO CREATE DECENT WORK
While South Africa has enjoyed macro economic stability and sustained economic growth, more can be done to ensure that trade and enterprise development becomes a priority.
In this regard, at the top of our agenda is also the creation of decent jobs in recognition of the fact that: employment, is the principal route for our people out of poverty;
workers have rights;
workers should have social protection to safeguard income and underpin health; and
dialogue is crucial to ensuring the joint participation of employers' and workers' organizations in shaping government decisions.
COPE is painfully aware that many South Africans are unemployed or currently losing their jobs, and that families face increased hunger and poverty because of the difficult global and local economic conditions.
COPE will put in place a short, medium and long-term programme to respond to this situation, including ensuring that: all companies facing retrenchments strictly implement all the relevant provisions in our Labour Relations legislation;
where retrenchments become unavoidable, social plans are activated to address the needs of the affected workers;
Government reviews existing legislation relating to corporate insolvency, to strengthen mechanisms to assist companies in distress, sustain the economy and protect jobs, including setting up a stabilisation fund;
the public sector, including government and the state owned enterprises, sustain their investment programmes;
Government provides focused support for identified sectors and industries in the manufacturing sector, Industrial Development Zones (IDZs), especially in rural areas, agriculture and the services sector;
Government implements an effective programme to provide all-round assistance and support to small, medium and micro enterprises specifically by revising the mandate of all Development Finance Institutions (DFI's) such as the DBSA, IDC and regional development agencies to focus on the support of these enterprises;
encourage the creation of opportunities for decent work near where people live helping to reduce the transport cost to workers and the inefficiency of long distance commuting;
develop an integrated, intermodal, safe and reliable public transport system;
strengthen government interventions to give even greater impetus to the Proudly South African campaign, to promote South African products locally and globally, and attract greater volumes of foreign investment into our economy; and
achieve and maintain the correct balance between social and economic expenditure, to maintain the social wage for the benefit of the poor while increasing national wealth;
introducing a new formula to fund Universities and to reform SETAs and the NSF to ensure the development of relevant, skills needed by our economy;
continue to create opportunities for all South Africans, with emphasis to historically disadvantaged people, and the retention of scare skills;
reduce the red tape and bureaucratic obstacles for entrepreneurs who seek to set up enterprises and to introduce the electronic submission of tenders for government work thus reducing costs, distance and time thus reducing the barrier to entry for small enterprises and those located in distant areas;
prioritise research and development in those key sectors of the economy identified as growth and employment drivers, including the energy, manufacturing, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), services and tourism sectors.
COPE - BROADENING PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION IN THE ECONOMY
To systematically eradicate poverty and raise the standard of living of all South Africans, COPE is aware that all our people want to participate in economic activity to generate the necessary incomes to improve their standard of living and quality of life and that this is central to their dignity.
To achieve this strategic objective, our Government will: further extend the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) and improve its capacity to achieve its stated goals of developing social and economic infrastructure and expanding social services, including the provision of skills to those employed in these schemes and creation of work to clean and green the environment;
work with traditional leaders and their communities on a comprehensive rural development strategy, and to help put all available land to productive use, and support them along the entire agriculture production and marketing chain, including the necessary capital, infrastructure and skills development;
put measures to strengthen the implementation of the Employment Equity Act (Affirmative Action) and Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment to ensure the meaningful participation in the economy by historically disadvantaged people, especially women, youth, people with disability and the rural poor.
The state should take the lead in developing procurement policies that encourage the private sector to accelerate the implementation of these policies and to achieve employment equity especially, but not only, in senior management;
establish a Women's Development Fund to focus on funding and assisting women to engage in productive economic activity;
maintain and improve the effectiveness of the youth development initiatives encompassing the Umsobomvu Youth Development Fund and National Youth Commission, focused on assisting the youth to engage in productive economic activity both for themselves and for the country;
payment of service providers by government within 30 days of submission of invoice;
make resources available and strengthen institutional support, including dedicated government capacity to assist the further development of the Cooperative sector in job creating sectors;
promote food security, support subsistence farming and commercial agriculture;
fast track the finalisation of land claims and land restitution.
A COPE government will establish a systematic relationship between established and emerging commercial farmers to ensure even more productive use of the land;
engage the Provincial and Local spheres of government to extend support to small, medium and micro enterprises and the informal sector of the economy;
implement a comprehensive Human Resource Development Programme, paying particular attention to skills development and the expansion of the national pool of professionals; and,
put in place a vigorous programme to encourage the employment of skilled workers, graduates and professionals, including empowering them to start their own enterprises;
COPE - ENSURING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Our country and the rest of the world face choices about preserving the environment and the sustainability of our planet.
Sustainable development requires a commitment by the government, the private sector and communities to work together to promote economic development, create jobs while preserving the environment.
There is no tradeoff between economic growth and sustainability.
The two go hand-in-hand.
As a legacy to our children, our future, a COPE government will: progressively utilise natural gas, solar, wind, hydro and sea as sources of cleaner power generation;
where coal is used to generate power, there is a need to develop new cleaner technology to reduce emissions from these power stations, thus improving the health of our people especially communities in the surrounding areas;
promote measures to encourage the recycling of water, paper, metal, plastic and other consumables;
encourage organic farming and other natural methods of production that do not harm the environment.
The energy, ICT, services, tourism and manufacturing sectors are crucial to creating decent work and enterprise development opportunities.
Together with strengthening the mining and financial sector of our economy, this will be the basis for stability and growth in our economy.
COPE - FIGHTING POVERTY AND EXPANDING CARE FOR THE VULNERABLE
While economic growth and job creation are important measures to eradicate poverty, all South Africans especially the private and public sector have a duty to take measures to ensure that we improve the quality of life of the poor, especially the aged, women and children.
COPE has identified the eradication of poverty
and ending social exclusion as one of its historic tasks that is essential to restoring the dignity of all our people.
In addition to the programme of action outlined in this document, we will implement measures targeting especially the most vulnerable in our society.
Accordingly: we will ensure that the programmes we put in place both alleviate poverty and help to enhance the dignity of each and every citizen;
within the first six months after the elections we will announce a comprehensive anti-poverty strategy which will activate the poor in every household to participate in programmes to extricate themselves from poverty;
within the first six months after the elections we will announce an Integrated Social Security System which will guarantee the social grants currently being received by children, the elderly, people with disabilities, those incapacitated by chronic illness, and the unemployed, relating these to programmes to reduce dependence on social welfare where possible, for instance by creating work opportunities targeting beneficiaries, and ensuring that children receiving grants attend school.
We will institute special measures to give privileged access for the elderly and people with disabilities to the social wage, with relation especially to housing, public transport and health care;
as well as introduce a campaign to make this privileged treatment status into a culture of how the community in general and the young in particular treat and address these citizens.
We will increase the availability of special care facilities for the elderly who have no families to look after them, women and children in abusive relationships and environments respectively and homeless children living on our streets, ensuring that the children attend school.
COPE - IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE
COPE is acutely aware of the disparity in health care between rural and urban areas and between the private and public sector.
A COPE government will pay special attention to the improvement of the quality of health care.
Among other things we will ensure that: a primary health care model is strengthened, preventable and communicable diseases are prioritised for eradication and that we promote healthy lifestyles and increase health literacy among the public;
all clinics have medication, appropriate health professionals, access to emergency services (ambulances) and operate at all appropriate hours;
reduce long waiting times in hospitals through the use of information and communication technology systems, better management, employment of health professionals, and referral systems;
that all hospitals are clean, have medication, beds and linen;
develop a strategic partnership with the private health care providers in order to extend affordable health provision for all our people;
the transformation of the health sector is prioritised and that the private and the public sector services are integrated;
through the use of incentives, training and good working conditions a retention of healthcare professionals is achieved;
the implementation of the comprehensive HIV and AIDS Strategy encompassing prevention, treatment, care and support for those who are affected and infected, including the provision of antiretroviral treatment and the prevention of mother to child transmission;
promote the use of natural medicines and indigenous knowledge systems and increase the recognition of traditional healers.
COPE - IMPROVING SERVICE DELIVERY
COPE is duty-bound to respect the provisions in our Bill of Rights which state clearly that our people have such constitutional rights as access to adequate housing, health care, food, water, education, a healthy environment and social security.
We will therefore work to ensure that: all spheres of government have strong and stable state institutions to provide these services, including decent schools, housing, health care facilities, water and sewerage disposal and roads;
we implement programmes to attract especially the relevant skilled and professional personnel into these institutions, train additional personnel, and constantly review salaries and working conditions to where appropriate improve the remuneration of these public sector workers;
we restructure the national budget further, to increase the funds and other resources available to these institutions, especially at local government level;
we use the Expanded Public Works Programme to expand and maintain the social and economic infrastructure required for the provision of the various services;
we improve the tendering processes and the award of contracts to ensure the construction of affordable infrastructure of high quality,
and eliminate corruption in the award of contracts;
we improve the planning processes and capacity of state employees to ensure that allocated resources are actually spent within the intended periods, again also ensuring the creation of high quality products;
we create a strong Inspectorate to ensure the necessary quality control of the service delivery by the public and by private sector companies of government contracts;
we adopt new measures to make certain that government is better empowered to eliminate corruption in the award of contracts, including the expulsion of corrupt people from the public sector;
all employees in management positions sign performance contracts, making it possible to dismiss those who fail to honour their contractual obligations, while improving the job security of these employees by further professionalizing the public service; and,
we institute a general review of the public sector to ensure that it becomes more effective, including utilising public-private, public-public and NGO partnerships to enhance service delivery as well as reviewing and challenging all monopolies;
Service delivery is a right of all South Africans regardless of where they live.
It is not a privilege!
COPE - EDUCATING AND TRAINING OUR PEOPLE FOR DEVELOPMENT, A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL, AND HUMAN DIGNITY
COPE agrees with most South Africans on the critical importance of education in building a prosperous country as well as and that training is essential to meeting the challenges our country faces.
We will therefore pay particular attention to this sector and: ensure that all our educators throughout the school system are trained and re-trained and provided with tools to empower them to discharge their responsibilities,
and that we constantly work to improve their working conditions and remuneration;
ensure that school principals are properly trained, rewarded and motivated to carry out their management responsibilities and be accordingly accountable;
provide incentives to increase the number of educators specialising in mathematics and the sciences;
provide more resources for the Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges, ensure that the graduates have the appropriate skills required by our economy and society, and provide bursaries especially for students who come from poor families and those that focus on priority skills specially identified by government;
establish a University Grants or Funding Commission that will be independent but accountable, consultative with higher education institutions, which will explore appropriate funding mechanisms and liaise with the Treasury;
COPE will work with higher education institutions, both public and private, to increase the output of graduates and reduce the drop-out rate, among other things by running programmes to upgrade especially the first-year African students in need;
will promote a learning and knowledge society by advancing technology, enhancing research and creating a society with love of learning and engaged in societal development;
work with the Universities and other Institutes of Higher learning to improve their coordination with the FET system and the business sector to ensure that their graduates have the kind of education that is relevant to the needs of the economy and society;
further improve the levels of financial support especially to university students who come from poor families , and by encouraging work/study opportunities for students;
widen access to primary and secondary education through the implementation of properly targeted processes of progressively and speedily expanding the number of no fee schools, improving the school feeding scheme;
accelerate the Adult Basic Education and Training Programme to end illiteracy and enhance numeracy; and,
ensure that all schools, especially those in poor and rural communities, are properly constructed, with access to electricity, water, sanitation, laboratories, libraries and the required books and stationery as well as ICTs thus improving their access to information and to closing the gap between rural and urban schools, and between schools serving rich and poor communities.; and,
establish a youth cadet service, learnerships and internships to get all school leavers to serve and support our communities and learn the necessary skills to find or generate decent work.
A COPE government will revisit the role of parastatals in the development of artisans.
COPE - THE PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT FIGHTING CRIME AND ENSURING THE SAFETY OF ALL OUR CITIZENS
COPE is fully conscious of the fact that to realise the goal of a better life for all our people we must radically reduce the incidences of crime and ensure the safety and security of all our citizens.
To achieve these objectives we will: work with communities and community based organisations and NGOs to build safer places where we live;
have specialised programs and activities to focus on the youth thus keeping them away from engaging in criminal activities;
strengthen the South African Police Service (SAPS) by ensuring that the SAPS delivers a quality, professional, non-partisan service to the members of the public, in terms of the Constitution and that visible policing is made a matter of priority;
with the SAPS improve its capacity to fight crime through increasing the numbers of personnel and the quality of the training of the plain clothes police and increase the crime intelligence gathering capability of the police;
reinstate the Directorate of Special Operations (Scorpions) along the lines recommended by the Khampepe Judicial Commission, and empower them to focus on organised crime, including corruption in both the public and private sectors;
work to strengthen cooperation between the SAPS, municipal police and the population to raise the offensive against criminals to a higher level, including by assisting the SAPS on managing its administrative burden through the better use of ICT, community volunteers assisting at the police stations and members of the Youth Cadet Service;
speed up the process of integrating the criminal justice system as a whole, to improve cooperation among its components, increasing the effectiveness of each one of these as well as the system as a whole, including the introduction of community courts with flexible operating hours;
ensure the transformation of the judicial process to improve efficiency and effectiveness by freeing up the officers of the court to hear cases;
work with communities and NGOs at the local level to mobilise them to intensify the fight against many forms of crime, such as rape and violence against women and children, murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, which frequently occur among people who know one another;
consider legislation that will make it difficult to withdraw charges on violent crimes and specifically crimes against women and children;
establish specialised units to combat identified priority crimes and crime areas in each of the provinces, including crimes committed against women and children and to ensure investigators and prosecutors work jointly on solving these crimes;
further improve the effectiveness of the Moral Regeneration Movement to inspire the nation to act according to the value system we need, which encompasses opposition to crime;
strengthen the institutions within the criminal justice system dedicated to rooting out corruption among the functionaries within this system;
focusing on programs of rehabilitation and programs to prevent repeat offenders returning to prison;
work with organised business and their efforts to support the SAPS and our communities in the fight against crime; and,
consider the introduction of a mandatory life sentence to habitual repeat offenders who perpetrate serious and violent crimes;
adhere to international protocols that South Africa is a signatory to in order to increase our ability to fight crime in collaboration with the international community.
COPE - ADVANCING THE AFRICAN AGENDA AND CREATING A BETTER WORLD
COPE is determined to ensure that our country plays its role as a force for progressive change for a stronger South Africa, better Africa and more humane world based on a human rights culture.
In this regard a COPE government will seek to achieve the NEPAD objectives and be guided by, among others, the NEPAD Principles.
That good governance is a basic requirement for peace, security and sustainable political and socioeconomic development, that the development of Africa should be anchored on the continent's resources and resourcefulness of its people;
it's essential to change the unequal relationship between Africa and the developed world and that all Partnerships with NEPAD should be linked to the Millennium Development Goals.
We will therefore: Develop a foreign policy firmly founded on the human and constitutional rights provisions of our Constitution, and advancing the national interests of South Africa and the development of Africa;
work with the SADC countries to expedite the process implementing the agreements already reached to progress regional integration, including addressing the challenges of poverty, peace, stability, democracy and human rights;
work with all the countries of our Continent to accelerate the processes towards the development and Unity of Africa, including addressing the challenges of poverty, peace, stability, democracy and human rights and to promote trade between African countries;
work globally with all like-minded countries to address such important global challenges as the reform of the United Nations and other institutions of global governance in the multilateral system, climate change, trans-national organised crime, and international terrorism;
take advantage of the current global economic crisis to promote the restructuring of the world economy to accelerate progress towards the eradication of poverty and underdevelopment especially in Africa and the countries of the South;
strengthen our bilateral relations with various countries in Africa, the South and the North to enhance our capacity to accelerate our development as well as realise our foreign policy objectives based on trade relations and respect for human rights.
In this regard the relationship with Brazil, India and China becomes paramount;
ensure, by our actions, that the renewal of Africa through the implementation of NEPAD, remains the centre-piece of our foreign policy and that our country continues to enjoy the respect of the African masses throughout Africa and the African Diaspora;
and work with fraternal parties for democracy, freedom of expression, press freedom and freedom of association.
We should be unequivocal in the condemnation of countries and human rights that violate human rights!
COPE is committed to the AU 50/50 gender parity resolution in all public structures.
COPE - INSPIRING SOUTH AFRICANS TO BUILD A BETTER SOUTH AFRICA!
The Congress of the People emerged out of a commitment to defend the constitution,
protect our democracy and to promote the rule of law.
A COPE government will therefore be the most committed to carrying out these tasks.
The Congress of the People was preceded by a national convention, with many South Africans taking part, symbolising the yearning to be involved in policy formulation, decision making, and the improvement of the lives of all South Africans.
A COPE government is committed to ensuring continuous dialogue.
The Congress of the People emerged out of a desire to ensure that government is led by people with high moral standing, integrity, honesty and a commitment to serve the people.
A COPE government is the most prepared to providing such leadership.
The response of women from all walks of life to the formation of the Congress of the People confirms the need to continue to ensure the promotion of gender equality, women's rights and economic emancipation.
A COPE government is best placed to lead such a programme.
The response of all South Africans across the racial divide confirms the need to move with speed to ensure equality, non racialism and inclusiveness in the country's social, economic and body politic to heal the past and together forge a new South Africa.
Only a COPE government can achieve such a historic mission.
Since the formation of the congress of the people, traditional leaders and the rural masses have thrown their weight behind COPE, confirming the need to work in partnership with a party that recognises the role of traditional leaders and the importance of aligning their system of governance to our democratic system of governance as well as their role in social and economic development programmes.
A COPE government is the one that can most be trusted to carry out such a programme.
Communities of faith too have been at the forefront of the formation and promotion of the agenda to promote South African values that are progressive such as integrity, honesty and the rule of law, all of which are found in our faiths and religions in their diversity.
A COPE government will represent a party which has, from the outset, considered these values as the core to its existence.
It will therefore be best placed to carry forward these values.
We are inspired by the vision shared by all our people, black and white, of the sense of history as we get a new opportunity to build anew a people-centred, caring and inclusive and common South African nation.
Building a South Africa in which we all, equally, have rights and responsibilities.
A South Africa to whose development we have individual and collective responsibility, for the sake of our future generations.
COPE will therefore support the emerging unity of all South Africans, sharing a common patriotism, and committed to combining their efforts to build the South Africa of our dreams,
with special focus on the eradication of poverty and underdevelopment and of ensuring greater prosperity.
COPE will work in a sustained manner to guarantee the dignity of all our people by intensifying the struggle against poverty, racism and sexism, for racial and gender equality and for respect for all.
COPE will work to ensure that we reduce the inequalities, including those relating to wealth, income and opportunity, which continue to characterize our society.
COPE will work towards the realisation of the goals of quality education and health for all,
to reduce the disempowerment of the citizen by ignorance, and by the impact of such debilitating diseases as HIV and AIDS, TB, diabetes and other manifestations of communicable and chronic illness.
COPE will work to free our people from the twin scourges of crime
and corruption.
COPE will actively promote the value system of Ubuntu/ Botho.
COPE will work to ensure full respect for our Constitution and the rule of law.
COPE will work to ensure clean government, free of corruption and nepotism,
and a leadership that upholds high moral standards, committed to serve the people of South Africa.
INTRODUCTION: THE CHALLENGE OF OUR DEMOCRACY IN 2009 AND BEYOND
After 15 years South Africa stands at a crossroads.
The outcome of the 2009 elections will impact hugely on the direction the country takes in the next few years.
Since 1994, development has been contradictory: there has been progress, stagnation, and regression.
While applauding the progress, we decry the stagnation and denounce the regression.
What are some of the key challenges?
At the political level, the flowering of democracy has co-existed with worrying developments.
One is the fact that the dominance of a single party within the within the political system has failed the requirement of there being a viable opposition capable of taking over when the ruling party fails.
Worse however, is that the ruling party has abused power for its benefit.
The conflation of Party and State, the extensive deployment of Party’s cronies throughout organs of state and industry, the growing patronage and corruption, the abuse of power, the threats to the judiciary – these are mere examples of a larger malaise.
At the economic level, while there has been laudable substantial progress, the country has not benefited optimally from the long global boom and is ill prepared for the recent crunch.
As a result, our economy has not grown as vigorously as it should have,
and far too few jobs have been created.
Comparable countries have done much better.
Poverty remains as critical as ever, with the numbers of poor growing every year.
Inequality is also growing and the income gap between the rich and the poor is widening.
Obscene wealth lives alongside obscene poverty.
At the social level, while there are many positive signs of post-apartheid recovery, major threats have not been adequately tackled.
Violent crime, especially against women and children, drug abuse, xenophobia, corruption, lack of respect for each other are signs of the moral degeneration now spreading like a cancer.
Major diseases like HIV/Aids, TB and malaria continue to ravage our people.
Entrenched poverty worsens.
The United Nations Human Development Index shows that the average life expectancy of a South African is lower in 2009 than it was in 1994.
We should be proud of what we have collectively achieved over the past 15 years.
However, the many wasted opportunities and what remains to be done call for immediate change of direction and leadership.
The IFP’s vision and its policies have always contributed to South Africa.
They have often been adopted begrudgingly by the ruling party.
What we offer now is truly valuable for our future and that of our children and grandchildren.
We are not about ideology.
Labels such as “left”, “centre” or “right” do not help identifying what is needed.
We are pragmatists focused on what works best.
We look at international best practice and at what has and has not worked at home.
Global economic integration is a fact of our times: we must harvest its benefits while coping with its grave challenges.
The State must support those the globalised market fails, which is morally and practically correct.
Left to their own devices or to those of a minimalist state, those left behind will forever stay behind.
Our Manifesto builds on the good achieved to date and deals with the evil and the insufficient in our society.
We want to make things better, fix what is broken, and stop the rot: not to reinvent the wheel.
None of this can be achieved unless all South Africans become aware of the real issues and participate in and monitor their solution.
We have engaged with South Africans at length and thank all those who have participated so enthusiastically in our policy programme over the past years.
Our Manifesto springs out of that dialogue and will continue to grow as that dialogue continues.
WHY WE EXIST
The IFP exists as a political party to serve the people of South Africa, and to do so in the spirit of ubuntu/botho.
Our primary purpose is to serve.
It is why we exist.
We contest elections and we seek power in order to serve the people by addressing their needs and by doing so better than anyone else.
We are servants, not masters, of the people.
We recognise ubuntu/botho as the foundation of all human interaction.
No person is an island.
Because we are who we are only through our interaction with others, we respect everyone and treat everyone with compassion and empathy, and in a manner that recognises their intrinsic human dignity.
WHO ARE WE? WHAT ARE OUR VALUES?
Values guide your behaviour.
They give meaning to what you do.
They depict who you are and what you stand for.
Values are therefore the foundation of any organisation’s policies and programmes.
The IFP has three key values.
These are: Solidarity,
Freedom and
Unity in Diversity, all of which are interconnected, and each of which is associated with other, secondary values.
Solidarity
In our service to the people, the IFP will stand together with those affected by poverty, unemployment, abuse, crime, violence and other social ills and discrimination.
South Africa has an enormous number of people who, left to the exigencies of the market or a minimalist state, would suffer even more severe depredations than that fate has bestowed upon them.
The IFP will not stand aloof as our people suffer but will work with them, as an expression of compassion and fraternity, in providing assistance.
Freedom
We seek a South Africa in which the potential of every person to a dignified life can be realised, with integrity, within a democratic environment.
We believe everyone has the right to participate in party affairs and to advance themselves so long as their activities are premised on integrity.
Everyone within the party has the right to speak and to be heard, to be treated with dignity, and to stand for any office.
We embrace internal democracy, transparency and accountability.
We stand for a constitutional state in which individual rights are protected against intrusive government, in which the poor and vulnerable are assisted, and in which the autonomy of civil society is not infringed upon.
Unity in Diversity
We embrace our differences and reject the notion that we are all the same.
We are equal under the law, of course, but South Africa is nonetheless made up of many different cultures, groups, races, religions, communities and peoples.
None of these is more important than any other, though we do embrace Christian and other faith-based values.
The IFP welcomes all into our fold.
We are inclusive, we promote multiculturalism and we encourage the sharing of power among our constituents.
The IFP is a home for all South Africans subscribing to our values and policies, and are welcome to join with us in our great quest to make South Africa a better country.
These values reflect who we are in that they guide our behaviour as a political party.
They equally reflect what we aspire to for the country as a whole.
OUR VISION
What society do we want for ourselves and future generations?
It is, in short, a just, prosperous and moral society whose citizens engage with each other on the basis of ubuntu/botho.
A just society is one which is fair,
which has successfully addressed the challenges of our past and, unfortunately, even the present – the lack of access to basic services,
to sustainable jobs,
to quality education
and healthcare,
and to security.
It also results in freedom and equality for all before the law, irrespective of who you are and where you come from.
A prosperous society is one in which mass poverty has been eradicated and in which our people are able to pursue a better life,
in which everyone is able to develop to his or her fullest human potential.
A prosperous society provides opportunity for all,
provides high quality services
and contributes towards stability and unity.
A moral society is one governed by timeless moral precepts of good, unlike the situation in South Africa today which is characterised by fear, violence, crime, greed and corruption.
We believe in a society based on strong family and strong community.
There is a contrast between many amoral leaders and elites and the essential goodness of most South Africans – we believe everyone has a role to play in making South Africa a better place.
A society underpinned by the spirit of ubuntu/botho must necessarily promote justice and prosperity and morality for all.
We believe such a society is a possibility, and is not merely a dream.
We believe our values of solidarity, freedom and unity, and our principles and policies coupled with bold leadership and political courage, can achieve this vision.
POLICY PRIORITIES AND CHALLENGES
One of the key failures of government over the past 15 years has been the failure to prioritise policy goals.
As a result it has attempted to do too much, spreading its limited resources too thinly and thereby ensuring at least partial failure to attain its key objectives.
Over-ambitious goals in the context of a state machine weakened by transformation and partisan politicisation has aggravated the situation and contributed to a general perception that there may be a dominant party but that it controls a weak government.
The IFP is focussed on ensuring that the needs of South Africa and South Africans come first and our key objectives are centred on: Economic growth
& job creation,
Combating poverty,
Law and Order,
Education,
Health,
Redressing the past,
Land reform,
The role of South Africa in the world,,
The moral challenge.
JOB CREATION THROUGH MAXIMISING ECONOMIC GROWTH
The challenge
It is a crucial policy objective that South Africa maximises economic growth.
The key point is that while growth cannot of itself solve all the problems of unemployment, poverty or inequality, it gives policy makers the tools to grapple more effectively with a wide range of socioeconomic problems.
Without accelerated economic growth, the challenge of creating sufficient numbers of sustainable jobs cannot be met.
The current international economic meltdown is resulting in a worldwide jobs crisis and SA is not immune from this contagion.
But even before this, our moderate growth rate over the past 10 -15 years has resulted in the numbers of unemployed persons constantly rising.
Unfortunately, GEAR’s 6% economic growth target has remained elusive from the start.
But while GEAR did set this target, we agree with many economists that in order to generate the levels of employment needed in South Africa, the economy needs to grow at 8% and more, comparable to the more successful emerging economies.
The fact of the matter is that a rapidly growing economy equates to a larger economy, and the compounding benefit of this over time is enormous -to the obvious benefit of all South Africans, especially those presently unemployed.
With the global economy in the state it is at present, South Africa cannot aspire to this level of performance in the short term.
But for the longer term the country needs now, to adopt the right policies.
THE SOLUTION
The IFP believes we can -in time -indeed grow our economy at 8% plus.
What is required to raise our present modest growth and promote job creation are the following measures: Dramatically improve our skills base.
Unskilled learners equate to unemployed youths and the future is a knowledge-based economy.
Improving the skills base should be done via a variety of measures, most important of which are better educational outputs from a system which is currently in crisis.
We should also access the global market for skilled workers and entrepreneurs both because our skills shortage impedes growth and because every skilled worker we import generates permanent jobs at minimal cost.
Promote the SMME sector and change our labour laws to make it easier for small businesses to create new jobs.
In most countries, it is the SMMEs that generate the greatest number of jobs, but this is not the case in South Africa which is fixated on the role of large companies.
Through expanding the role of our development finance institutions, give smaller businesses easier access to capital.
Raising capital in South Africa is very difficult for new entrants into the economy and we need to remedy this if we are to promote entrepreneurship.
Improve our infrastructure (roads, power supplies, ports).
This is critical.
We are short of power stations, our harbours are a disgrace and the rail system cannot cope.
Also liberalise and expand the ICT sector -modern, cost effective communications is central to any modern economy.
The status quo has failed South Africa whose communications costs are far higher than they should be if we want to grow the economy faster.
Commit to an industrial policy that promotes beneficiation and manufactured exports and
also focus on sectors with higher job potential such as agriculture and tourism.
Be more investor-friendly and encourage foreign direct investment.
The IFP does not advocate unbridled, laissez faire capitalism associated with a minimalist state.
We recognise the imperatives driving our need to be a developmental state, but this does not imply an over-interventionist state whose actions unnecessarily limit the growth potential of our economy
Thus, though we need to recognise an important role for the state, we believe more emphasis must be placed on the role of the private sector in generating growth and jobs.
And we need to ensure that the negative consequences of high growth can be dealt with through other types of state intervention so that whatever we do to promote growth and jobs, we also protect our more vulnerable citizens and provide a safety net for the poor.
COMBATTING POVERTY
The challenge
A significant section of our population is trapped in poverty.
This is demeaning both in respect of the lack of access by the poor to material resources as well as in their poverty being an affront to their human dignity.
Indeed, the IFP believes the biggest indictment of democracy in South Africa is that poverty has worsened, and is in fact more prevalent today than at any time in our recent past.
Neither the levels of economic growth nor the various measures the government has taken to date have been sufficient to free the poor from their poverty trap.
While the IFP endorses the widespread provision of a variety of grants to the needy, this needs to be balanced against long term, more sustainable interventions which encourage self-sufficiency and self-help.
The present approach of strengthening dependency and creating a culture of entitlement has unfortunately weakened the natural inclination of the poor to try to improve on their circumstances.
At the moment, the poor are suffering from alienation, desperation and hopelessness.
The IFP will change this.
THE SOLUTION
Lacking appropriate economic skills and often trapped in sub-economic rural areas, the poor require focused anti-poverty measures to improve their life chances.
The IFP believes both short-term and long-term initiatives are required.
In the short term, the poor require measures to improve their living standards, including: Improved infrastructure – better roads, water, energy and sanitation.
Improvements to the grant system – better benefits for the aged (a minimum of R1,500 pm social pensions), for child-headed families, for carers of aids orphans, for children (R880pm up to the age of 18); vouchers where this is better than cash; and a Basic Income Grant.
Improved heath care – better local preventive and curative care at minimal cost.
Government-run subsidised food distribution.
Protect social pensioners and grantees from exploitation.
In the longer term, the poor need to be equipped with the skills to build for themselves, a decent life style.
The IFP believes: There is a need to inculcate and promote -with government assistance -a sense of self-help and self-reliance to build a better life and to discourage permanent dependency on the state.
Education is the key to freeing people from poverty.
Education for the poor must be dramatically improved.
At the moment education of the poor in particular, is in crisis, which contributes to the poor staying poor.
We need to prioritise both formal and informal education.
Rural agriculture must be resuscitated.
A healthy agricultural sector is crucial for both food security and for sustainable livelihoods.
Government must assist with training, seeds, tractors, fertilisers and so on.
Special attention needs to be paid to the beneficiaries of the land reform process to make their farming more viable.
Municipalities, and also provinces, are key role players in addressing poverty.
Their powers and resources to deal with poverty should be increased.
Government should work with NGOs and civic organisations as partners.
Despite its positive interventions, Government has, over three terms of office, failed to deal decisively and effectively with poverty.
Indeed, poverty and inequality endure at unacceptably high levels.
Unfortunately, there are no signs of the situation improving and there is no comprehensive plan to turn the situation around.
The IFP however, has the compassion and vision to do what is right and what is necessary to address the plight of the poor.
LAW AND ORDER
The challenge
The pre-eminent responsibility of any government is to ensure the safety and security of its citizens.
Without it none of the other policy goals have much significance.
One could therefore argue with conviction that the creation of a lawabiding country is the most important single policy priority.
The challenges facing our failing criminal justice system are legion.
Some examples: the courts take too long to finalise cases; there is inadequate policing; resources are inadequate; there is too much centralisation of police functions, including crime prevention strategies; our borders are porous, allowing criminals free entry and exit; there is a lack of proper training; there is a lack of respect for authority; there is political interference in the system (eg, the disbandment of the DSO/Scorpions); our prisons are overcrowded; police are disempowered by disallowing them to use maximum force to arrest criminals;
corruption is endemic.
In general, the courts are cumbersome, and the state lacks the ability to successfully handle the many and complex prosecutions;
the effectiveness of the police has plummeted;
and the prisons are notorious for their criminality and corruption.
In the meantime, since 70% of all cases are not being prosecuted to conclusion, most criminals escape unpunished, free to engage in crime.
And to top it all, crime in South Africa is characterised by excessive violence, creating a psychosis among our people, wondering if each day will be their last.
THE SOLUTION
Much is required to turn this around.
While there has been progress in certain areas, in general it is insufficient and must be rapidly accelerated.
The judiciary:
We need to protect the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
Retain or reinstate the Scorpions.
Mandatory time frames should be legislated to improve the efficiency of judgements and sentencing.
Accessibility to the courts should be improved.
We need to ensure affordable legal costs, inter alia by improving the legal aid system.
Corruption must be eradicated.
Working conditions of the judiciary must be improved.
Appointments to the bench should be depoliticised.
Policing:
Appointments to the police force must be depoliticised.
We need to upgrade the training system, with a special focus on investigative skills and forensics.
We must reinstate specialised units.
Policing powers should be decentralised, even to the local level.
There should be far more community involvement in crime prevention and in inculcating a culture of respect for authority, and the police should be more accountable to communities.
Government must provide adequate resources for effective, efficient and professional policing.
There should be more police, they should be more visible and their response times should be improved.
Police must be released from administrative duties to focus on policing.
Working conditions must be significantly improved, and a fair promotions policy developed and implemented.
The country must develop a highly qualified, well paid and highly motivated cadre of crime fighters to make South Africa safe.
More focus must be placed on victims’ rights.
The causes of crime should be better addressed.
Prisons and correctional institutions:
The parole system must be overhauled and depoliticised to prevent hard-core criminals and the politically connected from benefiting.
Hard labour should be reintroduced for certain categories of crime and there should be stricter control over conditions under which hard core prisoners serve their sentences.
There should be improved working conditions.
Much more effort must be made to rehabilitate juvenile offenders.
There should be alternatives to prison for those convicted of minor offences.
More prisons and correctional facilities should be built.
Corruption must be stamped out and appointments depoliticised.
Since 1994, the criminal justice system has failed to deliver, and for most South Africans, the systemic criminality of our society appears as bad, if not worse, than it has ever been.
What many perceive to be a kid glove approach has not worked.
It is time for a new, tougher, and more localised approach.
EDUCATION
The challenge
Education in South Africa is in a state of crisis.
Some examples: The government has failed miserably in providing an education that prepares our students for the job market.
Basic literacy, numeracy and writing skills have been grossly neglected.
The country presently lacks a highly qualified, well paid and highly motivated cadre of educators.
Under the present system there is a scarcity and uneven or erratic distribution of resources.
The management of the whole education system is structurally dysfunctional.
The present system does not address the shortage of educators in the fields of maths, science and technical subjects.
Some educational institutions have become havens of drug abuse, violence, teenage pregnancies, ill-discipline and immoral behaviour.
Under the present system school governing bodies play no meaningful role and they are assigned responsibilities for which they have received no proper training.
The system is in crisis as a result of the government’s state of denial with regards to the HIV and AIDS pandemic.
All in all, education is in a sorry state.
THE SOLUTION
Specific issues to be addressed include the following: South Africa needs a diversified education system that properly caters for the vocational, technical and academic needs of the country.
Education should be free up to and including grade 12.
We must do away with the half measures characterising the status quo.
We must make tertiary education more affordable.
We must radically review OBE which has failed us outright and discard it if necessary.
The country must develop a highly qualified, well-paid and highly motivated cadre of educators to achieve quality education.
We need more teacher training colleges (those closed should be reopened) and we must provide far more bursaries in targeted subjects such as maths, science and technical subjects.
The teaching of these subjects must be prioritised at primary school level.
We must ensure that all institutions of learning are adequately and appropriately resourced.
Policy making should be devolved to provinces with the autonomy to formulate their own education policies suitable to their diverse needs.
Discipline, of both learners and educators, must be returned to schools.
A respect for authority and a respect for the profession, must be reintroduced.
We must revisit laws that allow for or encourage anti-social behaviour.
Schools must be secure and crime-free.
We should recall qualified and experienced personnel prematurely lost to the profession, providing better incentives.
We must better regulate the use of third party agencies in the distribution of textbooks and stationery.
Existing staff must be capacitated in the acquisition and supply processes.
We must bring back a culture of accountability throughout the system, at educator and management level and empower school governing bodies.
We must make our education more competitive in the global market.
While the government inherited a racially discriminatory education system, it has nonetheless failed to provide all South Africans with quality education, and there remains a vast gap between the education provided the poor and the rest.
The IFP believes far more must be done to address inherited inequities and to ensure the education system affords everybody the means to fulfil his or her potential.
HEALTH POLICY
The challenge
If the single defining health issue is whether citizens have access to affordable, good quality health services, then the answer must be an unfortunate “no”.
The health system is facing many challenges, but despite the fact that South Africa spends as much or more on health as do other comparable countries, our outputs are depressing: for instance, the average life expectancy of postapartheid South Africans is decreasing every year when it should be increasing.
The most shocking instance of the failure of the health system relates to the extremely poor leadership of the government in respect of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in which the prevalence rate has increased from 3% to between 11% and 17% since 1994.
The anti-intellectual, anti-scientific and pro-quackery leadership of the health department has made SA the laughing stock of the world and has condemned too many of our people to a miserable and unnecessary death.
Pandering to dissidents’ denialism also led to the country squandering an opportunity for early and decisive intervention when the infection rate was more manageable.
Government needs to apologise to the country for the ensuing tragedy.
Other challenges facing our health system include: the often appalling state of our clinics and community health centres with their shortages of equipment and medication;
the critical shortage of health professionals at state hospitals generally and rural hospitals in particular;
poor treatment of heath professionals in rural areas, leading to resignation and defeatism;
an “out of sight, out of mind” attitude to communicable diseases; etc.
THE SOLUTION
HIV and AIDS:
The IFP will adopt a radical departure from the present genocidal HIV and AIDS practice and declare HIV and AIDS a national crisis.
The IFP advocates, as the most effective tool for prevention of HIV infection: abstinence; delayed sexual debut; reduction in numbers of sexual partners (especially premarital couples); more condom use (especially the femdom) among the sexually active; and greater emphasis on fidelity in marriage.
In terms of treatment, the IFP will prioritise upgrading the health system and rolling out treatment in line with the original targets of an additional 278 000 people being put on ARVs every year.
The IFP will support the ARV rollout by giving coherent and consistent messages about the relative benefit of ARVs, nutrition and alternate remedies (including traditional medicine).
The IFP will reassess the current protocol on HIV testing procedures that act as a barrier to the scaling up of HIV testing and which contributes towards stigmatisation.
To destigmatise HIV, the IFP will promote routine blood testing in schools, campuses, clinics and hospitals and will saturate the public with appropriate messages.
We reject the political mantra that the right to privacy – which results in people dying of AIDS -trumps the right to knowledge and the right to life.
The IFP’s Ministry of Health will use powers under the Patents Act to issue compulsory licences to enable the local production or importation of generic versions of the patented drugs.
Other:
The IFP will provide health services with reasonable physical facilities, adequate staff levels, appropriate equipment and ancillary services, and will improve primary health care.
Although better remuneration is critical for healthcare workers (HCWs), the IFP understands that it will not allow us to retain HCWs in the public service unless conditions of service are improved.
The IFP will bridge the gap between the Department of Health and academia and the private sector.
We recognise that health care professionals are a valuable resource with expertise in every aspect of health and health services, which, if harnessed, would improve the standard of health promotion, disease prevention and rehabilitation at every level of healthcare.
The IFP will employ the expertise of Human Resource practitioners, experts and researchers, to formulate a Human Resources Health Plan (HRHP) for the recruitment and retention of skilled health professionals in the public sector.
This plan will change the status quo in which some hospitals operate on a ratio of 1 nurse for every 18 patients to 1 nurse for 4 patients in general wards
As a recruitment strategy, the IFP supports the raising of public sector salaries
The IFP will decentralise powers and health functions to provincial, district and local governments.
We will also support their attempt to access international grants such as the Global Fund to fight the scourge of HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria.
Although the IFP supports health care professionals belonging to professional associations, we oppose their unionisation because their profession is an essential service.
We further believe that appointments to the various health sector councils should be depoliticised and the Minister’s powers in this regard must be curbed.
The IFP is committed to consulting more with health care practitioners ‘on the ground’ whose work provides them with unique insights into the obstacles their patients are struggling with.
The IFP will promote the economic rights of people living with HIV and AIDS, review and improve the current CD4 count-based disability grant criteria, and potentially, introduce a chronic illness grant.
There have been advances in the health care system since 1994, but this is overshadowed by government’s gross failings in dealing satisfactorily with HIV and AIDS.
The resultant genocide will forever taint the government and undermine its credibility.
REDRESSING THE WRONGS OF THE PAST
The challenge
South Africa’s apartheid past lives on in the present, not politically, but in respect of a wide range of unfair legacies affecting the previously oppressed and unfortunately, far too many of their post-1994 children and grandchildren.
In living standards, health, education, access to economic opportunity and the like, the eradication of enormous backlogs entails suitable policy and the expenditure of huge resources and will take a generation or more to deal with satisfactorily.
Unfortunately however, while the ruling party has started a process of redress, it has not gone far enough and in many areas is taking too long to implement.
As a consequence, for example, there are more South Africans living in poverty today than there were in 1994, and the ranking of South Africa in respect of the United Nations Human Development Index is dropping every year.
For a post-apartheid democratic government, this is simply not good enough.
In the social and economic fields in particular, the legacy of apartheid must be dealt with in a more systematic and comprehensive manner.
THE SOLUTION
The IFP believes the answers lie in the following: Declare war on gross poverty and inequality.
Although government has committed itself to halving poverty by 2014, SA has perhaps still the highest inequality of any society in the world, in which vast wealth and extreme poverty exist side by side.
Great wealth is not necessarily wrong, but that it lies alongside great poverty is obscene.
Establish clear and shorter timeframes linked to clear redress objectives.
The idea that we can solve these inherited problems with small, incremental changes over many, many years is not very appealing to the poor or those still waiting for services that others currently enjoy.
More rapid economic growth is a necessity because it will provide the resources for government to spend, while an expanding economy offers greater opportunity for self-advancement.
Average growth provides average levels of government expenditure (which is what we have now), while high levels of growth provides government with more to spend.
Give substantially more life to the second generation rights enshrined in our Constitution.
A fair amount has been achieved since 1994, but a lot more can still be done.
The Constitution affords people right of access to various government services, with the proviso that these rights are realisable over time.
But in respect of quality health care, education, municipal services and the like, the country must simply spend more.
Ensure the state drives the redress process, in: Providing resources directly to the disadvantaged.
Direct grants, soft loans, improved services, improved access to opportunities (eg, tenders), and physical assets (eg, land and housing), are examples of instruments to be used.
Promoting self-help and self-reliance as key issues.
Government should not simply provide for people.
It should likewise help people to help themselves.
Specific programmes modelled on this principle (such as sweat equity housing) must be implemented.
Providing an environment conducive to individual self-advancement.
A growing economy with healthy, skilled, safe and happy people able to make their way in the world on their own is the most desired outcome.
Government must do more to create such an environment.
Target critical areas, especially in the rural areas and informal settlements and deal comprehensively and holistically with their needs in respect of education, health, land, infrastructure and municipal services.
In addressing the inequities and injustices of the past, the ruling party is not doing enough and is not doing what needs to be done quickly enough.
The IFP however, whose constituency is in dire need of better redress, believes government is the servant of the people and must simply serve them better than the ruling party is currently doing.
LAND REFORM
The challenge
Land reform constitutes one of the most contested of the post-1994 government transformational programmes, pitting against each other black claimants and white farmers, land owners and tenants, successful claimants and government, traditional communities and government, homeless persons and municipalities.
Indeed, dealing with the complex issues surrounding land reform has enormous consequences for the country in respect of agricultural production, economic opportunity, race relations, black socio-economic advancement and human dignity.
The status quo, despite being the centerpiece of government policy for well over a decade, is unfortunately less than ideal.
Thus: The manner in which the historical legacy has been addressed has unnecessarily fuelled tensions and conflicts.
Government has failed to successfully implement its own policies and has transferred the blame to others.
Government has set unattainable objectives, resulting in both failure and the invocation of unnecessary and counter-productive measures such as expropriation and threats to amend the Constitution.
There has been widespread failure to support beneficiaries who wish to farm commercially and the maximal economic benefits of redress are not being realised.
Balancing the rights of owners, tenants, workers and claimants is proving to be more complex and challenging than anticipated.
The slow pace of change has resulted in growing frustrations of the landless coupled to threats of Zimbabwe-styled invasions.
The status of land in traditional communities and especially the issues of control, access and tenure is politically very divisive.
Where property taxation is punitive, this threatens the economic viability of commercial agriculture.
THE SOLUTION
The IFP believes the answers lie in the following: Policy should as far as is possible, be developed in a manner that builds common purpose rather than provokes division.
Although a legal framework governing land redress is necessary, underpinning it should be a search for common solutions.
Claimants, tenants, workers and owners have genuine concerns which need to be faced head on and respected and all stakeholders need to be seen as part of the solution.
Local forums should be established in rural areas to identify available land,
identify potential trouble spots and to find proactive solutions.
More use must be made of state-owned land for distribution purposes.
Legislation is not a wish list – it should focus on what is genuinely attainable, and avoid creating unrealistic expectations which generate conflict.
Indeed, since government capacity is directly responsible for the collapse of key elements of the reform agenda, this will have to be seriously addressed.
Blaming others for one’s failure is not a solution.
Targets will need to be reviewed.
Government must budget sufficient funds for the reform programmes and commit to fair market value and to providing adequately for post-settlement costs.
Permanent housing securing long-term security of tenure for poor communities is the responsibility of the state.
The state also needs to secure land for this purpose.
This need not comprise prime agricultural land.
Provinces should have greater scope to address the land issue.
Centralising everything in Pretoria does not promote locally-acceptable solutions.
Redress solutions have an impact on the economy, sometimes quite negative.
Far more attention, eg, needs to be paid to the post-distribution phase of the process.
We need to ensure the continued productive use of agricultural land.
We should involve the commercial sector in mentoring and training new entrants to farming.
More creativity is needed in finding solutions: promote private sector involvement in area-based land reform;
consider the establishment of agrivillages;
dramatically increase support to new entrants to commercial farming; etc.
Property rates on agricultural land must be reasonable.
Together with the Houses of Traditional Leaders, review all policy and legislation pertaining to communal land.
Although there have been some sound policy initiatives, the real status of land reform today is that it is a state of crisis.
Deepening mistrust, belligerent threats, the start of land invasions, localised violence and a sense of failure characterize the current programme.
The IFP believes we need to step back and take stock of where we are.
We need to involve all stakeholders in reviewing failures as well as success, and we need to plan afresh so that land reform policy is both developed and implemented in a manner that takes the country forward.
It can be done.
All that is required is a willingness to listen, to admit to one’s errors and to move forward.
THE ROLE OF SOUTH AFRICA IN THE WORLD
The challenge
The IFP recognises that South Africa is an integral part of the African continent and a role player in the global community.
We believe the major challenges facing Africa must be rigorously addressed: the breakdown of the rule of law in many countries and poor institutions of governance;
a lack of culture of democracy and poor governance institutions;
a lack of culture of democracy and respect for human rights;
endemic conflicts, wars and genocide;
the scourge of HIV and AIDS;
famine, diseases and underdevelopment;
ethnicity;
and xenophobia on the part of South African citizens.
Equally, there are numerous global challenges to be confronted: the lack of commitment among developed countries towards Africa;
problems of terrorism, drug and human trafficking and wars;
the manipulation of multi-lateral institutions by super powers;
racism as an obstacle to integration into the global community;
and dealing with the premature notion of a United States of Africa while promoting a strong, stable, regionally integrated and respected Africa.
THE SOLUTION
The IFP is a South African party for Africa and our values inform our position in the field of international relations.
The IFP believes that: Lessons already learned from the pioneers of the African Peer Review Mechanism include the fact that the images of nations and the continent need to be radically improved to encourage investors and development partners.
Where necessary, regional and continental forums and institutions such as the Southern African Development Community, the African Union and the Pan African Parliament must be strengthened and democratised.
International forums must likewise be democratised.
Mechanisms should be created to persuade member-states to ratify and observe conventions and protocols which promote democracy and good governance (e.g. regular free and fair elections).
Constitutionalism, popular participation, good governance, transparency, accountability and a culture of human rights in African states should be promoted.
South Africa should continue to play an active role in conflict resolution and peace keeping missions to stamp out conflicts and wars.
HIV and AIDS should be placed on the regional and continental agenda and HIV and AIDS should be declared a continental disaster, while the scourge of malaria, water-borne and other preventable diseases are simultaneously urgently addressed.
South Africa should form partnerships with other African states in stimulating research in areas of HIV and AIDS, disease & food security.
Though the world appears to be moving towards a system of global free markets (despite many developed countries remaining protectionist), many African nations are being hugely disadvantaged by complex trade and investment agreements which ultimately undermine local economic activity.
There should thus be concerted action by AU member states to build a united front in trade negotiations and to learn lessons from the failure of the World Trade Organisation, Lome, Cotonou and other agreements.
African intellectual property rights need to be better protected.
The problem of xenophobia in South Africa -aggravated by the fact that we have a porous border resulting in an influx of too many illegal immigrants needs to be seriously addressed.
South Africa needs answers for Africa.
The IFP, while it respects the right of any country to deal with its internal affairs, strongly believes that South Africa needs to do more to stand up for ordinary citizens throughout the continent when their best interests are not served by their governments.
We need to be more vocal in dealing with governments that do not respect human rights and abuse the rule of law.
It is our duty to protect democracy, not autocracy.
There should never be a repeat of Zimbabwe again.
THE MORAL CHALLENGE
The challenge
South Africa is today a country that has reached a moral crossroad.
If we continue along the same path and in the same direction as we have treaded since 1994, our destination is moral bankruptcy.
All around us, we see the results of wrong behaviour.
South Africa is not simply perceived to be the crime capital of the world, which is bad enough in itself, but as either top or nearly top offender in respect of the most morally repugnant crimes such as murder, rape, violent assault and crimes against children, women and the aged.
Criminals are harboured by communities.
Public facilities such as schools are vandalised.
Some educators and learners play truant instead of engaging in serious and meaningful teaching and learning.
Promiscuity is rampant.
Corruption is rife, in both government and business.
Very young girls abort without their parents even knowing their children are pregnant.
Children don’t respect their parents or elders.
Gangsterism is idolised.
Greed and cronyism are ubiquitous and justify all kinds of excess.
There is a lack of respect for society’s elders.
And so on.
This moral degeneration has not been addressed by the ruling party which, with its permissiveness, corruption and contempt for the moral views of the ordinary man and woman, is itself an important contributor to the problem.
The only alternative to continuing along this path is to acknowledge that we are morally lost.
We need to change direction.
This is the moral challenge facing South Africa.
While it was laudable for government to establish a moral regeneration campaign, its proponents have failed to live up to the country’s expectations – they too often failed to walk the talk.
The IFP however, is calling for real changes in people’s behaviour and the behaviour of leaders, in order to make South Africa a better country.
THE SOLUTION
The IFP strongly believes in the human rights afforded us by the Constitution and see little purpose being served in promoting fundamentalist conservatism -South Africa does not require one excess replacing another.
These are some of the specific measures that should be taken up: Bring back the teaching of ubuntu/botho in schools.
Civic education premised on the humanity underpinning ubuntu/botho is a key to long term attitudinal change by the young.
Parents need to be encouraged to assume greater responsibility for their children’s behaviour and values rather than abrogating this to others.
This includes children’s approach to education, the inculcation of discipline and promotion of self-discipline, their approach to life, etc.
Taverns near schools should be outlawed.
Permitting such practice negatively affects the morals and behaviour of both learners and educators.
The practice and law of permitting abortions for 12 year-olds without the consent, let along the knowledge of parents, must be abolished.
Casual attitudes by some educators and learners towards education must be changed.
Educators who are drunk or abscond or engage in sexual relations with their charges should be severely disciplined.
Learners roaming the streets instead of being at school must be dealt with firmly.
There must be a crackdown on corruption.
The present tolerance of corruption and cronyism, especially in government, must be rejected by all.
Any instances of corruption by SAPS members, including senior leaders, must be dealt with particularly harshly.
The commitment by everyone to fighting crime must be increased.
The police must be allowed to use force whenever it is reasonably necessary.
Victims’ rights cannot be secondary to those of criminals as is the case at present.
The community must itself respond to the challenge of turning in suspects.
Promote the family and values that affirm and strengthen the family.
Consider the judicious and strictly controlled reintroduction of more effective disciplinary measures in both schools and as a sentencing tool.
Permit custom (such as virginity testing) which serves to strengthen positive moral outcomes.
Discipline and self-discipline must be promoted and rewarded.
Use the fiscus to reward positive behaviour (eg, achievements in schooling).
The IFP vision of a moral society is at odds with much that is prevalent in South Africa today.
The ruling party has proven itself unable to stop the rot.
The IFP however, with its commitment to ubuntu/botho, its healthy balance of liberal, conservative and social values and its determination to change South Africa for the better, is able to chart the way forward and lead this campaign for moral regeneration.
The year 2014 is a crucial year in the history of South Africa.
It is crucial because it marks exactly 20 years since the first democratic election, which ended centuries of colonial rule and apartheid subjugation of the black majority.
It is also a crucial year because the dawn of political freedom came with so many promises But 20 years later; the conditions of majority of the people are just getting worse.
South Africa is supposed to be celebrating 20 years of democracy and true freedom, but the reality is that: 20 years later, black people are still not free!
20 years later, black people are still trapped in squalor, unsafe and unhealthy conditions!
20 years later, the black majority is still trapped in landlessness, homelessness and hopelessness!
20 years later, young and old black workers are still subjected to slave wages and dangerous working conditions in the mines, farms, factories, retail stores, and other workplaces!
20 years later, domestic workers and farm workers still work under difficult conditions without basic workers’ rights!
20 years later, black people battle to survive financially, trapped by debt and often blacklisted by Credit bureaux!
20 years later, black women still suffer triple oppression and exploitation on the basis of their gender, race and class!
20 years later, we still have communities across the country without basic services such as water, sanitation and healthcare facilities!
20 years later, the people of Mothutlung in the North West, Giyani in Limpopo and all over South Africa still do not have water!
20 years later, black communities in many provinces are expected to be satisfied with open toilets and no running water!
20 years later, the quality of our education system is deteriorating!
20 years later, the fishing community in the Coastal Provinces are still denied access to fishing rights!
20 years later, black professionals in all spheres of work, the accountants, auditors, doctors, academics, lawyers, engineers, professionals in the ICT sector and many other professions are still subjected to racial discrimination and unequal treatment!
20 years later, the police still kill people!
They killed them in Marikana, Mothutlung, Ficksburg, Relela and all over South Africa!
20 years, civil servants, particularly teachers, nurses and police are treated with disrespect and paid low salaries!
20 years later, our armed forces, particularly the army are not paid adequate salaries, not given the respect they deserve, and are sent to fight illegal wars!
20 years later, military veterans, particularly from former liberation movement are still neglected.
20 years later, the majority of poor black children are financially excluded from institutions of higher learning!
20 years later, women and children are still subjected to violent crimes, particularly rape!
20 years, the conditions of people with disabilities have not been improved!
20 years later, the land question has not been addressed and our land still does not yet belong to all who live on it
20 years later, black people still do not have their dignity!
It is therefore upon us as Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to offer and deliver hope and inspiration to the people of South Africa, the continent and beyond.
EFF is an organisation and movement for all the people of South Africa.
It is an organisation for and of the people.
EFF understands that as a movement dedicated to positively changing the conditions of our people; we need to do the following: a) Secure mass support in all corners of South Africa;
b) Win political power through mobilising and organising all the people of South Africa to vote for EFF;
c) Control the State through electoral politics in order to transform it for the benefit of all people;
d) Gain control of the economy in order to transform it to benefit all South Africans.
Since our recent formation as an economic emancipation movement, we have been able to win mass support across all spectrums of South African society.
It is now upon us to convert this mass support into actual votes in the upcoming elections, in order to win political power.
In order to do this, the EFF needs to present its commitments to the people of South Africa, through its Election Manifesto.
The EFF Election Manifesto, unlike others, does not present promises; it offers commitments that will be implemented.
Central to our programme is a struggle for democratic ownership and control of the key means of production by the people.
Our programme is socialist.
As a Marxist-Leninist Fanonian organisation, we believe that it is only through a socialist transformation programme, that we will end the suffering of our people.
Key components of this socialist programme are contained in our Election Manifesto.
When we make commitments to fight for minimum wages for all,
we as EFF will use our organisational and mobilisation capacity to deliver on all our commitments.
The Election Manifesto of the EFF is our programme of action for the next 5 years.
When in government, the EFF will mobilise the whole society to play a meaningful role in transforming South Africa for the betterment of all.
Employment into senior positions of the EFF government will not be based on whether a person is a member of EFF or not, but will be based on their educational and skills capacity to play a meaningful role in our society.
This Manifesto is a practical and implementable programme, which will shape and define the EFF government.
There will be individuals, trapped by narrow neo-liberal thinking who will claim that only capitalism works.
Yet it is evident that capitalism has failed to deliver to our people.
The Manifesto represents the aspirations of the working class and the poor,
and provides an alternative vision and is a solution for true transformation in South Africa.
The EFF Election Manifesto is inspired by our Founding Manifesto adopted in our first National Assembly.
It is the product of deep consultation with the people of South Africa.
All Fighters, Commissars, Organisers, Volunteers and Supporters should ensure that each and every voter in South Africa is familiar with the contents and meaning of this Election Manifesto.
The EFF Election Manifesto takes account of the reality that there is enough wealth for everyone in South Africa.
Currently this wealth is spread in a deeply unequal manner, due to prejudicial historical circumstances.
Those who currently own the lion’s share of South Africa’s wealth acquired it illegally through colonial wars of dispossession and violent defeat of the majority of South Africa’s people.
EFF plans to use political power to realise economic justice and such can only happen through maximum implementation of this Manifesto.
South Africa, we present to you the Manifesto of the Economic Freedom Fighters for the 2014 General Elections.
Now is the time for economic freedom!
BACKGROUND:
In 1963, a Great African-American, Martin Luther-King Jnr gave a speech in front of 250 000 Civil Rights Activists as part of the campaign against racial segregation in the United States.
While the context of the speech was specific to this time in history, the message resonated across all parts of the oppressed world.
It is a message that continues to speak to the aspirations of oppressed people the world over.
In that speech, Martin Luther King said, “This  is  no  time  to  engage  in  the  luxury  of  cooling  off  or  to  take  the  tranquilizing  drug of gradualism.
Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.
Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice.
Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.
Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children” (King, 1963).
Inspired by this notion, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) affirms that indeed this is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilising drug of gradualism.
Now is the time for economic freedom.
Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.
Now is the time to rescue South Africa from deep levels of inequality,
poverty,
starvation,
unemployment and under-employment.
Now is the time to share equally in South Africa’s wealth.
Now is the time to be counted in the world as an industrial nation with developed productive forces.
Now is the time to bury corruption and methods of selfenrichment employed by the political elite.
Now is the time for economic freedom!
We therefore present to the people of South Africa, Africa, and the world, the Economic Freedom Fighters’ vision, programme and commitments for the year 2014 to 2019.
These are authentic commitments and programmes, not a patchwork of empty promises and superficial reforms!
INTRODUCTION
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Manifesto is a perspective that contains practical and implementable commitments and a programme of action which will lead to the economic emancipation of the people of South Africa.
The Manifesto draws its inspiration from the historic Founding Conference of the EFF, the National Assembly on what is to be done in Soweto, which mandated revolutionary Activists, Fighters, Commissars and Organisers to fight the struggle for economic freedom in our lifetime.
The most important aspect about the EFF Manifesto is that it gives practical programmes, commitments, and actions on what is to be done by the EFF government when it takes political power in the 2014 General Elections.
The EFF contests elections in order to win political power then will use the political power to control and transform the State, and then revolutionise the economy for the benefit of all South Africans.
It is our firm belief and conviction that economic freedom will be attained through implementation of 7 cardinal pillars, which are: 1) Expropriation of South Africa’s land without compensation for equal redistribution in and use.
2) Nationalisation of mines, banks, and other strategic sectors of the economy, without compensation.
3) Building state and government capacity, which will lead to the abolition of tenders.
4) Free quality education,
healthcare, houses, and sanitation.
5) Massive protected industrial development to create millions of sustainable jobs,
including the introduction of minimum wages in order to close the wage gap between the rich and the poor,
close the apartheid wage gap and promote rapid career paths for all people in the workplace.
6) Massive development of the African economy and advocating for a move from reconciliation to justice on the entire continent.
7) Open, accountable, corrupt-free government and society without fear of victimisation by state agencies.
SECTION 1: WHERE ARE WE AS SOUTH AFRICA IN 2014?
27 Problems:
South Africa is trapped in a society with massive economic and social inequalities,
high levels of unemployment,
poverty,
and importantly under-employment of a large section of the economically active population.
The post 1994 government has failed in virtually all its commitments and has chosen to shift the goal posts from 2014 to 2030 through a neoliberal and impractical National Development Plan Vision 2030.
As we stand in 2014, the following are concrete realities:
Land still belongs to those who owned it before 1994, and the promise and intent to achieve 30% land redistribution by 2014 has not been achieved, instead a mere 7% of land was bought by government for redistribution purposes.
Evictions on farms, forcible removals of people from mineral rich communal areas and in inner cities continue unabated.
The extraction of mineral resources beneath South Africa’s soil continues to leave devastating consequences, desperately poor mining communities,
underpaid mineworkers,
a permanently damaged environment,
while billions in profit benefit a handful of corporations.
Poverty is still rampant, and clearly the intention and goal to halve poverty by 2014 has not been achieved, and is not in sight for the foreseeable future.
Inequality remains rampant with white households still earn on average 6 times more than black households 20 years after democracy.
The post 1994 government has not managed to bring the crisis levels of unemployment below 20% since 1994, even in instances where marginal levels of economic growth were realised.
In 2014, more than 7 million capable and ready to work South Africans are unemployed.
Majority of those employed have not noticed real increases in wages, and more than 50% of workers are paid less than R2800 per month.
The promise to create sustainable jobs and livelihoods for all has not been met by those governing South Africa on behalf of capitalist interests
The share of labour absorptive sectors in the overall South African economy is declining, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing
South Africa continues to import virtually all consumer goods and services, including clothes, electronic gadgets, furniture, food and its implements, machinery, toys, and many other commodity goods.
Education progress and success still reflect the apartheid patterns, with the most successful schools being white schools.
Under this, 93% of schools in South Africa have no libraries; 88% have no laboratories; 81% have no computers; 16% have no electricity; 61% have no arrangement for disposal of sewage.
Adult illiteracy has not been addressed by the post 1994 government, and remains a glaring challenge.
Despite the numbers of students who graduate at Senior Certificate level, the South African post-1994 government has not massively invested in the expansion of the post-secondary training and education capacity.
The success rate of black, particularly African students in institutions of Higher Learning is devastatingly low, with as many as 60% of African students dropping out due to lack of support and financial difficulties.
Millions of South Africans still live in shacks and informal settlements with no access to basic services such as clean water, sanitation, electricity, healthcare, and education facilities.
There is still no National Health Insurance despite the commitment to implement it within the five years from 2009.
Many villages and settlements still do not have access to clinics and basic healthcare facilities.
Where there are clinics, they close at night, denying people access to healthcare when they need it most.
The number of healthcare practitioners, particularly doctors is very low relative to the population size of South Africa.
Rural areas are trapped in the same dire conditions that they were in before 1994, with no introduction of real economic activities and programmes for rural communities.
South Africa is food insecure.
South Africa imports more food than it exports, which effectively mean that with the food produced in South Africa only, the nation cannot feed itself.
A recently published Human Sciences Research Council Report shows that only “45.6% of the population were food secure, 28.3% were at risk of hunger and 26.0% experienced hunger (were food insecure).
The largest percentage of participants who experienced hunger (food insecurity) was in urban informal (32.4%) and in rural formal (37.0%) localities” (HSRC, 2013).
Professionals such as doctors, chartered accountants, auditors, engineers, lawyers, professionals in the ICT sector, and even government bureaucrats continue to suffer discrimination on the basis of race, gender, and origin.
The South African state is incapable of fulfilling and implementing even the most basic of service delivery aspects and instead relies on Tenders and Contracts, which are often corruptly awarded to incapable and colluding contractors who charge the state higher fees than is required and warranted.
The townships and squatter camps remain violent and riddled by drugs and hopelessness of the youth, which exacerbates gender-based violence.
Students are excluded from institutions of higher learning for financial reasons.
The apartheid spatial planning which underdeveloped the settlements of black people, particularly townships and rural villages, are still largely reflected in South African society.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THESE REALITIES?
None of the existing political parties have met their Manifesto promises since 1994, and the ruling political party has chosen to shift the goal posts, while continuing to use the same strategy that failed them in the past 20 years.
None of the existing political parties is proposing a radical economic transformation model which will change South Africa’s economy for the benefit of all South Africans.
None of the existing political parties is willing to develop a programme to ensure that South Africa’s natural resources are used for the benefit of all.
The current state is nothing than a committee for the management of the common affairs of the bourgeoisie, because Capital (the means of production such as land, Mines, banks, huge factories and retail stores) remains in private hands.
All political parties limit their diagnosis of South Africa’s problems to poverty, unemployment and inequalities, while ignoring the reality that South Africa has a massive and urgent problem of under-employment, meaning that those employed are not properly remunerated and constitute a mass of the working poor, subjected to unscrupulous micro-lenders and illegal aMashonisa in their workplaces and communities.
All political parties ignore the structural causes of poverty and unemployment which is the highly monopolised economy especially in mining, agriculture and banking which is draining the country of its natural, mineral and financial resources, creating wealth and jobs in North America, Europe, Japan and China instead of in South Africa.
SECTION 2: CONTEXT OF COMMITMENTS AND PROGRAMMES OF EFF GOVERNMENT:
Our vision and mission are contained in these 7 cardinal pillars for economic freedom in our lifetime, which is a generational mission.
The 7 cardinal pillars are a revolutionary programme which will transform the South African society and economy for the benefit of all.
Our 7 cardinal pillars recognise that as government, the EFF should separate and coherently address 7 broad categories that speak to a clear programme on how we will make South Africa a better and winning nation:
Economic Emancipation for rapid economic and industrial development.
Provision of quality social welfare services.
Radical transformation of the state into a people’s driven state and governance.
Sectoral commitment derived from the EFF Manifesto Consultation process.
How is the EFF Government going to realise these objectives?
Financing the EFF Government Manifesto.
International Relations, Cooperation and Solidarity.
It is important to isolate these seven aspects, with concrete commitments and programmes underpinning each of these, because confusing and mixing them leaves a void on what needs to be done in other sectors.
This does not mean that there is no interrelationship between the economic, social welfare and governance aspects of our society.
It means that concrete objectives and aims should be set in each of these areas, so that the EFF government is assessed as per these commitments.
This separation is important because all the currently developed nations pursued development through massive protected industrialisation and since the rise and global triumph of neo-liberalism; development is typically reduced to social welfare aspects.
The EFF’s approach to this the political struggle is concurrent radical pursuit of sustainable industrial economic development
and social welfare development,
while getting the governance issues right.
Pursuit of social welfare cannot and should not be separated from industrial economic development, and that is what distinguishes EFF from all the Political formations in South Africa.
SECTION 3: ECONOMIC EMANCIPATION FOR RAPID ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
Massive Labour-Absorptive Sustainable Industrial Development:
The EFF Government will ensure and lead massive and protected sustainable industrial development and diversification to create millions of decent jobs between 2014 and 2019.
This will happen through state-led industrialisation,
industrial diversification,
protection of infant and existing industries through subsidies,
increase of tariffs,
and State aided marketing and promotion of South African products internally, across the Continent and worldwide,
with a focus on key, progressive and most beneficial trading partners.
The EFF Government will ensure that a minimum of 50% of all South Africa’s mineral resources are locally beneficiated and industrialised.
The EFF Government will ensure massive production of all food for local consumption to be produced and processed in South Africa.
This will happen through intensification of small scale farming and agriculture, and strategic support given to all small scale agriculture including on provision of Trade routes.
All food traders in South Africa will be compelled by law to buy South African food products and support efforts that produce these food products.
The EFF Government will build a sustainable food economic chain which will supply food items to other parts of the world, particularly in Africa, China, Latin and India.
This will lead to the creation of millions of jobs across the entire food chain..
The EFF Government will help communities in the Coastal areas to start Agro-fishing businesses and cooperatives, which will be their main source of income and livelihoods.
The EFF Government will grant Fishing rights to the Fishing communities in the Coastal areas and provide them with strategic support to ensure that fishing becomes a sustainable economic activity.
The EFF Government will ensure that all products and good that contribute to State construction projects should be locally produced, unless in exceptional cases where there is practically no capacity to produce locally.
The EFF Government will ensure the development, protection, and localisation of industries which produce basic and daily use goods and services through Import Substitution Mechanisms.
These include: Glass, Cups, Plates, Spoons, etc; Tiles and Building Materials; Furniture, light-bulbs and Decorations; Solar water geysers; Washing products and soaps; Electronics; Textile industry, including clothes and shoes.
The EFF Government will support Small and Medium Enterprises to play an active role in the economy by building and supporting 1 million enterprises between 2014 and 2019 which employ a minimum of 5 people each.
This will necessarily require a State Owned Bank whose mission will be provision of developmental finance and support mechanisms.
The EFF Government will ensure that Small and Medium Enterprises will be given strategic support and legislation passed to ensure that key industrial inputs and services to big corporations and companies are provided for by SMMEs
The EFF Government will protect the rights of street hawkers to trade in a safe and clean environment in all the cities of South Africa without fear of police harassment.
MINIMUM WAGES AND THE BANNING OF LABOUR BROKERS:
The EFF government will implement a minimum wage of R4500 across the board for all full-time workers.
The EFF Government will pass legislation to ensure that employment in the following sectors is permanent and protected by the Labour Relations Act (LRA) and Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA)
and increase of minimum wages in all sectors, which will take the following format:
Mineworkers: R12 500 per month;
Farm workers: R5000 per month;
Manufacturing workers: R6500;
Retail Workers (Cashiers and Retail Store Assistants): R5000;
Builders: R7000;
Petrol Attendants: R5000;
Cleaners: R4500;
Domestic Workers: R4500;
Private Security Guards: R7500;
Full time Waiters and Waitresses: R4500.
The EFF Government will abolish all contract work and labour brokers, and pass legislation that all work should be official and formal.
We will regulate retrenchments by compelling companies to continue paying workers’ salaries for 6 months post retrenchment.
The EFF Government will ensure there is equal pay for equal work, irrespective of gender, race, class and place of origin.
The EFF Government will ensure that all workers enjoy the same rights as set out in labour law irrespective of their immigration status.
This will ensure the unity of working class and combat xenophobia.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND WATER:
The EFF Government will invest heavily in green energy sources, including windmills, solar water heaters and all forms of solar energy with the intention of moving away from coal energy dependency.
The EFF Government will ensure that the expansion of South Africa’s energy sources and ensuring that all energy needed for South Africa, including fuel is processed in the country.
The EFF Government will subsidise electricity for industrial and household usage to ensure that electricity costs 50% less than the current costs by 2019.
The EFF Government will ensure that all homes shall have 200 units free basic electricity.
The EFF Government will scrap the BHP Billiton unethical deal that gives away up to 11% of the national energy to a foreign multinational at below cost whilst the poor are made to pay more.
The EFF Government will ensure water sustainability for daily and industrial usage through building of dams and huge water projects which will sustainably supply South Africa.
The EFF Government will ensure that all communities have access to quality, sustainable water.
The EFF Government will continue with the expansion of the Lesotho Water Highlands.
Project to supply water to most parts of South Africa, but also ensure that the people of Lesotho benefit from the scheme.
The EFF Government will develop sustainable and cheaper desalination process to convert sea water to potable water that will be pumped inland and supply all areas that are in need of water.
BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION:
1) The EFF Government will radically review black economic empowerment and develop mechanism to limit and ultimately curb the recurrent enrichment of few individuals who have benefited from Empowerment Charters.
2) The EFF Government will ensure that ownership and control of all businesses in South Africa that are not in the sphere of state control and ownership is reflective of the country’s demographics.
3) The EFF Government will pursue and ensure maximum compliance to affirmative action laws to prioritise the employment of people with disabilities, black women, black people and women of all races in order to end the white male domination in the economy.
4) The EFF Government will abolish incentives that pay white companies for complying with affirmative action.
SECTION 4: PROVISION OF QUALITY SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION, DEVELOPMENT AND WELFARE SERVICES
A South Africa bedevilled by crisis levels of poverty and access to basic services, needs an urgent programme to deliver quality and sustainable services.
EFF’s approach to delivery of basic services to the people is that it should be labour-absorptive, and should produce quality products, goods and services.
The social welfare services which the EFF Government will qualitatively provide are the following: 1) Quality and Extensive Education and Training;
2) Quality Healthcare;
3) Research & Development and Science and technology Innovation;
4) Quality Housing and Sanitation;
5) Safety and Security;
6) Transformation of the criminal justice system;
7) Transformation of the correctional services system;
8) Youth Development;
9) Gender equality and women emancipation;
10) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersexual (LGBTI);
11) Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation;
12) Quality Roads and Infrastructure;
13) Social Grants;
14) Social Cohesion;
15) Rural Development.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
1) The EFF Government will provide free quality education for the poor from early childhood development to the attainment of post-secondary qualification, and it will put in place mechanisms to encourage students to attain post-graduate degrees and qualifications.
2) The EFF Government will embark on a programme of providing libraries, internet, laboratories and computer labs, particularly to rural schools.
3) The EFF Government will impose an education tax on all corporations which will be the source of funding for the education and training of all South Africans.
4) The EFF Government will heavily invest in the development and expansion of postsecondary training and education capacity to absorb all students who come from the secondary education system.
This means expansion of the existing universities and FET Colleges, and building more universities and FET Colleges.
5) The EFF government will ensure that the number of first year students accepted in institutions of higher learning increases by 100% in the period 2014 to 2019, and mechanisms to ensure high pass rates be put in place to ensure their success
6) The EFF Government will introduce a scholarship which will take a minimum of 15 000 students (5000 of which will be medical practitioners) to the best universities across the world to attain skills, education and expertise on various fields
7) The EFF Government will assist all students who have faced academic exclusions and ensure that they are redirected to other useful economic activities.
8) The EFF Government will cancel the debts of all students who owe institutions of higher learning money for academic purposes.
9) The EFF Government will ensure that all education and training is directly linked to community service and industries in order to prepare human beings who will positively and decidedly contribute to the development of our communities and economy.
10) The EFF shall investigate the introduction of the best and cost effective devices (tablets and laptops) to all learners to address textbooks shortage and access to the modern telecommunications.
11) The EFF Government will introduce history as a compulsory subject to instil adequate consciousness.
12) The EFF Government will ensure that there is universal provision of Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes and make it compulsory for children of age 3 years and above to be part of the ECD.
13) The EFF Government will ensure that there is no child who learns under a tree rather than a classroom within five years.
14) The EFF Government will ensure that all learners have access to education with proper textbooks and learning and teaching support materials.
15) The EFF Government will intensify training of teachers and re-open teachers colleges with high level capacity to train and re-train all teachers.
16) The EFF Government will massively scale up adult literacy campaign to ensure that literary rate is 98% by 2019.
17) The EFF Government will improve the remuneration and working conditions of academics and encourage them to continue with teaching and research, and not take up administrative posts in both private and public institutions.
18) The EFF Government will lead the transformation of professional bodies for Chartered Accountants, Engineers, Architects and all professions to uphold the need for speedier transformation which will result in more previously disadvantaged individuals being accredited professionals.
HEALTHCARE:
1) The EFF Government will ensure that massive training of Professional and Community Healthcare Practitioners is a priority in this sector.
2) The EFF Government will build a State Pharmaceutical Company to produce medicines and distribute them to hospitals and clinics.
3) The EFF Government will build a state owned healthcare equipment company to build healthcare equipments.
4) The EFF Government will produce essential generic medicines without regard to Intellectual Property Rights regimes.
5) The EFF Government will ensure that healthcare facilities are available to all communities through Clinics, Hospitals and Community based healthcare workers.
6) The EFF Government will send a minimum of 5000 young South Africans per annum to train as doctors in the best universities across the world.
7) The EFF Government will ensure that hospital and healthcare institutions are run by medical practitioners with adequate administrative experience.
8) The EFF Government will expedite the implementation of National Health Insurance.
9) The EFF Government will produce and distribute free sanitary towels to poor women.
10) The EFF Government will ensure that there is always adequate medicines and treatment in all hospitals.
11) The EFF Government will ensure that hospital care is not determined by provincial boundaries and that all patients should be treated in hospitals they attend.
12) The EFF Government will ensure that traditional healers are incorporated into the healthcare system.
13) The EFF Government will work towards realising a 0% HIV infection rate in South Africa.
14) The EFF Government will reopen nursing colleges.
HOUSING AND SANITATION:
1) The EFF Government will provide quality, spacious houses to all the people, which will be within sustainable human settlements with basic services such as water, electricity, sanitation, schools, sports and recreation grounds and parks.
2) The EFF Government will subsidise housing finance for middle income earners, and pass laws which will lead to reduction of 20 to 30 years housing loans to a maximum of 10 years.
3) The EFF will make it illegal for banks to repossess houses from people who have paid 50% of the bonds, and are unable to continue paying the bond due to socioeconomic circumstances.
4) The EFF Government will make it illegal to use houses as surety for any loans from financial institutions.
5) The EFF Government will provide quality sanitation for all, and ensure that all households have access to decent toilets
6) The EFF Government will abolish the bucket system as a form of sanitation within 5 years from 2014 to 2019.
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT AND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
1) The EFF Government will heavily invest in Research & Development and heavily invest in and subsidise technological and scientific innovations and discoveries
2) The EFF Government will support and subsidise technological innovation which will lead to the development and manufacturing of a South African Automobile (Car), Computer, Tablet, Phone and other means of world class technological innovations.
3) The EFF Government will build a specified Technology University or Institute whose primary focus will be technological innovation.
4) The EFF Government will use existing capacity to provide high speed and quality broadband to all schools and all institutions of higher learning in South Africa.
SAFETY AND SECURITY:
1) The EFF Government will ensure that our communities are safe by increasing police visibility and making the criminal justice system more efficient.
2) The EFF Government will provide permanent jobs to all Police Reservists, and make sure that they are visible in all their communities.
3) The EFF Government will guarantee the right of communities to assemble and protest, with no intimidation from the police.
4) The EFF Government will completely ban live ammunition during protests.
5) The EFF Government will ensure that all security workers protecting state institutions, facilities, and buildings will be employed by the state with better conditions and wages.
6) The EFF Government will strictly regulate the private security industry, and completely disallow foreign ownership of private security companies in South Africa.
TRANSFORMATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM:
1) The EFF Government will ensure that the criminal justice system is efficient, and all South African citizens have access to justice.
2) The EFF Government will run massive community awareness and education programmes to inform and educate citizens about their rights.
3) The EFF Government will ensure that there is never any South African who will be denied access to all Courts, from Magistrate Courts to Constitutional Court, irrespective of their race, gender and economic status.
4) The EFF Government will establish specialised courts to deal with public service corruption and maladministration; sexual offences, traffic offences, and improve the courts dealing with domestic and marital matters.
TRANSFORMATION OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES SYSTEM:
1) The EFF Government will ensure that the correctional services system is predominalty corrective, not punitive.
The levels of re-arrests in South Africa are very high, because the country’s correctional services system is not rehabilitative.
2) The EFF Government will ensure that the correctional services system is transformed to include compulsory education and skilling for all prisoners.
This should be followed by scrapping the criminal record statuses of ex-convicts who were convicted of certain schedules of crime, depending on the seriousness of the crimes committed.
3) The EFF Government will ensure that there is purpose and substance to rehabilitation with the intention to properly Re-integrate Ex-Offenders as productive, useful and law abiding citizens.
4) EFF Government will ensure that no correctional services facility and programme is run by private corporations and companies.
5) The EFF Government will ensure that, where possible, prisoners should do community work and service.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:
1) Youth Development cuts across all aspects of the EFF Manifesto, because the jobs the EFF Government will create will primarily benefit the youth
2) The EFF Government will mainstream youth development in all sectors of government, and pursue active programmes to professionalise youth work.
3) The EFF Government will pass legislations that will ensure that all government departments and all public institutions employ a minimum of 40% of their workforce from people between the ages of 18 and 35.
4) The EFF Government will ensure that all private corporations employ a minimum of 35% of the workforce as people between the ages of 18 and 35.
5) The EFF Government will ensure that all communities have a Youth Information and Advisory Centre which will inform, educate and guide young people on possible career paths and educational opportunities available in South Africa.
6) The EFF Government will ensure that a minimum of 40% of all budgets allocated to Government departments at all spheres of government are allocated for the purpose of youth empowerment and upliftment.
GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN EMANCIPATION:
1) Women have suffered most from the neo-liberal reality of the past 20 years.
The vicious circle of triple oppression has not been broken for black women in particularwho continue to be discriminated against on the basis of race, class and gender.
The EFF recognises that while patriarchy and sexism is pervasive in our society, it is black women who suffer the most from gender based violence.
To date, the interventions to deal with violence against women have been superficial, half-hearted and based on an incorrect understanding of the root causes of the vulnerability of women.
2) The EFF Government will strive to realise the liberation of women, through a variety of interventions, starting with prioritising women when it comes to the benefits of economic emancipation.
These interventions will include education against patriarchy and sexism, legislation to protect and promote women’s liberation and the close monitoring of the implementation of the same in order to realise genuine and sustainable empowerment of women in society, the family and the workplace.
3) The EFF believes that gender-based violence and related anti-social activities are reinforced and even sustained by the deplorable general conditions of our people.
Therefore a key to female emancipation is the emancipation of all.
The EFF will emphasise transforming the lives of our people in the poorest of areas from one of generalised structural violence, as a mechanism to end all violence, including violence against women.
4) The EFF Government will ensure the following key interventions happen: A minimum of 50% women representation in all economic benefit and political participation and managerial and leadership responsibility.
Gender education and training to be compulsory for all (e.g. school, work, family, church, legislative and executive sectors, civil society).
Educate the police on gender justice and establish specialised law enforcement units to deal with women related crimes.
Strengthen education of men on patriarchy, sexism and misogyny.
Engage custodians of tradition, faith leaders and other cultural practitioners to collectively find means to combat the oppression of women.
5) The EFF Government will have a special unit in the police, supported by special legal and social work services to combat the open assault on women.
We do this because we recognize our society has reached a state of crisis when it comes to rape and violence against women.
SPORTS, ARTS, CULTURE AND RECREATION:
1) The EFF recognises that there can be no normal sports in an abnormal society.
In modern times sport serves the task of making money and profits.
Furthermore, global capitalism has turned sport into the opium of the masses and a process of deepening alienation and selling of products.
Sports must be liberated from the clutches of the monied class and be returned to the people.
2) The EFF Government is committed to the principle that, the development and participation of sporting codes must not be tailored primarily for commercial success, but must be part of the national reconstruction and mass participation for recreation,
building of communities,
breaking of racial, gender and class divisions
and that sport must contribute to physical health of the nation.
To this extent national teams excelling in the Olympics are critically important within a framework of a genuinely transformed society which will be reflected in the composition of the national teams.
South Africa is a black majority country; the national teams must reflect this reality.
All our young people must be given support within the commitment to mass sport to excel and be appointed to the national team.
3) The EFF Government will promote and diversify sports participation in all communities, and ensure that the most common public spaces in our communities and sporting fields for various sporting codes
This should happen through development, training and support of all Sporting coaches in all fields.
4) The EFF Government will ensure that the primary responsibility and obligation of sports departments in all spheres of government is training and employment of various sporting coaches who will assist communities and schools in sports excellence.
5) The EFF Government will in the first 5 years of government pass legislation to guarantee a minimum of 75% locally produced content in all radio and television stations.
6) The EFF Government will introduce local theatres and arts facilities to train and promote local Creative industry.
7) The EFF Government will support artists and writers guilds through the provision of a minimum allowances for certified artists for a portion of the year when they are not getting any income from their artistic endeavours.
8) The EFF Government will impose strict laws and penalties against all forms of piracy.
9) The EFF Government will make sports participation compulsory in all schools.
QUALITY ROADS, TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE:
1) The EFF Government will ensure a labour-absorptive construction of quality roads for all communities through employing people in communities to ensure the sustainability of the roads
2) The EFF Government will abolish eTolls and will physically remove them from our roads.
3) The EFF Government will subsidize the taxi industry with the intention of reducing taxi fares and improving salaries and working conditions of taxi drivers.
4) The EFF Government will expand the railways, buy new trains, and investigate affordable speed trains alongside areas such as Moloto Road between Tshwane and Nkangala region in Mpumalanga, between Soweto and Johannesburg, between Durban and Johannesburg to transport people and many goods that come from the harbour.
5) The EFF Government will tar all access roads to all townships and villages in South Africa.
6) The EFF Government will ensure that the public transport system is accessible to people with disabilities.
7) The EFF Government will invest in the expansion of the aviation industries and airways in order to encourage more passengers to use air transport.
SOCIAL GRANTS:
1) Social grants are an important aspect of bringing the poorest of the poor into some level of economic participation, and the EFF government will introduce a system which will link social grants to development.
2) The EFF appreciates that social grants are not a permanent solution to the crisis of South Africa’s unemployment,
poverty,
and inequalities.
However, this does not mean that we should abolish social grants.
Instead, we will make social grants more valuable to impact meaningfully in the lives of poor South Africans.
3) The EFF Government will create sustainable jobs and open educational and training opportunities for women who receive child support grants,
so that child bearing is not seen as a basis to receive social grants.
4) Within this framework and commitment, the EFF Government will increase social grants to take the following shape:
Grant for older persons: Increase from R1300 to R2600 per month;
Disability grant: Increase from R1200 to R2400 per month;
War veterans grant: Increase from R1220 to R2440 per month;
Care dependency grant: Increase from to R1200 to R2400 per month;
Foster child grant: Increase from R800 to R1600 per month;
Child support grant: Increase from R300 to R600 per month.
5) The increase of all the social grants is primarily an instrument to boost local economies and address crisis levels of poverty.
6) With creation of millions of jobs, the number of dependents on social grants will gradually decrease, because many people will be receiving sustainable income from the jobs they will occupy.
7) All social grants will be paid through the post office and post bank.
8) The EFF Government will introduce a social grant of R2500 per month for all terminally ill South Africans.
9) The EFF Government will explore and investigate the possibility and practicality of grants for unemployed people and also pay attention to the Basic Income Grant (BIG).
SOCIAL COHESION:
1) The EFF Government will be a government of all races, and will not discriminate against any South African on the basis of race and skin colour.
All South Africans will be judged by the content of their character and contribution, not by the colour of their skins.
2) Social cohesion and unity of all South Africans will be promoted by EFF Government through greater integration of our communities, particularly schools, institutions of higher learning, training facilities and human settlements.
3) The EFF Government will criminalise all forms of racism and tribalism and run a programme to enlighten people that we are one people with a common vision and destiny.
4) The EFF Government will respect the rights of all regions to exist and cherish the diversity that define South Africa.
5) The EFF Government will work with Religious leaders, churches and all religious institutions in the moral regeneration of our society.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT, LAND AND AGRARIAN REFORM:
1) The EFF Government’s ideological, political and programmatic approach to rural development is inspired by the notion that there should be “Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of all the distinction between town and country by a more equable distribution of the populace over the country”.
2) The EFF’s view of rural development is not trapped in the notion that the rurality of rural areas should be left intact, instead, rural areas should begin to partake in real economic activities and programmes, which should be supported and financed by the State.
3) The EFF Government custodianship of all land will lead into equal redistribution of all land amongst all people.
4) The EFF Government will help small scale agriculture with agricultural implements, bulk irrigation schemes, bulk stock feeding schemes and medication to produce quality agricultural products.
5) The EFF Government will revive abandoned factories in the townships and rural areas.
6) The EFF Government will help chicken farmers with state owned hatcheries, abattoirs and chicken processing factories which will be at the centre of growing and assisting the production of chicken products.
7) The EFF Government will help small agriculture to gain sustainable access to markets through increasing state consumption of food and agricultural products from small scale farmers, compelling food retailers to buy food and agricultural products locally and opening African and world food markets.
8) The EFF government shall pass laws to prohibit the production of Genetically Modified Organism (GMOs) specifically maize, the staple diet of the people.
9) National campaigns shall be undertaken to educate the nation about the dangers of GMOs.
10) Institutions of higher learning shall be required to provide courses in rural development to prepare graduates for national service.
11) All rural relations must be guided by the values that drive national reconstruction justice and dignity for all..
FIGHTING CORRUPTION:
1) The EFF Government will increase, harness and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of governance institutions to avoid all forms of corruption.
2) The EFF Government will abolish the usage of private companies in fulfilling functions and duties that government has to fulfil.
3) The EFF Government will ban the usage of Consultants and project management units as a basis of delivering government services.
4) The EFF Government will build internal capacity to fulfil its own functions and responsibilities, which prevents its employees being influenced and bribed by private companies and consultants in their fulfilment of government tasks.
5) The EFF Government will establish State Administration Courts to promptly respond to incidents of corruption and maladministration with the aim of firing and blacklisting corruption state employees and private companies, and recover money lost to corruption.
6) The EFF Government will introduce a minimum of 20 years sentence for all public representatives and servants convicted of corruption.
7) The EFF Government will protect the independence of the Public Protector, the Auditor General and all corruption watch institutions to independently oversee government programmes.
8) The EFF Government will illegalise all public representatives and public servants from doing any form of business with Public institutions.
SECTION 5: RADICAL TRANSFORMATION OF STATE INTO A PEOPLE’S DRIVEN STATE AND GOVERNANCE
The EFF Government will lead one of the most radical State and governance transformation programmes ever seen in the history of South Africa, and this will include the following: 1) Building state capacity and efficiency
2) Public representatives using public services
3) Reduction of all private benefits for public representatives
4) Making Tshwane the legislative and administrative capital of South Africa
5) Building New Cities
BUILDING STATE CAPACITY:
1) As concrete steps forward, which the state will initiate, establish and give strategic and financial support to, are the following: A state housing-construction company;
A state roads-construction company;
A state cement company;
A state pharmaceutical company;
A state-owned mining company;
A state food-stocking company (to regulate prices of basic foodstuffs and guarantee food security for all);
A state owned Bank.
2) These state companies will be buttressed by state ownership of critical parts of the value chains in which these companies operate, e.g. petrochemicals (Sasol), steel (Arcelor-Mittal), etc, so that they produce essential inputs into the economy on a non-profit-maximisation basis.
3) Within this context, the state will employ engineers, quantity surveyors, project managers, and builders for sustainable tasks.
Their responsibilities will include the construction of houses, roads, bridges, sports facilities, dams, sewerage systems and more.
These should be subjected to strict standards of quality assurance to ensure that, at all times and in all instances state-constructed entities are of uncompromisingly good quality.
State-owned companies will not be driven by principles of profit maximisation, but by the need to provide quality and affordable services to the people and the economy at large.
DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION AND GOVERNANCE:
1) The EFF Government will ensure that all Members of Parliament and Legislatures hold a minimum of 1 community mass meeting per quarter in the constituency to which they are deployed or allocated by Parliament.
2) The EFF Government will pursue legislation which will compel all political parties to disclose their sources of income and funding, to avoid a situation where illegally acquired and foreign money is used to garner support and votes in elections.
3) The EFF Government will ensure that memoranda for all protests in all communities reach the Presidency within 48 hours of the protest happening and responses given to protesters within 7 days of receipt of the memoranda.
4) The EFF Government will strengthen and make autonomous Monitoring and Evaluation of Government programmes and activities which will publicly announce whether government reached its set objectives within 6 months intervals.
5) The EFF Government will institute a policy of recall of public representatives who do not perform their tasks as per the programme they are assigned to.
6) The EFF Government will respect the rights of traditional leaders and will make sure that they all receive equal treatment and assistance across the board.
7) The EFF Government will ensure that the stipends and salaries given to Traditional Leaders are adequate to help them address ongoing day-to-day functions expected by their communities.
8) The EFF Government will reduce the number of national government ministries and departments and mainstream their functions.
PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES USING PUBLIC SERVICES:
1) As a broad and cogent principle, the EFF Government’s approach to public representatives (those occupying political office through elections) is that because they are there on the mandate of the people to serve, the many perks associated with political office should be limited.
2) The lifestyle of representatives should reflect that of ordinary citizens.
Because they are responsible for the allocation of resources, and the implementation and monitoring of services, public representatives and their dependants should be compelled, by law, to use only public services, particularly schools and healthcare facilities and services.
This should apply to all public representatives from the President of the country to local municipal councillors.
ADEQUATE SALARIES AND WORKING CONDITIONS OF ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS:
1) The EFF Government will bring back the dignity of public servants by ensuring that there is an increase in the salaries of all public servants by a minimum of 50% in the period 2014 to 2019, particularly teachers, nurses, police, warders and all government employees.
2) The EFF Government will reduce the wage gap within public servants to ensure that the wage gap between the lowest paid worker and the highest paid worker is narrowed.
3) The EFF Government will ensure that the employment of new entrants into the public service is enabled and facilitated through the abolition of the requirement of a 5 years working experience.
4) The EFF Government will work towards filling 100% of vacancies in all public service institutions.
REDUCTION OF BENEFITS FOR PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES:
1) The EFF Government will implement a policy position that will lead to representatives not being bought cars or houses by the state.
The amount of money the state spends on enhancing representatives’ personal lifestyle conditions is in no way justifiable.
2) Under EFF Government, public representatives with salaries, ministers, MECs and councillors should use their own cars and stay in their own houses, paid for by the salaries they are given by the state.
ONE CAPITAL CITY FOR SOUTH AFRICA:
1) The EFF Government will ensure that both the legislative and administrative capital should be in one city, which should be Tshwane, because of its accessibility
2) Under the EFF government, public representatives will, in this one capital, have adequate time to address issues of their responsibility, not having to travel almost every day
BUILDING NEW CITIES:
1) While EFF appreciates that building of new cities may exceed a period well beyond 5 years, as government, the EFF will begin with practical processes which will lead to the building of new cities.
2) The building of new cities will happen through Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which will enjoy consistent state support mechanisms and programmes and development of industries.
3) As part of addressing the industrial development of rural areas, the EFF Government will identify and concurrently run Special Economic Zones in the following areas of economic potential over the next five (2014 to 2019) years and build statesubsidised and incentivised cities alongside the SEZs for an additional 10 years, beginning in 2014:
a) Sekhukhune and Lephalale in Limpopo
b) Bojanala in North West
c) Kuruman in the Northern Cape
d) Welkom in the Free State
e) Emalahleni (Witbank) in Mpumalanga
f) Overberg in the Western Cape
g) East London and Coega in the Eastern Cape
h) Richards Bay in KwaZulu Natal
SECTION 6: HOW EFF GOVERNMENT WILL REALISE ITS COMMITMENTS
The key component to the realisation of these objectives lies in the political determination, competency, zeal and commitment of a Government in power with the necessary capacity to pass legislation, and implement it accurately.
The central pillars of the programme lie in the following key programmes: 1) Land expropriation without compensation.
2) Nationalisation of Mines.
3) Nationalisation of private banks and strategic sectors of the economy.
4) Creation of a 100% State Owned Bank.
5) Retaining strategic control and ownership of current SOEs and giving these a developmental mandate.
6) Development of the African economy.
7) Building of progressive political, ideological and economic partnerships in the world.
LAND EXPROPRIATION WITHOUT COMPENSATION:
1) The EFF Government believes that without equal redistribution of land, there will never be genuine economic freedom, which is necessary if all our social welfare objectives are to be delivered in our lifetime.
2) The EFF Government will pass legislation to take all land to the custodianship of the State and all those who occupy and use the land will need to apply for the re-issue of licences to use it for agricultural purposes and other sustainable economic activities.
3) The EFF Government will ensure that land redistribution is equitable and its ownership and control reflects the demographics of South Africa, and those who work on the land will be given priority on land use.
4) The EFF Government will abolish all forms of foreign land ownership, and will institute a land lease system for foreign investors and companies to use the land for sustainable economic activities.
5) The EFF Government will adopt a principle of “use it or lose it” on land use, where those who do not use the land, loose it to the custodianship of the State.
6) The EFF Government will make it illegal for land to be used as surety for banks loans.
NATIONALISATION OF MINES:
1) The EFF Government’s approach to nationalisation is that it should result in democratic and socialised ownership and control of the means of production by the workers, to avoid a situation where the state will exclusively own the means of production and suppress workers’ interests and aspirations.
2) Nationalisation under EFF Government will mean that legislation governing mineral resources will be amended to ensure that a minimum of 60% of existing Mines and mining activities are owned by the State, workers, and communities where mining activity occurs.
3) The EFF Government will nationalise mines in models that will be suitable for the continued productivity of the mines and mining in South Africa.
Discontinuation of private ownership of mines will be located within an intention and programme to have democratic workers’ ownership and control of mines and mining in South Africa.
4) The benefits of nationalising strategic sectors of the economy will include, but not be limited to, the following realities:
a) An increased fiscus for, and therefore more resources for, education, housing, healthcare, infrastructure development, safety and security and sustainable livelihoods for our people.
b) More jobs for our people because state-owned and controlled mines will increase the local beneficiation and industrialisation of mineral resources.
This will, in turn, reduce the high levels of poverty consequent of joblessness.
c) More equitable spatial development because state-owned and controlled mines will invest in areas where mining occurs.
d) Better salaries and working conditions in mines because state-owned mines will increase the mining wage and improve compliance with occupational health and safety standards.
e) Greater levels of economic and political sovereignty, as the state will be in control and ownership of strategic sectors of the economy, which produce mineral resources needed around the world.
f) The profits that the state will generate from ownership and control of Mines will gradually loosen the taxes on private individuals.
NATIONALISATION OF PRIVATE BANKS AND OTHER STRATEGIC SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY:
1) The EFF government will expropriate a minimum of 60% of designated categories of existing companies and ensure that these are democratically run with greater participation of workers.
2) The EFF Government will specifically discontinue private ownership of companies such as SASOL and Arcelor-Mittal Steel and provide them with concrete developmental mandates to contribute to the rapid sustainable industrial development of South Africa.
3) The EFF Government will nationalise all private banks through taking a minimum of 60% ownership and control of all the existing private banks.
4) The EFF Government will ensure that all the banks are given concrete developmental and job creation mandates, particularly in the provision of housing and small and medium enterprises development
5) The EFF Government will ensure that all banks contribute to the education and skilling of the people of South Africa.
6) The EFF Government will ensure that all banks are democratically run and its employees are paid decent salaries.
NATIONALISATION OF THE RESERVE BANK AND CREATION OF A STATE OWNED BANK:
1) The EFF Government will ensure that the Reserve Bank is owned and controlled by the state and its policies are linked to industrial development
2) The monetary policies pursued by the Reserve Bank should be aimed at job creating, not just inflation targeting.
3) The EFF Government will create a State Owned Bank, which will primarily help infant industries with developmental finance and support them to play an active role in various economic spheres of our society.
4) The State owned bank will also provide housing and vehicle finance which will be progressive and assist millions of South Africans to have access to decent housing and vehicles.
STATE OWNED ENTERPRISES:
1) The EFF Government will democratise the running of all existing State Owned Enterprises, instituting a model of greater worker ownership and control of the enterprises, instead of the boards that current run SOEs in a similar way private companies are run
2) The EFF Government will retain total and majority control of all State Owned Enterprises, particularly ESKOM, TELKOM, SASOL, PETRO-SA, DENEL, SABC, POST OFFICE, SAA and all State owned enterprises under the oversight of various government departments, and Provincial governments.
3) The EFF Government will prescribe clear and concrete developmental mandates and objectives to all State Owned Enterprises, which will be gauged by their ability to deliver quality services and goods, the number of jobs they create, and the speed at which they expand the qualitative and quantitative capacity to provide better services.
4) The EFF Government will ensure that all State owned enterprises will be given a concrete mandate on the number of jobs they should create annually.
5) The EFF Government will ensure that all State owned enterprises will be given a concrete mandate on the numbers of students they should train every year.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE AFRICAN ECONOMY:
1) The EFF Government will play a leading role in the promotion of intra-African trade partnerships and relationships.
This means the EFF government will direct the South African economy to purchase goods and services that can be produced in the African economy, whilst exporting its economic goods and services to countries in the African economy.
2) The EFF Government will establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund, whose primary role and focus will be massive investment in the industrial development of various parts of Africa.
3) The EFF Government will politically and ideologically promote Africa’s economic selfreliance and Africa’s industrial development and growth.
BUILDING PROGRESSIVE TRADE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE WORLD:
1) The EFF Government will build trade relations with countries which will appreciate that South Africa and Africa as a whole are not just suppliers of natural resources and products, but are a country and continent for industrial and technological development.
2) The EFF Government will build relations with countries and economies that will appreciate that South Africa is not a dumping ground for agricultural and industrial products.
3) The EFF Government will build relations with countries and economies which will be willing to invest in real and genuine industrial development and skills transfer to South African and African economies.
SECTION 7: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, COOPERATION AND SOLIDARITY:
The EFF appreciates that South Africa exists in a continental and global world order that have been bedevilled by many political, social and -economic challenges for centuries.
EFF’s progressive commitment is to build a better South Africa, Africa and global world where all people share equitably in the wealth and opportunities that collectively we are able to offer.
Our aspirations for South Africa are aspirations for the African continent and the world and our international relations, co-operation and solidarity programme are founded on the principle that economic emancipation should be extended to all people across the globe.
Within this context, EFF appreciates that there various political, social and economic challenges that confront the world today and as a progressive internationalist movement that is anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist, we carry the obligation to work with progressive forces of change in the world, which are based on principles of solidarity and equal distribution of the world wealth.
In this regard, these are key international relations, cooperation and solidarity programmes and actions we will pursue as EFF Government:
1) The EFF Government will work towards ending the global imperialist dominance of the West and will build relations with all progressive nations in Latin America, Asia and the African continent to establish a world order that is not dominated by the West, but is a world of equal political and economic relations.
2) The EFF Government will lead a progressive programme to build international solidarity politically, socially and economically amongst African states.
3) The EFF Government will lead a progressive programme to reject foreign, particularly Western domination of African economies.
4) The EFF Government will lead a progressive programme which will transform Africa from a passive exporter of natural resources into an economy that beneficiates and industrialises its raw materials.
5) The EFF Government will work towards the rejection of the Africa Command Centre, a military programme of the United States based in Botswana.
6) The EFF Government will work towards African isolation of Botswana, which has been home of an imperialist military base and push for progressive internal reforms within Botswana which should involve the people of Botswana.
7) The EFF Government will work towards building strong relationship with Lesotho, and ensure that the resources South Africa receives from Lesotho; particularly water benefits the people of Lesotho.
8) The EFF Government will within 5 years push for democratic political reforms in Swaziland, which will include political and economic isolation of the Monarchy until there are meaningful political changes and tolerance in that country.
9) The EFF Government will protect Zimbabwe from imperialist threats and sanctions and ensure that Zimbabwe is self-sustainable and returns to using its own independent currency within 5 years.
10) The EFF Government will implement incremental boycotts, divestment and sanctions against the apartheid state of Israel, as a concrete form of solidarity with the Palestinians, to end the illegal occupation of Palestinian Territories and state by Israel.
11) The EFF Government will build sustainable and balanced relations with all progressive forces in the world, and will relate with the growing economies, particularly China, Russia, Brazil, India and Latin American countries in a mutually beneficial way.
12) The EFF Government will work in solidarity with the people of Western Sahara to realise real political independence from colonial domination.
SECTION 8: SECTORAL AND SPECIFIC COMMITMENT MADE BY THE EFF IN THE MANIFESTO CONSULTATION PROCESS:
As part of its many consultations forums, the EFF government commits to do the following specific programmes in the years it will be in government: The EFF Government will expand the University of Mpumalanga and Sol Plaatjie University in the Northern Cape to enrol a minimum of 10 000 students each by 2016 with decent accommodation and funding, and increase intake annually from thereon.
The EFF Government will eradicate all mud-schools in the Eastern Cape, and replace them with decent schools with all basic services provided.
The EFF Government will seek remuneration for all ex-mineworkers in the Eastern Cape and within the Asbestos Community Forum before the beginning of 2015.
The EFF Government will provide sustainable water supply to the people of Mothutlung in the North West Province, Giyani in Limpopo Province, and all other areas across the country that have no water.
The EFF Government will transform Sjwetla informal settlement in Alexandra, Johannesburg; Zenzele in the Westrand, Thembelihle in Johannesburg, and Mooiplaas in Tshwane into more dignified human settlement before the end of 2017.
The EFF Government will ensure that the Khoi and San languages are made official languages in the Constitution of South Africa.
The EFF Government will cancel all credit bureau creditors and present a new platform to start from the beginning on the basis of the New Credit Act.
The EFF Government will ensure that abalone (perlemoen) fishing in the Western Cape benefits the immediate communities.
The EFF Government will make Malamulele a viable economic territory through targeted local economic development programmes and give it the status of a local Municipality.
The EFF Government will make places such as Diepsloot and Scwetla a viable human settlement area with decent houses for all with community amenities.
The EFF Government will adequately resolve the Chieftaincy and Traditional leadership disputes in all provinces and ensure that the chiefs and kings recognised by the people are given their rightful positions.
The EFF acknowledges the following about the Khoi and San people: The ancestors of the Khoi and San people fought the first anti-colonial wars against white settlers in South Africa.
Since 1652 white settlers violently plundered the livestock and stole the land of the Khoi and San people at gunpoint.
They resisted colonialism forcibly.
EFF acknowledges that Autshumao of the Goringkaikona tribe led the first war of resistance and was the first political prisoner imprisoned at Robben Island.
The EFF will strive for: a) The economic freedom of the Khoi and San people.
b) The rights of Khoi and San children to be taught in their own language.
c) The renaming of significant landmarks in Western Cape to Khoi and San names.
SECTION 9: FINANCING THE EFF MANIFESTO:
The current government operates in a budget of R1 trillion per year, and distributes these amounts across government departments, and toward provincial and local spheres of government.
The EFF will engage in radical redirection of government spending to prioritise services that will alleviate poverty,
reduce inequalities,
and prepare South African citizens for a better future.
The following will be part of increasing the budget and cost redirection measures: 1) Increase taxes from private corporations and companies to run a R2 trillion budget by 2017.
Corporate and company taxes should amount to not less than 40% of the tax revenue, while all other taxes, including VAT are retained at the same levels they are in currently
2) Introduce education and training taxes from all private corporations to a minimum of 2% of the total revenue of all corporations employing more than 25 people, and this will fund all education and training activities and programmes performed by the state.
3) Increase customs and excise duties & levies by 50% and this will lead to additional billions of Rands for additional usage and income.
4) Tighten exchange control to lock capital to invest in South Africa, and pass laws that all corporations doing business in South Africa should be listed in and pay majority of their taxes in South Africa.
5) The EFF Government will increase taxes on speculative capital inflows by 60%.
6) One Country-One Capital City: having one City as an administrative and capital city will cut billions of Rands used in the travelling and accommodation of Government Ministers and their support staff.
7) The EFF Government will cut the budget for the presidency by 60%, closing the official residences in Durban and Cape Town, and guaranteeing security only in one official residence.
8) The EFF Government will remove all presidential spousal support.
9) The EFF Government will end government corruption and incompetence, which currently cost the State more than R30 billion per year.
10) The EFF Government will abolish the Employment Tax Incentives Act and redirect all monies meant for this purposes to social welfare programmes.
11) The EFF Government will house all government departments in state-owned buildings and properties to stop the millions of Rands paid to private property owners.
12) The EFF Government will use the money generated from state-owned enterprises to invest in sustainable development.
CONCLUSION
These are genuine commitments which will bring about real economic transformation.
These are commitment which will lift South Africa and its people to an elevated position in the world.
These are commitments which will leave a long lasting, positive and meaningful legacy for generations to come.
These are commitments which will inspire the entire African continent and nations across the world to pursue and implement real economic emancipation.
Now is the time for economic freedom!
OUR VISION AND PLAN
South Africa has begun a new and far-reaching phase of its democratic transition.
For more than a century, the ANC has led our people in their aspiration for a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society, as the strategic goal of the National Democratic Revolution.
That vision, inscribed in the Freedom Charter, inspired the sacrifices that brought freedom and democracy.
That vision became the soul of our constitutional democracy after April 1994.
It has been the guiding light of our programme to reconstruct and develop our country after centuries of colonialism and apartheid.
Over the last 20 years, the first phase of our democratic transition, our people’s dignity has been restored.
Non-racial majority rule based on one-person, one-vote has brought about government based on the will of the people.
Today, South Africa is a better place in which to live.
The lives of millions have improved.
Yet the challenges still facing our country are immense.
Poverty,
Inequality,
and unemployment still affect the lives of many people.
Corruption continues to erode our social fabric and undermine our development efforts.
Our economy continues to feel the effects of the global economic slowdown, making our goals all the harder to reach.
The ANC is committed to working with our people to address these challenges and move South Africa further forward towards the achievement of the vision of the Freedom Charter.
The second phase of our democratic transition calls for bold and decisive steps to place the economy on a qualitatively different path that eliminates poverty
and unemployment,
creates sustainable livelihoods
and substantially reduces inequality.
The National Development Plan (NDP) aims to eradicate poverty,
increase employment
and reduce inequality by 2030.
The NDP lays the foundation for long-term planning for this radical socio-economic agenda over the next 20 years.
Its implementation will be a people-driven process to which everyone is able to contribute.
Where appropriate, the plan will be adapted to meet changing conditions and incorporate key learnings.
Within the NDP vision, critical policy instruments will continue to drive government’s policy agenda.
These include: the New Growth Path, which shifts the trajectory of economic development,
the National Infrastructure Plan, which guides the roll-out of infrastructure to improve people’s lives,
the Industrial Policy Action Plan, which supports the re-industrialisation  of the economy
In the next five years, we will build on the progress made in implementing our 2009 Manifesto priorities: Creation of more jobs, decent work and sustainable livelihoods for inclusive growth,
Rural development,
land reform and food security,
Education,
Health,
Fighting crime
and corruption.
We will also continue to expand access to housing and basic services as part of our commitment to build integrated and sustainable human settlements.
These goals require that we build a democratic developmental state capable of mobilising all sectors and boldly intervening in the economy in favour of workers and the poor.
Working with all sectors of society, we will need to create conditions for the promotion of social cohesion and nation building and contribute to a better Africa and a just world.
The commitments of this manifesto are coherent, realistic and achievable.
As the leading political representative of South Africans, with unmatched experience, capacity and political determination, in the next five years the ANC will work to mobilise and unite all our people around this manifesto.
Together we move South Africa forward.
OUR KEY COMMITMENTS TO MOVE SOUTH AFRICA FORWARD
Economy And Jobs
Institutionalise long-term planning, integration and coordination capacity within the state to drive consolidated industrialisation and infrastructure development programmes for inclusive growth and job creation.
Mobilise and leverage the active participation of all sectors in these bold initiatives.
The private sector must actively contribute to inclusive growth, investment, social development and economic transformation.
Promote local procurement to increase domestic production and the creation of decent jobs by directing the state to progressively buy at least 75% of its goods and services from South African producers and support small enterprises, co-operatives and broad-based black empowerment.
Accelerate the roll-out of our massive economic and social infrastructure programme especially in energy, public transport, ICT and water supply to unlock economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life of our people.
Address the needs of the youth for empowerment, education and job creation through a multi-pronged approach that creates job placements and internship schemes and sets aside 60% of employment and empowerment in infrastructure and other projects for youth and promote youth employment and training incentive schemes.
Promote investment and access to credit in the productive economy by the financial sector, including development finance institutions, through bolder and far reaching reforms.
Consolidate the public works programme, creating 6 million work opportunities by 2019.
Many of which will be of a long duration.
Investigate the modality for the introduction of a national minimum wage as one of the key mechanisms to reduce income inequality.
Take steps to strengthen existing laws to ensure faster change in employment equity in all workplaces by enforcing an accelerated implementation of employment equity targets.
Enforce measures to eliminate abusive work practises in atypical work and labour broking.
Rural Development, Land Reform And Food Security
Implement rural development focusing on meeting basic needs, land reform and rural enterprise development, supported by localised markets, credit facilities and economic infrastructure.
Increase investment in agricultural infrastructure in support of small-holder farmer development, prioritising former homeland communal area.s
Continue to improve the tenure security and administration of people living in communal areas with emphasis on women’s tenure security.
Strengthen support for co-operatives in marketing and supply activities to enable small scale producers to enter formal value chains and take advantage of economies of scale.
This will include targeting public institutions as primary buyers of agricultural goods and support for small scale producers’ access to municipal markets.
Expand the Food for All programme as part of the national integrated food and nutrition policy for procuring and distributing affordable essential foodstuffs directly to poor communities.
Accelerate the settlement of remaining land claims submitted before the cut-off date of 1998.
Re-open the period for the lodgement of claims for restitution of land for a period of five years, commencing in 2014.
Codify the exceptions to the 1913 cut-off date for the descendants of the Khoi and San, and identify affected heritage sites and historical landmarks.
HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND BASIC SERVICES
Ensure all South Africans have access to adequate human settlements  and quality living conditions through programmes that provide one million housing opportunities for qualifying households over the next  five years, and providing basic services and infrastructure in all existing informal settlements.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Improve and expand education and training by making Grade R compulsory, eradicating adult illiteracy, and further improving the quality of basic education up to the senior grade.
The FET college sector will be expanded, with greater support for the needs of students, and compulsory community service for all graduates will be introduced.
Health
Enter a new phase in the implementation of the National Health  Insurance (NHI) through the creation of a publicly funded and publicly administered NHI Fund, strengthening and expanding the free primary health care programme, improving management of public hospitals, and reducing the costs of private health care.
Intensify  the campaign against HIV and AIDS to ensure at least 4.6 million people are enrolled in the anti-retroviral programme.
We will also ensure chronic medication is available and delivered closer to where patients live, benefiting hundreds of thousands of South Africans.
Fighting Corruption And Crime
Intensify the fight against corruption in both the public and private sectors through measures to restrict public servants from doing business and holding public officials individually liable for losses incurred as result of corrupt actions.
We will pursue action against companies involved in bid rigging, price fixing and corruption in past and current infrastructure build programmes.
Require any ANC member or ANC public representative found guilty by a court of law to step down from any leadership positions in the ANC, government and society.
Where this has not happened, the ANC will take firm action in line with the provisions of the ANC constitution.
20 YEARS OF FREEDOM ANDDEMOCRACY
We are proud that South Africa is a much better place than it was before 1994.
20 Years Of Nation Building And Reconciliation
Discriminatory laws have been abolished and segregated institutions replaced by unified ones.
We sing one national anthem, fly one national flag and embrace our cultural diversity.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission helped heal the wounds of the past.
In the past 5 years there have been several moments that have exemplified our sense of a common nationhood.
In 2010, we welcomed the world to the first FIFA World Cup tournament in Africa.
Every year, on Nelson Mandela International Day, South Africans volunteer 67 minutes of their time in support of a worthy cause.
Most recently, we came together as one people to bid farewell to the father of our nation, Tata Madiba.
20 Years Of Democratisation
Our constitutional democracy has advanced the right of our people to equality, to protection against racial, gender and other discrimination, and to the progressive realisation of access to the basic necessities of life.
An independent judiciary has been established and entrenched.
Representative and participatory democracy has been consolidated.
In the past 5 years, as we advanced the rights of our people, we have remained true to the values of the Constitution.
We have ensured the policies we implement advance the constitutional imperative to improve the quality of life of all citizens and free each person’s potential.
20 Years Of Reconstruction, Development And Growth
We have gone a long way to overcome the systemic divisions of apartheid in the economy, education, health and human settlements.
The lives of most South Africans have greatly improved.
In the past 5 years we have worked together to achieve further improvements in the lives of all South Africans.
20 Years Of Advancing Workers Interests And Aspirations
The ANC has safeguarded and entrenched the hard-won rights of workers, including trade union workplace organising, collective bargaining, equal pay for equal work, health and safety, affirmative action, skills development, minimum wages for workers in vulnerable sectors, the right to strike, and the right to peaceful protest.
In the past 5 years, the ANC has begun to put in place measures to address labour broking and the casualisation of labour to protect vulnerable workers.
Unemployment insurance benefits have been improved.
20 Years Of Championing The Struggle For Gender Equality
In democratic South Africa, women’s voices are heard and women’s issues are seriously addressed.
Institutional mechanisms have been established to protect women’s rights and dignity.
Progress has been made in freeing women from customs and practices that undermine their rights.
Progress in meeting basic needs such as housing and access to water has especially benefited women, redressing past inequalities.
More girls are in school and tertiary institutions than ever before and more women are in employment.
Women continue to benefit from economic empowerment programmes and they are the major recipients of social security programmes.
In the past 5 years we established the Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disabilities.
We have taken up active campaigns against the abuse of women and children,
improved representation of women in parliament and government, and promoted a policy of equal representation of women and men in all institutions of government.
We have continued to confront the challenge of violence against women and children and prioritise it in our strategies directed at creating a safe and secure society.
20 Years Of Peace And Security For All
The politically-inspired violence that engulfed many parts of our country was brought to an end.
Overall levels of serious crime have been reduced.
We are working together to transform our security forces and judicial system to ensure they reflect the national and gender character of our country.
We have ensured fairness and equality for all before the law and enabled access to justice to millions more South Africans
In the past 5 years we have strengthened special institutions to fight corruption, with firm action taken against corrupt public servants, public representatives and private sector companies
The Developmental Challenge
The progress made in the first 20 years of democracy to eradicate the legacy of more than 340 years of colonialism and apartheid sets the foundation for what still needs to be done.
In this manifesto we set out the programmes and strategies that will help free our people from the economic and social legacy of apartheid.
Our challenges still remain.
We must continue to address our people’s basic needs.
Together We Move South Africa Forward.
BUILDING A DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENTALSTATE
The ANC is committed to building a democratic developmental  state able to  lead efforts to overcome unemployment and  poverty and reduce inequality.
The developmental state will play a strategic guiding role in the economy, and decisively  intervene in the interests of the people, particularly the workers and the poor.
The state, in partnership with the private sector, organised labour and civil society, must create the conditions to accelerate economic growth and stimulate job creation.
It must be a state that mobilises all of society in furthering development,
broadening access to public services,
fighting  corruption,
and holding public officials accountable.
IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THE ANC WILL:
Institutionalise Long-Term Planning
We will establish the institutional mechanisms and build the necessary capacity within the state to undertake long-term planning, drawing where necessary on the expertise that exists in wider society.
This will go a long way in coordinating and integrating strategies for growth and development.
Drive Infrastructure And Industrial Development
The skills and capabilities of the state will be improved
and partnerships for delivery with the private sector, trade unions and community structures will be strengthened.
Additional engineering, project planning and financial management skills will be brought into the state.
Government will fast-track implementation, reduce regulatory delays,
improve public and private sector capacity,
combat private sector corruption, collusion and profiteering,
and ensure coordinated action across all spheres of government.
Align The Development Mandate Of State-Owned Enterprises
The developmental mandate of state-owned enterprises, development finance institutions (DFIs) and other public agencies will be re-aligned to support radical economic transformation.
Forge A Disciplined, People-Centred And Professional Public Service
The Public Service Charter, which constitutes the basis of public service reform, will be implemented.
It commits the state to become a model employer and an employer of choice for all those committed to serving our people.
The education and training of public servants will be promoted.
Through our skills development initiative we will turn every public sector workplace into a training space and develop conscientious public servants.
To reduce reliance on outsourcing, we will enhance the capacity of the state to directly provide goods and services.
Support And Provide Oversight For Local Government
Where needed, additional national government support will be provided to improve local government capacity in the delivery of basic services.
National and provincial government will oversee the performance of municipalities
and ensure that communities are empowered to hold public representatives and public servants accountable.
Empower Citizens To Play A Greater Role In Development
We will strengthen existing forums of people’s participation and enable our people to play a greater role in development through partnerships with a range of community and social organisations.
A DEMOCRATIC STATE
In The Last 20 Years
We have transformed an undemocratic, unrepresentative,  oppressive and corrupt state, serving a minority, into a unitary,  non-racial, non-sexist democratic state, answerable to and representative of all South Africans.
We have enjoyed an uninterrupted period of peace and political stability.
We have consolidated institutions of democracy.
In The Last 5 Years
We have laid the foundation for long-term planning and coordination, for monitoring and evaluation.
Public services are more efficient.
We have reduced waiting  times for the collection of IDs and turnaround time for social grant  applications.
Our tax collection and administration systems are  more efficient.
ECONOMY AND JOBS
The long period of sustained economic growth between 1994 and 2008 had a positive effect on growth, the size of the economy, a  stable fiscus and job creation.
However, the structural faultlines of the economy still remain.
The radical second phase of our transition must bring about the economic emancipation of our people.
In the next five years, despite the global economic outlook,  we are determined to act decisively and boldly to increase investment in the real economy and infrastructure,
stimulate  faster levels of inclusive growth,
speed up social development,
substantially reduce poverty
and unemployment,
and place the economy on a qualitatively different growth path.
For This To Be Achieved:
All of us – government, business, labour and social organisations – must actively contribute to economic transformation.
The state will play a role in mobilising and leveraging the active participation of all sectors in these bold initiatives.
The private sector, which accounts for 70% of the South African economy, must actively contribute to inclusive growth, investment, social development and economic transformation.
The ANC Undertakes To:
Consolidate the industrialisation and infrastructure expansion programme with appropriate initiatives from the state;
empower and promote education and employment for the youth;
make the financial sector serve the real economy and people;
implement a massive public works programme;
advance equality
and decent work in the workplace;
build an extensive support network for small businesses and co-operatives;
promote broad-based black economic empowerment;
invest in science and technology; and
advance rural development, land and agrarian reform and food security.
These decisive interventions will require stronger articulation between  macro- and micro-economic policies biased towards more jobs, decent work and sustainable livelihoods,
and reducing inequality.
In carrying out our economic plan we will continue to  promote a  national dialogue with all role-players to enhance inclusive economic growth,
and develop consensus on the urgent need to transform the economy.
ECONOMY AND JOBS
In The Last 20 Years
From 1994 to the onset of the 2008 global financial crisis,  we experienced the longest recorded period of uninterrupted economic growth.
Growing at twice the rate of the last 19 years of apartheid.
The national wealth, measured in terms of GDP, has grown to more than R3. 5 trillion, up from less than half a trillion rand in 1994.
Government’s annual revenue has grown to R880 billion, up from R112 billion in 1994.
In The Last 5 Years
The economy regained the 1 million jobs lost as a result of the 2008 global economic crisis.
Since 1994, five million more people are working, with total employment at 14 million.
Employment is now higher than it has ever been.
INDUSTRIALISATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION
The massive expansion of infrastructure, combined with smart industrial policy initiatives, will create decent work opportunities
and strengthen industrialisation.
Our industrial policy action plan will be scaled-up to bring  about significant structural change in the economy and build and strengthen our domestic manufacturing capacity.
Our infrastructure programme will improve the lives of our people, help create an inclusive economy and unlock opportunity.
The ICT infrastructure programme will impact fundamentally on the economy and the connectivity of our people.
Industrial infrastructure will provide the production base for the future.
Social infrastructure of hospitals, schools, universities and clinics will provide the foundation for improved service delivery.
Rural and agro-logistics infrastructure will expand rural production and create sustainable rural livelihoods.
Job creation will be a priority of infrastructure programmes.
More than 250,000 jobs will be sustained through the construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure and manufacture of local components.
We will place more focus on catalytic projects in energy, transport, ICT and water.
IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THE ANC WILL:
Promote Local Procurement To Increase Domestic Production
As a contribution to boosting local manufacturing and creating jobs at home, the state will be directed to progressively implement the target of buying at least 75% of its goods and services from South African producers.
The state’s buying power will support small enterprises, co-operatives and broad-based black economic empowerment.
Working together with all partners, we will run public campaigns to promote local procurement.
We will ensure that large public entities such as Eskom and Transnet buy specified goods for the infrastructure build programme locally.
Deploy Incentives And Secure Industrial Financing For Productive Economic Sectors
We will integrate and align incentive initiatives such as the Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme (MCEP) and speed up the roll-out of the special economic zone incentive.
We will ensure secure and ongoing industrial funding by DFIs at concessional rates for priority sectors and in support of job creation.
Beneficiate Our Mineral Wealth And Transform The Mining Sector
Strategic minerals will be identified for policy interventions in the manufacturing, energy, agriculture and infrastructure sectors.
Active measures will be taken to ensure security of supply of these minerals to achieve national objectives such as industrialisation and local beneficiation.
The role of the state-owned mining company will be strengthened to ensure it captures a share of mineral resource rents and equity and contributes to the integrated value chains in the sector.
Work For Regional Industrialisation And Integration
We will work with our partners to ensure increased exports particularly manufactured and value-added exports.
Working with other African states, we will take forward a regional industrialisation agenda to ensure Africa becomes a manufacturing and industrial power.
Trade among African countries will be further promoted as part of our effort to support regional integration to create large regional markets to sustain industrialisation.
We will work together with state-owned enterprises, development finance institutions and the private sector to address infrastructural needs in Africa.
We will enhance our work to establish the BRICS development bank, which will help finance infrastructure development in developing countries.
Invest In Infrastructure That Unlocks Economic Opportunities And Creates Jobs
We will invest in infrastructure that can unlock the vast mineral wealth of the country,
create jobs
and support the local beneficiation of mineral deposits for the benefit of South Africans.
We will create a climate for increased investment by the state, the local private sector and foreign investors in infrastructure and the real economy.
In the northern mineral belt centred on Limpopo and Mpumalanga, infrastructure will be provided to tap the vast reserves of coal, chromium, palladium and platinum through provision of water, railway lines, roads, energy and social infrastructure.
It will also have strong linkages with the North West and multiplier effects in most of the other six provinces.
In the Northern Cape, infrastructure will be developed to unlock the manganese and iron-ore mining reserves, create jobs in the province and strengthen economic links with the Western Cape and Eastern Cape through mineral beneficiation.
In the eastern part of the Eastern Cape, an integrated development that includes a new Mzimvubu Dam and the rerouting of the N2 Wild Coast highway will be accompanied by expanded school and clinic building, provision of sanitation and the current expansion of the Mthatha airport.
Produce More, Cleaner Energy And Promote Energy Self-Sufficiency
Our plan will ensure that there is domestic security of supply of coal to existing and future power stations.
Both traditional and green energy will be expanded to ensure a platform for growth and social inclusion,
including the use of nuclear power for energy generation in a safe and environmentally sustainable manner.
Additional energy will be generated through the completion of large power stations.
Solar and wind power will feed into the electricity grid to increase our generation capacity and promote environmental sustainability.
Further hydro-electric energy will be secured domestically and regionally for the national grid.
A further 1.3 million homes will be installed with solar water heaters, bringing the total to 1.75 million houses, covering more than 7 million South Africans.
The pace of oil and gas exploration – including shale gas exploration – by the state and other players in the industry will be intensified as part of the country’s effort to ensure national selfsufficiency and energy security while promoting environmental sustainability.
Better Freight And Passenger Transport
We will continue to invest in the upgrading and expansion of the country’s rail, port and pipeline infrastructure as part of our effort to shift freight transport from road to rail.
The freight rail system will be modernised over the next five years, with 1,100km of new railway lines.
Fifteen thousand new train coaches and wagons and 1,300 new locomotives will be manufactured.
The ports system will be expanded, with additional capacity added at major ports such as Ngqura, Durban and Cape Town.
World-class passenger trains will be introduced from 2015 as 3,600 new modern coaches replace outdated trains, bringing safety and comfort to millions of commuters.
In addition, we will work towards opening new passenger railway lines to connect our people in new human settlements, rural areas and townships.
We will invest in improved passenger transport systems through the development of bus-rapid transit systems to more cities, such as Nelspruit, Bloemfontein, East London, Polokwane, Msunduzi, Ekurhuleni and George.
The improvement of our public transport system will create many new jobs and contribute to skills development as buses, taxis, locomotives and trains will be manufactured and assembled in South Africa.
Rapidly expand access to and use of ICT infrastructure
We will invest in a comprehensive plan to expand broadband access throughout the country and substantially reduce the cost of communication.
We aim to connect all schools, public health and other government facilities through broadband by 2020, and at least 90% of our communities should have substantial and superfast broadband capacity by 2020.
Government will support and develop free-WiFi areas in cities, towns and rural areas.
The local electronics sector and emerging entrepreneurs will be stimulated as part of our efforts to support the manufacturing industry.
Expand Access To Water
We will continue to build new dams, expand the capacity of existing dams, and improve water treatment infrastructure to bring drinkable water to all South Africans.
Further investment in water services infrastructure will be made to replace ageing infrastructure, improve operation and maintenance at municipal level and create the required capacity to manage the water infrastructure.
We will complete our plan to reverse pollution of water sources caused by acid mine drainage and other causes within a five year period.
The state will allocate further financial and other resources to protect the public and environment against the contamination of water sources from industrial and commercial activities.
Perpetrators, especially mining companies, will be held liable for their actions through the enforcement of the “polluter-pays” principle, which imposes a cost on those who damage or pollute the environment.
INDUSTRIALISATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
In The Last 5 Years
Our industrial policy actions have resulted in more local production,
boosting jobs
and industrial capacity.
Investment has increased in key growth and job creating economic sectors.
More than R1 trillion has been invested in national infrastructure projects, compared with R451 billion in the previous five years.
Bus-rapid transit systems have been implemented in Johannesburg and Cape Town and others are under construction in Durban, Nelson Mandela Bay, Tshwane and Rustenburg.
We have initiated Africa’s largest green energy programme.
ENSURE MORE EMPOWERED, EDUCATED AND EMPLOYED YOUTH
In the next 5 years, we will implement a multi-pronged approach to tackle youth unemployment
IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THE ANC WILL:
Provide Job Placements And Internships Schemes For Youth
Students from FET colleges and universities of technology will be placed in workplaces to gain practical work experience.
Through the campaign to turn the workspace into a training space, the public sector will increase the number of spaces for FET graduates and unemployed graduates to get experiential training.
Step Up Education And Training Opportunities For Youth
The intake of students for post-school education will be massively expanded over the next five years, with the aim of enrolling the majority of youth aged 18-23, especially in FET colleges.
Our skills plan will direct contractors to help increase the number of engineers and artisans, project managers, machine operators and financial managers.
State-owned enterprises will be required to increase the number of training opportunities offered to young South Africans.
Increase The Number Of Young People In Public Works Schemes
Through coordinating and scaling up existing programmes such as the Community Work Programme, the Mass Literacy Campaign and the National Rural Youth Services Corps, we aim to provide initial exposure to a work opportunity to at least four million young people.
Provide Youth Target Set-Asides
In the infrastructure programmes, 60% of jobs on new infrastructure projects will be set aside for young people.
We will promote youth set-asides in other sectors such as the green economy and business processing services.
This will be combined with improved training by FET colleges.
Promote Youth Co-Operatives And Youth Enterprises
Public agencies responsible for co-operatives and small enterprise development will be required to develop special programmes targeting youth co-operatives and youth enterprises.
Work With The Private Sector To Expand The Intake Of Young People
The private sector will be encouraged to target youth and make use of youth employment incentive schemes.
We will introduce new regulations to ensure there is no displacement of unsubsidised workers to avoid a multi-tiered labour market within the same sector in respect of both wage categories.
All relevant stakeholders will be consulted in implementation.
The impact of the employment incentive scheme will be evaluated within two years.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
In The Last 20 Years
There are 1.7 million more young people (under 35) working than in 1995.
Twice as many young people attended university and twice as many graduated in 2012 than in 1994.
The Public Works and Community Work programmes have created 6 million work opportunities for unemployed people, 40% of whom were young people.
In The Last 5 Years
We have doubled the amount available for student bursaries benefiting deserving students in universities and FET colleges.
The matric pass rate has increased from 60% in 2009 to 78.2% in 2013.
We have promoted entrepreneurship development and provided financial skills and mentorship.
We have set aside R2.7 billion for youth entrepreneurship loans and support.
MAKE THE FINANCIAL SECTOR SERVE THE ECONOMY AND THE PEOPLE
Our job creating and inclusive growth path will require  macroeconomic policies that address unemployment,
poverty
and inequality;
promotion of investment in the productive economy;
addressing the poor lending practices and excessive charges in the financial sector;
and making the financial sector more inclusive and accessible.
IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THE ANC WILL:
Pursue Macroeconomic Policy That Contributes To Addressing Unemployment, Poverty And Inequality
Our macroeconomic policy will back accelerated growth and longterm economic stability.
This will create the foundation for faster industrial development
and job creation.
A competitive exchange rate, stable prices and a well-managed government budget provide the foundation for lasting improvements in the lives of all South Africans, especially workers and the poor.
Banks will be made safer through tougher regulation, and will be encouraged to do more to lend to businesses, (especially new businesses) in the context of effective regulation.
In the next five years the ANC will also support lending on easier terms through government agencies so that investment in the productive economy is properly financed.
Promote Investment In The Productive Economy
We will engage intensively with the financial sector to discuss the investment patterns of this sector in line with the 2003 Growth and Development Summit agreements.
We will introduce measures to make more affordable credit available for productive investment.
The role of DFIs in increasing investment in the productive sectors of the economy must be enhanced and the possibility of concessional finance be investigated.
We will take measures to combat erosion of the tax base.
Practices like profit-shifting and transfer pricing will be dealt with.
Reinvestment in the productive sectors of the domestic economy will be encouraged.
Address Poor Lending Practices And Excessive Charges And Fees In The Financial Sector
Measures will be taken to curb lending practices that lead to overindebtedness and associated abuses.
In particular, extensive abuse of garnishee orders to deduct money from the salaries of workers will be stopped.
We will continue to implement measures to reduce high bank fees and charges on consumers and businesses.
Diversify the banking sector
The Postbank will lead the expansion of access to banking services to our people throughout the country.
We will increase support for the formation of co-operative banks that are democratically owned and controlled by their members.
FINANCIAL SECTOR
In The Last 20 Years
The 2003 Financial Sector Summit agreements set out clear commitments from all parties to transform and diversify the financial sector.
The National Credit Act (2005) protects consumers in the credit market and makes credit and banking services more accessible to our people.
The Co-operative Banks Act (2007) promotes co-operative banking.
Effective financial regulation helped cushion the economy and stabilised the banking sector following the 2008 global economic crisis.
In The Last 5 Years
The proportion of South African adults with access to banking services increased from 60% in 2009, to 75% in 2013.
An amnesty for five million people with adverse credit records was initiated.
PUBLIC WORKS FOR EMPLOYMENT CREATION
Over the last 10 years the ANC has led one of the most extensive and innovative public works programmes in the world.
The programme has provided work opportunities to millions of unemployed South Africans.
It ranges across many sectors, including caring for the environment, providing home-based care in poor communities, maintaining rural roads, and constructing social infrastructure like clinics.
These are not just temporary make-work solutions.
Public works programmes are making a significant contribution to our economy.
In The Next Five Years The ANC Will:
Massively expand public works programmes to create six million work opportunities, many of long duration, with 80% of new participants being unemployed youth.
Greater attention will be paid to skills development
and subsequent employment.
Integrate public works programmes with other government programmes like adult basic education, community colleges, and enterprise and co-operative development.
Focus on the impact these public works programmes have on poor communities, emphasising collective poverty alleviation,
the provision of services and assets,
creating sustainable livelihoods
and fostering community cohesion.
Improve coordination of public works programmes between different departments.
PROVIDE EXTENSIVE SUPPORT TO SMALL BUSINESS AND CO-OPERATIVES
The development of small businesses and co-operatives are  critical means to empower our people, draw new entrants  into the economy,
strengthen inclusive growth,
build the social economy,
encourage social solidarity and
create large numbers  of jobs.
While small business support has been strengthened over the past five years, it is necessary to scale up support and expand  the number and viability of co-operatives and small businesses to achieve our development vision.
In The Next Five Years The ANC Will:
Continue to increase support for small enterprises and co-operatives through the newly consolidated public agencies offering start-ups, small enterprises and social enterprises coaching, incubation, intensive support and financing.
Build on the commitments in social accords to bring black-owned small businesses and co-operatives into the supply chains of larger companies and the public sector.
Identify opportunities such as school-feeding schemes, where local women can be mobilised through co-operatives to provide affordable, nutritious food to children while earning a decent living for themselves.
Further mobilise the private sector and state-owned enterprises to support the small business and co-operative sector through the creation of incubators and working with enterprises in townships.
STRENGTHEN BROAD-BASED BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
Our revised broad-based black economic empowerment policy will strongly favour incentives for more decent employment creation;
investment in the productive sector by black entrepreneurs, including small businesses and co-operatives;
skills development and
employment equity;
and collective forms of broad-based ownership.
PROMOTING EQUALITY AND DECENT WORK AT THE WORKPLACE
An inclusive economy draws from the skills of all South Africans, affirms our people and reduces income inequality as we undo the legacy of discrimination at work on the grounds of race, gender and disability.
In The Next Five Years The ANC Will:
Investigate the modality for the introduction of a national minimum wage as one of the key mechanisms to reduce income inequality.
Strengthen the enforcement of provisions of the Employment Equity Act that require all employers to report on disproportionate income differentials at all wage levels and submit plans for their progressive reduction.
Take steps to ensure that collective bargaining takes place in all sectors of the economy.
Bargaining councils will also be used as vehicles to promote greater equity in the economy through linking access to state incentives and procurement to adherence to living wage standards, and commitments to promoting wage equity in collective agreements.
Take steps to strengthen existing laws to ensure faster change in employment equity in all workplaces by enforcing an accelerated implementation of employment equity targets.
Provide greater protection for workers and employers in the informal sector.
Enforce measures to eliminate abusive work practices in atypical work and labour broking.
Expand the capacity of the Department of Labour and other authorities to ensure full compliance with labour laws.
INVEST IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Research and innovation are essential to economic growth and job creation.
Science and technology offers an opportunity to  use cutting-edge methods and knowledge to build a modern,  advanced economy and bring new technologies to improve the lives of the rural poor;
improve access to health and education;
and drive new forms of industrialisation.
In The Next Five Years The Anc Will:
Start the first phase of the construction of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project by 2016, leading to investment in high-tech engineering and ICT infrastructure.
It will provide a platform to develop skills in science and technology.
Expand funding support for new research and development as part of growing our innovation base and as a step to increase overall research and development spend to at least 1.5% of GDP.
Support innovation programmes at schools, universities and in industry, with special emphasis on new ideas that address the real problems of the economy and society
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
In The Last 20 Years
Through significant investment in science, technology and innovation, we have achieved breakthroughs in nuclear technology, astronomy, mining, energy and medicine.
South Africa is home to some of the world’s best scientists and pioneers.
In The Last 5 Years
We were chosen to co-host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), which will become the largest radio telescope in the world.
The world’s first digital laser was developed by South African scientists at the CSIR.
A technology that will radically change the way the world uses laser technology.
We have improved water quality in South African dams through innovation
RURAL DEVELOPMENT, LAND AND AGRARIAN REFORM AND FOOD SECURITY
The ANC remains committed to dealing with a century-old  injustice that rendered the majority of our people pariahs in the land of their birth.
The heinous 1913 Land Act and resultant land dispossessions directly contribute to the ongoing problems of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
The willing-buyer, willing-seller approach to land reform has not worked, and is being replaced by the principle of just and equitable compensation in line with Section 25 of the Constitution.
We have a comprehensive programme of land reform, underpinned by de-racialisation of the rural economy,
democratic allocation and use of land,
and production for guaranteed food security.
IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THE ANC WILL:
Continue to invest more in rural development through the further implementation of the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme, which focuses primarily on the provision of social and economic rural infrastructure.
Finalise and implement the Agricultural Policy Action, strengthen agricultural production and agro-industries, and promote food security.
Roll out and expand aquaculture projects both to enhance job creation and promote access to high protein food.
Increase investment in agricultural infrastructure – including irrigation, storage facilities and fencing – in support of small-holder farmer development, with former homeland communal areas being a priority.
Strengthen agricultural college education through skills development funds.
Encourage further investment to promote the production of bio-fuels from locally produced crops, which will create many thousands of new jobs in agriculture.
Further intensify the development aspect of land reform, ensuring that all land-reform farms are productive and contribute to food security.
Enhance the success of our recapitalisation programme by continuing to work with commercial farmers to support emerging farmers in exchange for speedy implementation of the land reform programme.
Grow sustainable rural enterprises and industries through strong rural-urban linkages; increased investment in rural industries and agro-processing, trade development; and access to local markets and financial services.
Increase the number of youth participants in the National Rural Youth Service Corps from the present 14,000 to 50,000 in the next five years.
Continue to improve the tenure security and administration of people living in the communal areas, with emphasis on the security of tenure of women.
Further strengthen our support for co-operatives in marketing and supply activities to enable small scale producers to enter formal value chains and take advantage of economies of scale.
This will include targeting public institutions as primary buyers of agricultural goods and support for small scale producers’ access to municipal markets.
Expand the Food for All programme as part of the national integrated food and nutrition policy for procuring and distributing affordable essential foodstuffs directly to poor communities.
Accelerate the settlement of remaining land claims submitted before the cut-off date of 1998.
Re-open the period for the lodgement of claims for restitution of land for a period of five years, commencing in 2014.
Codify the exceptions to the 1913 cut-off date for the descendants of the Khoi and San, and identify affected heritage sites and historical landmarks.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT
In The Last 20 Years
Basic services such as electricity, water, houses, schools, clinics and sports facilities have been extended to more people in rural areas.
The Comprehensive Rural Development Plan has improved the livelihoods of rural communities across the country.
Nearly 5,000 farms, comprising 4.2 million hectares, have been transferred to black people, benefiting over 200,000 families.
Nearly 80,000 land claims, totaling 3.4 million hectares, have been settled and 1.8 million people have benefited.
In The Last 5 Years
We have improved the issuing of fishing licence quotas to local fishing communities.
We have provided support to emerging farmers.
HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND BASIC SERVICES
In The Next Five Years The ANC Will:
Ensure all South Africans live in decent conditions in suitable human settlements.
Integrated human settlement residential programmes will be implemented to provide all inclusive amenities and public transport, and overcome apartheid spatial development.
We will provide one million housing opportunities for qualifying households in urban and rural settlements over the next five years.
The provision of basic services and infrastructure in all existing informal settlements will be accelerated.
The supply of affordable housing will be increased through mobilisation of housing allowances for teachers, nurses, police officers, office workers and many others in the gap market.
We will eliminate the backlog of title deeds.
New home-owners in the subsidy market will be issued with title deeds on occupation.
We will work with financial institutions, private sector organisations, co-operatives and social partners to increase the provision of capital for housing.
This will include the establishment of a mortgage insurance scheme.
The number of housing units in better-located mixed income projects will be increased.
Especially in social, co-operative and rental housing, to revitalise inner cities, mining towns and developing cities.
Catalytic projects, such as integrated residential programmes, will be used to direct investment and overcome apartheid spatial geography.
Integrated public transport systems will be promoted in the new human settlements, including provision of passenger rail and buses.
An additional 1.6 million homes will be connected to the electricity grid over the next five years.
We will continue to work towards universal access to running water by providing access to those who still don’t have it.
We will accelerate the roll-out of basic sanitation infrastructure in rural areas and informal settlements.
HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND BASIC SERVICES
In The Last 20 Years
Over 3.3 million free houses have been built, benefiting more than 16 million people.
Half a million public rental houses have been transferred to their occupants.
The social housing programme has delivered 30,000 well-located and well-managed rental housing units to low and moderate income households.
About 12 million households have access to electricity - 7 million more than in 1994.
Around 92% of South Africans have access to potable water, compared to 60% in 1996.
In the last 5 years
Around 850,000 free houses were built.
Nearly 500 informal settlements have been replaced with quality housing and basic services.
IMPROVING AND EXPANDING EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Education and training must be available to  all.
Focusing on young children, students and adults.
This requires,  among other  things, a comprehensive and integrated post-school education  and training system.
The ANC is committed to the progressive realisation of free education at all levels.
We have made progress in achieving  universal access to  quality basic education, but we need to  work harder to  ensure introduction of free education in higher education and training.
The key commitments laid out for the next five years are making  early childhood development a priority;
eradicating illiteracy;
improving the quality of teaching and learning in schools;
and building capacity in higher education and training.
IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THE ANC WILL:
Make Early Childhood Development A Top Priority
We will work towards realising two years of compulsory pre-school education and strive for fuller integration of Grade R educators in the post and remuneration structure.
About one million poor families will benefit from access to an early learning stimulation programme through community-based initiatives and home visits to prepare children before the foundation phase of formal schooling (Grades R, 1 to 3).
We will strengthen coordination between departments responsible for early childhood development, and the non-profit and private sectors.
Improve The Quality Of Teaching And Learning In Our Schools
We will provide interventions, through curriculum and assessment policies, to improve performance in our schools.
We will maintain the upward trend in the mathematics pass rate while improving the quality of those passes.
A phased-approach to the introduction of compulsory African languages in schools will be adopted.
We will continue to promote sports, arts, heritage and culture at our schools.
Teacher development will receive ongoing attention.
Teacher colleges linked to universities will be re-opened and in-service teacher training intensified.
Bursary programmes will also be used to improve teacher development.
We will investigate appropriate working conditions for public servants - teachers in particular.
We will continue our campaign to ensure good discipline and accountability in our schools: that teachers are on time, in class and teaching;
and that learners are in class and learning.
Principals will be supported to maintain discipline and high standards of conduct.
School safety programmes will be implemented to ensure learner well-being.
Violent incidents, including abuse of learners, within and outside schools will not be tolerated.
We will introduce mobile devices like tablets into schools to distribute learning content.
We aim to ensure that every child has a textbook for every learning area, and that the retrieval of textbooks is improved.
Eradicate illiteracy
We will continue to work towards the eradication of illiteracy through the Kha Ri Gude mass literacy programme.
Expand And Improve The Capacity Of The Higher Education And Training System
We will open two new universities to students in the next five years.
We will enrol more than one million students in FET colleges in 2014, and enrol an additional 500,000 students in the next five years.
We will continue to improve governance and administration of FET colleges and adopt quality assurance measures, especially relating to curricula and training.
We will develop FET college-based mathematics and science foundation programmes to assist students to take up careers in engineering, science and technology.
We will develop a national network of Community Education and Training Centres from existing adult education and training centres.
Opportunities for workplace-based training and experience will be created through greater partnership between the sector education and training authorities (SETAs), workplaces, and education and training institutions.
As part of the campaign to turn every workplace into a training space, we will coordinate government efforts to significantly increase internships and placements in the public and private sectors.
We will advance reforms in skills development to ensure employers and labour - in partnership with learning institutions - carry out more technical and artisanal training.
Skills legislation will be amended to ensure compliance by all state entities in the payment of skills levies.
Working together with universities and FET colleges, we will intensify efforts to support the needs of poor students, including (and through) adequate student funding and preparation for study.
We will implement community service for all graduates.
Expand School, College And University Infrastructures
We will use the latest technology and building materials to ensure schools and other education infrastructure are built faster and are better suited to the differing climatic (and other) conditions across the country.
This will promote conducive learning environments.
We will build 1,000 new schools to expand access to education and respond to the challenges of rural schooling and urban population growth.
The building of the two new universities in Mpumalanga and Northern Cape will be completed, and a third dedicated health sciences university will be built.
Twelve new campuses for FET colleges will be completed in 2014.
An additional 50,000 student accommodation places will be provided through partnerships with the private sector and direct state initiatives.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
In The Last 20 Years
Pre-school education has expanded.
The number of Grade R learners increased from 300,000 in 2003, to 780,000 in 2013.
South Africa has achieved gender parity in school enrolment and exceeded the relevant Millennium Development Goal.
The number of learners who passed matric increased from 50% before 1994, to around 78% today.
More than 56,000 classrooms have been built.
University student enrolment more than doubled from 495,000 students in 1994, to 953,000 students in 2012.
The proportion of university students who were African increased from 49% in 1995, to more than 66% in 2010.
More than 1.4 million students have benefited from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme.
In The Last 5 Years
Over seven million learners are in no fee schools, up from five million in 2009.
Over nine million learners in 20,000 schools receive daily meals.
Further Education and Training (FET) college student head-count enrolments doubled from 345,566 in 2010, to 657,690 students in 2012.
Teacher education has been expanded, with the number of new teacher graduates doubling from 6,000 in 2009, to 13,000 in 2012.
The Kha Ri Gude Mass Literacy Campaign has reached 3.7 million adults within five years, exceeding the Millennium Development Goal of halving illiteracy rates by 2015.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY: QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
Our flagship programme in the next five years and beyond is  the National Health Insurance (NHI), which will help us move  forward to  universal health coverage.
The NHI will be publicly  funded and publicly administered and will ensure that South  Africans have access to comprehensive quality health services  irrespective of their socio-economic status.
The NHI will be implemented in phases.
Some work has  already taken place over the past five years, mainly through  the expansion of primary health care services and further  improvements in the quality of public health services.
IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THE ANC WILL:
Establish A National Health Insurance Fund
A publicly funded and publicly administered NHI Fund will be established through legislation to drive the roll-out of the NHI programme.
The NHI funding model will give effect to the three key principles of the NHI: universal provision of quality health care;
social solidarity through cross-subsidisation;
and equity, which delivers free health care at the point of service.
Further Expand Free Primary Health Care To Benefit Communities
Our strengthened free primary health care will focus on three levels of care: municipal ward-based health care services linked to clinics will be provided by a network of community health workers;
school health services will be expanded and school nurses will provide health promotion and preventative health initiatives;
and an additional team of seven specialists will be employed in each district and rural region to provide clinical support and guidance to doctors and nurses and enforce adherence to norms and standards.
Reduce Private Health Care Costs
The reform of private health care will be accelerated to significantly bring down the cost of private health care.
Improve The Quality Of Public Health Services
Through adherence to the Patient’s Charter we will improve the quality of public health services.
We will introduce a patient-centred approach in the delivery of health services by aggressively reducing the time patients have to wait to receive services and medication.
In the next five years, patients on chronic medication will receive their medication at selected collection points such as community pharmacies and private medical doctors.
The first 500,000 people will benefit from the roll-out of this programme in 2014, starting initially in the NHI pilot districts.
Another one million people will be added to the programme each year as it is extended to other districts.
To ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines and other goods needed in hospitals for patient care, hospital CEOs will be empowered to order directly from suppliers.
Essential support services such as catering, cleaning, laundry and security will be insourced over the next five years.
Under the NHI, 213 new clinics and community health centres and 43 hospitals will be constructed.
Over 870 health facilities in all 11 NHI pilot districts will undergo major and minor refurbishments.
This will later be extended to all other districts.
Improve Human Resources For Health
Central hospitals are national assets and, as integral parts of universities, are primary training platforms for health professionals.
As such, we will ensure their governance, funding and management becomes a national public sector competency and that they play their role as part of a seamless referral system.
We will continue to prioritise revitalisation, equipping and resourcing of nursing colleges and increase the recruitment of nursetrainees.
We will double the number of doctors trained locally and abroad.
An average of 2,000 doctors a year.
Intensify The Fight Against HIV/AIDS And TB
The number of people on anti-retrovirals will be doubled from the present 2.4 million to 4.6 million by 2016.
We will increase fourfold, to four million, the number of men medically circumcised by 2016.
We will encourage every South African to get tested at least once a year.
In addition to the existing TB programmes, screening and treatment shall be intensified for vulnerable groups.
This includes 150,000 inmates in all 242 correctional services facilities; 500,000 mine workers and an estimated 600,000 people living in mining communities.
Intensify Our Fight To Reduce Maternal And Child Mortality And Promote Women’s Health
In the next five years the ANC will introduce measures to reduce unwanted pregnancies with a special focus on teenage pregnancies.
This will encourage child survival, improve the lives of young women and markedly reduce maternal mortality.
This will be done through education, information and the launch of a massive contraception and family planning programme.
To reduce the incidence of cervical cancer of the uterus in women, as from 2014 all girl-children in Grade 4 in government schools will be vaccinated against the human papilloma virus which causes cervical cancer.
We will implement the African Union-inspired Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality in Africa (CARMMA).
This will place mother and children, over five years, at the centre of our health care programmes.
Especially at primarily health care level.
Promote Healthy Lifestyles
We will promote healthy lifestyles to reduce risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases, such as smoking, harmful use of alcohol, poor diet and lack of exercise.
We will encourage all South Africans to screen annually for diabetes, high blood pressure, eyesight problems, cholesterol and cancers.
HEALTH
In The Last 20 Years
The proportion of South Africans visiting public clinics and hospitals increased from 57% in 2002, to 70% in 2012.
Through the ‘prevention of mother to child transmission’ programme, the number of babies born HIV positive was reduced by 66% from 24,000 in 2008, to 8,200 in 2011.
In The Last 5 Years
More South Africans are living longer, with average life expectancy increasing to 60 years in 2012.
Over 20 million South Africans have tested for HIV and 2.4 million South Africans receive anti-retroviral treatment.
COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY
It is estimated that South Africa needs close to 55,000 social  service professionals to respond to  the country’s social welfare needs.
Currently, there are only 15,000 qualified social workers.
In The Next Five Years The ANC Will:
Increase the supply of social service professionals, specifically social workers, auxiliary or assistant social workers, community development workers, and child and youth care workers.
Work towards the introduction of mandatory cover for retirement, disability and survivor benefits.
Continue to roll out existing social grants to those who qualify.
Urgently finalise policy discussions on proposals for a comprehensive social protection policy that ensures that no needy South African falls through the social security net.
SOCIAL SECURITY
In The Last 20 Years
The number of people receiving social grants increased from 3 million to 16 million, benefiting the elderly, children, and veterans.
Child support grants have been extended to include all eligible children up to age 18.
The Unemployment Insurance Fund has been extended to benefit most workers (including domestic workers) and the benefit payment period has been increased from 6 months to 12 months.
In The Last 5 Years
Military veterans now have access to social benefits.
Programmes have been introduced, in partnership with communities, to further strengthen government’s fight against drugs.
FIGHTING  CRIME AND CORRUPTION
The ANC is committed to a corruption-free society, ethical  behaviour across society and a government that is accountable to the people.
Corruption is a broad societal problem prevalent  in both the public and private sectors, requiring the commitment  of all actors in society to eradicate it.
The conduct of public servants in business must be regulated.
Our political representatives must strive to maintain ethical  conduct and must realise the effect of their behaviour on the integrity of the political office they hold.
To ensure all South Africans are safer and feel safer, we will continue to work hard to ensure a rapid downward trend in the overall levels of crime, and strengthen management and control of our borders.
IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THE ANC WILL:
Intensify The Fight Against Corruption
We will pursue action against companies involved in bid rigging, price fixing and corruption in past and current infrastructure build programmes, using the competition authorities, taking up civil claims, and calling on the National Prosecuting Authority to investigate criminally-liable behaviour.
Public servants and public representatives will be prohibited from doing business with the state.
Further measures will be developed to identify and prosecute corrupt actions by public servants and others.
A centralised process, with stakeholder representation, will be established to adjudicate on major tenders in all spheres of government.
It will work with the chief procurement officer, whose main functions will be to check on pricing and cost effectiveness, and ensure transparency, adherence to procedures and fairness.
All corrupt officials will be made individually liable for all losses incurred as a result of their corrupt actions
Any ANC member or ANC public representative found guilty by a court of law will be expected to step down from any leadership position in the ANC, government and society.
Where this has not happened, the ANC will take firm action in line with the provisions of the ANC constitution.
The capacity of corruption fighting agencies will be further enhanced and public education will be part of the mandate of the anti-corruption agencies.
Step Up The Fight Against Crime
We will work to further reduce levels of crime, specifically contact crimes like murder, rape and grievous bodily harm.
This will involve intelligence support and coordination, more police visibility and focus on hot-spot areas, and addressing the proliferation of firearms.
To further improve the criminal justice system, the capacity of the police, prosecutors, legal aid and courts will be improved.
In partnership with communities, which will include the formation of street committees and community safety forums, we will strengthen the anti-crime awareness campaign and introduce stronger legislation to combat substance abuse.
We will continue to prioritise incidents of domestic violence and crimes against women and children by further strengthening the Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit and pursuing a multi-disciplinary approach in our fight against violence against women and children.
We will accelerate the integration of the criminal justice system, including access to justice.
We will continue to improve the detection of crime and efficiency in the courts with regard to the finalisation of ready cases and the time it takes to bring a case to court.
We will continue to ensure control and regulation of the private security industry.
Our border controls will be strengthened to improve security and manage immigration effectively, while promoting regional cooperation on border security.
FIGHTING CRIME AND CORRUPTION
In The Last 20 Years
The ANC has put in place strict laws to tackle corruption and safeguard public funds.
State institutions like the Public Protector, the Special Investigating  Unit and the Hawks have been established to combat corruption.
Legal Aid South Africa was established to provide legal aid services  to the poor and indigent in both criminal and civil matters.
In the last 5 years
Overall levels of crime, especially violent crime, have declined from 3,924 incidents per 100,000 people in 2009, to about 3,508 incidents per 100,000 people in 2012.
The number of contact crimes have been reduced from 1,407 per 100,000 people in 2009, to 1,233 per 100,000 people in  2012.
Car-jacking and robbery at residential premises have also shown a  downward trend in general.
Since 2009, freezing orders totaling R1.07 billion have been   obtained, while 302 asset forfeiture cases involving a total of R118  million have been completed.
A BETTER AFRICA AND A BETTER WORLD
We remain committed to building a better Africa and a better world.
South Africa is committed to multilateral relations and  cooperation, from matters related to world security to issues of climate change and solidarity with progressive movements and  countries.
We are making progress in finding African solutions for African problems.
In The Next Five Years The ANC Will:
Continue to support the African Court on Human and People’s Rights.
Help strengthen African Union (AU) institutions so the AU continues to serve the interests of Africa’s people and promotes democracy and good governance.
Contribute to the African agenda for industrialisation and regional integration for sustainable and inclusive development.
Promote reform of the UN Security Council so that it becomes more accountable, democratic and representative.
We will work for reform of global governance institutions so that their decisions promote equity and fairness.
A BETTER AFRICA AND WORLD
In The Last 20 Years
We have helped strengthen the African Union institutions.
Our defence force has been involved in peace keeping and humanitarian operations in various African countries.
The number of African countries in which South African companies are invested has grown from 10 in 1994 to over 40.
We have advanced the African agenda for peace and development while contributing to South-South cooperation.
In the last 5 years
We have been involved in the implementation of NEPAD and the African Peer Review Mechanism, and built a security architecture that can respond rapidly to crises.
We joined the BRICS community of nations.
Together with seven other countries, we have initiated the open government partnership to promote accountability, transparency and good governance throughout the world.
SOCIAL COHESION AND NATION  BUILDING
The implementation of our manifesto requires that we all contribute.
It builds on our collective identity and national pride as South Africans and the fact that we have the capacity to act in social solidarity with one another and advance the values of our constitutional democracy.
A nation united in diversity and common purpose can move the country forward.
In The Next Five Years The ANC Will:
Ensure government invests in the cultural and creative industries, particularly in film, music, arts and craft, books and publishing.
Honour and celebrate our collective heritage by promoting our diverse cultural identities.
Promote our new museums and monuments and preserve existing ones to depict and preserve the heritage of our people.
Promote a Liberation Heritage Route that honours the heroes and heroines of the struggle.
Promote the teaching of South African history and our national anthem in schools, and install South African flags in all public schools.
Promote deeds of social solidarity, reflected in many ways in the actions of our people as individuals, communities and organisations.
Work towards a community art centre and a library in every municipal ward.
Promote the values of the Constitution we approach the 20th anniversary of its adoption in 2016.
Strengthen participatory democracy in workplaces, schools, hospitals and clinics, and in our communities.
Contribute to the South African economy through promotion of domestic investment in our productive domestic economy, and adopt a ‘Proudly South African’ attitude.
Promote a culture of dialogue, accords and commitments across society as part of our national effort to build a social compact for growth and development.
Ensure public representatives are constantly in touch with the people and listen to people’s concerns and needs.
Where necessary, we will create more forums for direct interaction with communities and various sectors of our society.
Build effective communication with the people.
We will improve our communications tools, including introducing new ones, to ensure that indeed we have an informed, mobilised and active citizenry.
SOCIAL COHESION AND NATION BUILDING
In The Last 20 Years
We adopted a democratic constitution that is regarded as one of the most progressive in the world.
We held successive free and fair democratic elections.
We pursued reconciliation through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
We adopted a new national anthem and national symbols such as the coat of arms.
Radio broadcasting in all official languages reaches 88% of the population and 133 community radio stations have been established.
Approximately three quarters of households have access to television.
The dignity of traditional leaders and their cultural rights have been restored.
In The Last 5 Years
We have exhumed and reburied fallen heroes and heroines of our struggle and brought closure to their families.
OUR PLEDGE
This manifesto is our pledge to move South Africa forward, together.
It sets out carefully considered and bold commitments that can be funded over the next five years and beyond.
All levels of government will implement this manifesto, and we will ensure that it is effectively monitored.
While the ANC government will take a lead, each and every one of us – communities, workers, private sector and civil society – has a role to play in the implementation of the manifesto.
As the ANC, we further pledge to: Remain true to our values of courage, service, self-sacrifice, human solidarity, integrity, humility, honesty, hard-work, selfdiscipline and mutual respect.
Work with our allies and the people to move South African forward through the commitments we have set out in this manifesto.
Strengthen the bonds of trust and solidarity with our people where these have been broken and continue to listen to and effectively communicate with our people.
Act against ANC members and ANC elected representatives found guilty in a court of law.
Together we move South Africa forward.
INTRODUCTION
South Africans go to the polls this year to vote in the fifth democratic election for our national and provincial governments.
This is an important moment for our country.
We have come so far since the dark days of Apartheid.
In those days, our country was divided and our people suffered.
Many parties played a role in the struggle against Apartheid, including the predecessor parties of the Democratic Alliance.
We acknowledge the immense contribution made by the ANC in that struggle, and pay tribute to Nelson Mandela for reconciling our nation and helping to heal the wounds of the past.
Under Presidents Mandela and Mbeki, we made important progress towards social justice through the delivery of basic services and houses and by providing a safety net for vulnerable citizens through social grants.
It is undeniable that life in a democratic South Africa is better than it was under Apartheid.
However, as we approach the 20th anniversary of democracy, the progress we have made is being reversed.
Under Jacob Zuma, The ANC Has Changed
More and more, it seems that the best jobs and opportunities go to people with political connections.
They are the insiders who benefit at the expense of the outsiders.
Public money that should be used for services to the poor is being wasted on corrupt projects like President Zuma’s private house at Nkandla.
While Jacob Zuma and his friends and family get rich, economic growth has slowed and unemployment is on the rise.
President Zuma has promised to create 5 million more jobs.
Only 561 000 of these jobs have materialised.
Zuma has delivered only one job for every ten he promised.
Today there are 1.4 million more unemployed South Africans than the day that President Zuma took office.
Under President Zuma, the number of people becoming unemployed every year is five times higher than under President Mbeki.
The DA is working to break down the barriers between insiders and outsiders by cutting corruption and creating an enabling environment for job creation.
Research published by the South African Reserve Bank in 2013 shows that policies like ours can increase economic growth to 8%,
help the economy to create 6 million real jobs, and halve unemployment over the next ten years.
We will incentivise job creation,
dramatically broaden the skills base,
drive down high prices that hamper growth
and make South Africa an attractive environment for businesses to invest and grow.
We will break up inefficient state monopolies, and distribute shares to ordinary citizens, to increase competition and bring down prices.
We will invest at least 10% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the roads, ports, railways, airways, water and low-cost, high-speed communication infrastructure that the economy needs to grow.
We believe that South Africa can become a nation of entrepreneurs if we provide more support and training for small business and cut red tape.
We are prioritising education and training to equip school leavers and young people to compete in a growing economy.
To ensure that our children matriculate with the skills they need to succeed, we will focus on training more teachers and ensure that school environments are conducive to learning.
We don’t believe anybody should be denied further education due to lack of funding.
We will increase the budget for student funding (like the National Student Financial Aid Scheme - NSFAS) so that no student is left behind.
And we will give school-leavers and job-seekers opportunities to gain work experience.
We will do this by partnering with the private sector to increase internship programmes, and by providing Expanded Public Works Opportunities to get people onto the first rung of the jobs ladder.
A national DA government will work to create a safe and healthy society by putting 250 000 properly trained police officers on the street.
We will fight gangsterism and keep our youth away from drugs by re-instating the Narcotics Bureau and building more rehabilitation centres.
A national DA government will work with the private sector to provide quality, affordable health care for all.
The DA will continue to put right the wrongs of Apartheid and make opportunities available to all.
We will improve black economic empowerment so that it rewards companies that invest in their workers and create jobs.
We will ensure that the social grants system is a means to lift people out of poverty, not keep people trapped there.
In national government, we will dedicate additional resources to speed up land reform and provide training and support for emerging farmers.
With your help, we will bring change to South Africa.
Together with a new generation of leaders like Lindiwe Mazibuko and Mmusi Maimane, they are committed to fighting corruption,
creating jobs and unlocking the potential of South Africa and its people.
There is still much to do, but we are making progress where we govern.
In the Western Cape 76% of the provincial government’s budget is spent on poor communities.
Since we have been in government, the average matric pass rate in our poorest   schools increased from 56.9% to 73%.
The province has the lowest unemployment rate in South Africa – 12% lower   than the national average.
The Western Cape has the highest level of basic service provision in the country – 99.1% of households in the province have access to piped water, 93.4% to electricity and 96.9% have toilet facilities.
The City of Cape Town has the smallest gap between the rich and the poor of any city in the country.
On election day voters will have an opportunity to put South Africa back on track towards realising the dream of 1994.
Together we can create jobs and cut corruption.
We can make our communities safe.
And we can build a brighter future for every child.
The dream of non-racialism, reconciliation, redress for past injustices and opportunities for all is still within our grasp.
OUR PRIORITIES
Together For Change
Through a government that offers opportunities for all.
A DA government will: Save R30 billion per year by cutting corruption and firing corrupt officials.
Speed up the delivery of housing and basic services through clean and efficient government.
Introduce a constituency-based electoral system to make MPs more accountable.
Make communities safer by putting  250 000 properly trained police officers on the streets.
Fight gangsterism and drugs by re-instating the Narcotics Bureau and building more rehabilitation centres.
Work with the private sector to provide quality, affordable health care for all.
Ensure that the social grants system is a means to lift people out of poverty.
Dedicate an extra R10 billion to speed up land reform and provide training and support for emerging farmers.
Together For Jobs
Through an economy that grows at 8% to create 6 million real jobs.
A DA government will: Provide quality education by training 15 000 more teachers per year and   giving every child a textbook for every subject.
Increase the NSFAS budget to R16 billion so that no student is denied further education because   they cannot afford it.
Create one million internships to give work experience to young job seekers.
Provide seven million EPWP opportunities to alleviate poverty and provide a step-up for job seekers.
Make South Africa a nation of entrepreneurs by cutting red tape and providing more support and training for small business.
Improve black economic empowerment so that it rewards companies that invest in their   workers and create jobs.
Break up inefficient state monopolies, and distribute shares to ordinary citizens, to increase competition and bring down prices.
Invest at least 10% of GDP in the roads, ports, railways, airways, water and communication infrastructure that the economy needs to grow.
THE DA’S VALUES
We opposed Apartheid because it took away people’s rights based on the colour of their skin.
We want to create a society of individuals with the freedom and the power to overcome the legacy of Apartheid.
We call this the Open, Opportunity Society for All.
An open society is one where every individual’s freedom is protected by the Constitution.
The state has no right to tell people how to think and what they may or may not say.
People are free to do as they please as long as they do not infringe the rights of others.
An opportunity society is one where every individual has the power to live a life he or she values.
It is based on a growing economy that creates jobs to lift people out of poverty.
In an opportunity society, vulnerable citizens are protected through a social safety net.
It is a society where every person gets a fair chance.
A society for all is one where every individual enjoys equal rights and access to opportunities regardless of race, ethnicity or gender.
Action is taken to achieve genuine redress for the social and economic legacy of Apartheid.
The DA is a dynamic force for change.
This is our plan to improve the lives of all the people of South Africa.
YOUR GOVERNMENT
As we take up the fight against the challenges of unemployment,
poverty,
and inequality we need all spheres of government and all organs of state to contribute to positive change.
We must attract the very best people to the public sector and work with tertiary institutions to develop training programmes that will make sure we develop the skills that we need in the public service.
Stop Corruption, Fire Corrupt Officials And Save R30 Billion Per Year
South Africans deserve a government that is not corrupt and that uses public money to deliver services, not to enrich politicians and their cronies.
Where the DA governs, we spend public money in a responsible and efficient way, we have zero tolerance for corruption,
we deliver services to the poor
and we create environments where businesses grow and create jobs.
The DA Delivers:
The “State of Management Practices in the Public Service 2012” report released by the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Department in the Presidency confirmed that the DA-led Western Cape Government has the best public service management practices in the country.
In 2013, the South African Institute of Government Auditors ranked the Western Cape as the best-run province in the country, with seven out of the ten best provincial departments being in the Western Cape government.
Since the DA came into office in the City of Cape Town in 2006 the city has consistently been ranked as the best run metro in the country and has received eight consecutive unqualified audits from the Auditor-General.
FIGHTING CORRUPTION
Where we govern, we will make sure that your government really works for you.
We will: Stop tender corruption by allowing the public to attend meetings where decisions on tenders are taken.
Prevent government ministers, public servants and their immediate families from doing business with the state.
Stop ministers from abusing public money to drive expensive cars, fly first class or with government jets, stay in luxurious hotels and have extravagant parties.
Disallow any person who has been convicted of corruption, fraud, theft or violent crime from holding public office.
Strengthen the mandates and capacity and increase the budgets of anti-corruption bodies like the Public Protector, the Auditor General and the Public Service  Commission.
Use lifestyle audits to make sure that politicians and public officials are able to account for the sources of their wealth.
Establish an independent, effective and highly specialised, prosecution-driven anti-corruption unit (like the Scorpions used to be) to ensure that corrupt persons in both the public and private sector are caught and held to account.
The DA Delivers:
The DA-run Western Cape government has adopted a “no-frills” ministerial  handbook with strict rules on flights, hotel stays and cars for provincial ministers.
We want to see this no-frills approach emulated at a national level.
In December 2010, the Western Cape government adopted legislation which prohibits Western Cape government employees and their families from holding more than a 5% stake in any entity that does business with the provincial government.
The DA is pushing for similar legislation to be adopted in other provinces and by the national government.
Holding Government To Account
Government must be held to account through the efficient operation of oversight bodies, like Parliament, and the active participation of the public and civil society in the choices made by the people and parties they elect.
Give People The Power To Directly Elect Representatives To Parliament And To Remove Them Through The Ballot Box If They Do Not Deliver
In national government, the DA will: Reform the South African electoral system to combine proportional representation with a constituency-based system that would make elected officials more accountable to the voters.
Restore Parliament as an effective forum for the people to hold government to account by encouraging greater public participation, requiring ministers to answer parliamentary questions efficiently and honestly, and ensuring that the decisions and recommendations of Parliament are implemented.
Expect every minister and senior official to sign a performance contract with clear results areas to determine whether they are doing their jobs well.
Public servants who do not perform will not get performance bonuses.
A Responsive Government
To make the government more responsive to the needs of the people, a national DA government will: Ensure the appropriate devolution of responsibilities to capable provinces and municipalities to bring decisions as close as possible to the communities that are   affected by them.
Establish one-stop shops where people can do all their business with government in one place.
Make as many government services as possible available online and facilitate interaction with government through online platforms.
Adopt legislation to clarify the responsibilities of traditional leaders in engaging with recognised traditional communities and to make sure that they serve these communities effectively.
YOUR JOB
For many South Africans, the political freedom achieved since 1994 has not been matched with economic freedom.
South Africans want to work and all they seek is an opportunity to do so.
But many remain excluded from the economy.
More than one out of every three South Africans is unemployed.
Around four out of every ten live below the poverty line.
South Africa remains one of the most unequal societies in the world and we are not achieving the levels of economic growth required to change this picture.
The ANC government under President Jacob Zuma has not delivered on its job creation promises.
When he was elected in 2009, President Zuma promised to create five million more jobs.
Since he assumed the Presidency in 2009, 1.4 million have joined the ranks of the unemployed.
In fact, unemployment has increased from 30.4% to 34%.
We need innovative policy solutions to allow every South African the chance to participate in the economy by getting a job or starting a business.
Together, We Can Deliver Six Million Real Jobs
If elected to national government, the DA will work to increase our economic growth rate to 8% by 2025.
Research published by the South African Reserve Bank in 2013 shows that the right combination of policies – all championed by the DA – could see the economy add 6 million real jobs in ten years, over and above temporary expanded public works placements.
To create an enabling environment for growth and job creation, a national DA government will: Provide leadership on the economy: The government must provide certainty on its vision for the economy, the policy it intends to implement to realise that vision, and   its commitment to ensuring that the economy serves ordinary people and not only those connected to the governing party.
Manage the government’s money better: Take the steps outlined above to combat government corruption and to make sure that government spending decisions are taken in the best interest of all South Africans.
Provide direct incentives for job creation: In recognition of the impact of high unemployment on our economic growth potential, the government should directly incentivise job creation by South African businesses.
Make sure that labour laws support job creation: The government must ensure that   labour regulations and trade union engagements achieve a balance between the   protection of workers’ rights and the need for labour market flexibility in support of   job creation.
Support small businesses: The government must make it easier for South Africans to   start and grow their own businesses.
Support redress: The government should recognise the need to broaden participation in the economy and help to make it easier for outsiders to become owners, get access to capital, and actively participate in the economy.
Create an enabling environment for growth: By investing in economic infrastructure and, where possible, bringing down the cost base in the economy, the government can provide an enabling environment for economic activity, growth and job creation.
Invest in knowledge: The government must work to give more people the education and skills they need to get a job and to support the kinds of research and development that can make South Africa a winning nation in a globalised knowledge  economy.
Increase investment and savings: To drive economic growth, attract international   investment and help South Africans to maintain quality of life during retirement and difficult times, the government should actively support both increased corporate investment and personal savings.
Boost trade: The government must make it easier for South African businesses to trade with other countries, especially our African neighbours, so that these businesses can grow and create jobs.
If an economy grows at 8%, it can double in size in 10 years.
In the South African scenario, this could mean an increase in the national budget from R1 trillion to R2 trillion in today’s money.
This means that we would be able to spend more money on education,
health,
housing,
social security and other support services for ordinary South Africans.
INCENTIVES FOR JOB CREATION
A national DA government will offer direct incentives for job creation through the following programmes: The comprehensive roll-out of a real, strong youth wage subsidy programme to encourage the appointment of young work seekers.
This subsidy could benefit 423 000 young people in the first three years of implementation.
Attracting investment in labour-absorbing industries through Jobs Zones that offer flexibility around labour relations and tax incentives for job creation
Create 7 million ePWP work opportunities by 2019.
Scaling up the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to create seven million work opportunities over the next five years and deliver 2.5 million work opportunities per year by 2025.
These programmes will include a training component to prepare participants for a permanent career.
Introducing a government internship programme across all departments, based on the highly successful Western Cape model.
The programme will provide internship opportunities for at least 18 000 young people and help them to gain the knowledge and skills they will need in the world of work.
Actively encouraging apprenticeship programmes by reimbursing employers for training costs and involving businesses more directly in designing work-based training.
Including recognition for job creation in the scorecard for broad-based black economic   empowerment.
Reviewing the efficacy of the Jobs Fund and increasing investment in areas where the fund has been most effective.
Establishing Opportunity Centres, which will serve as one-stop shops for small businesses and as a central node for young job-seekers and entrepreneurs to access support.
The DA Delivers:
The City of Cape Town is the least unequal city in South Africa.
DA municipalities have created 31 000 job opportunities in the past year.
The DA-governed Midvaal municipality in Gauteng has the lowest unemployment rate and the highest growth rate (at 8% per annum) in that province.
The Western Cape Government spends R33.6 million on its Premier’s Advancement of Youth Project and its youth wage subsidy programme every year.
This programme has created more than 6 000 work-based training opportunities.
EMPOWERMENT THAT BROADENS OPPORTUNITY AND CREATES JOBS
In redressing the economic legacy of apartheid it is the DA’s first priority to grow the economy, to create jobs and to empower people through excellent education to enable them to improve their lives.
We believe that the nature and extent of economic exclusion under apartheid, along with the cultural barriers that it has created between South Africans from different backgrounds, require active measures in support of redress.
In choosing the policy tools to promote inclusion, the DA aims to strike a balance between the need for race-based redress and our commitment to non-racialism.
We will also make sure that our redress measures do not hamper economic growth
and job creation.
We Support Black Economic Empowerment That Creates Jobs, Not Just Billionaires
The fundamental principles underpinning our approach to economic inclusion can be summarised as follows: Redress measures must give expression to the Constitutional commitment to promote equality.
We believe that race and disadvantage are not the same, but that a significant correlation between race and disadvantage remains today.
We strongly support programmes that broaden opportunity for disadvantaged people
and reject programmes that facilitate crony enrichment and the manipulation of outcomes for the politically connected.
The DA rejects racial quotas in favour of programmes that actively promote black advancement by extending opportunity.
We support incentives for firms to implement programmes of black advancement rather than punitive measures that hamper growth and jobs.
We regard redress programmes as transitional measures that must be subject to regular review.
This is to evaluate their on-going effectiveness and to ensure that the measures of disadvantage used are still valid and optimal.
The DA will measure the success or failure of redress programmes by their impact on economic growth and the opportunities that have been created for black advancement.
We will ask whether jobs have been created for unemployed youth,
whether progress has been made in reducing poverty and inequality,
whether we have improved education outcomes and whether South Africans across the racial spectrum can access opportunities and are supported to use them at all levels of the labour force.
An empowerment scorecard can provide a framework of incentives for business contributions to economic inclusion.
The scorecard must, however, be reformed to make it a tool for truly broad-based empowerment.
Under a DA government, there will be more recognition for businesses that create opportunities for new owners in the economy.
This is essential for growth and new jobs, and does much more for redress than the mere transfer of shares in existing businesses between wealthy and politically connected elites.
We must give more points for broad-based ownership schemes than for elite-level ownership transfers.
We must prioritise skills development and small business development.
We will reduce the regulatory burden of the scorecard for small businesses by allowing them greater flexibility in choosing the elements that they will comply with, and having their scorecards audited only once every two years.
We will recognise job creation as a contribution to empowerment.
And we will use the scorecard to offer positive incentives to businesses that invest in the recruitment, training and career management of black employees and succeed in building more diverse workforces over time.
The DA Delivers:
65% of the Western Cape government’s senior management are previously disadvantaged South Africans.
In 2012/13, 80% of the R2 billion spent on tenders by the Western Cape Government was paid to black economic empowered businesses.
The latest reports from the City of Cape Town show that 71% of the total number of purchase orders issued by the city was issued to vendors that are compliant with broad-based black economic empowerment requirements.
A LABOUR REGIME THAT SUPPORTS JOB CREATION
The DA strongly supports the rights of workers to organise and the right to collective bargaining.
We do not, however, support any abuse of power by entrenched labour unions that perpetuates the divide between economic insiders and outsiders, and shields the employed at too great a cost to the unemployed.
Collective bargaining is losing its value as a way to find solutions to labour issues that are acceptable to workers and employers.
Big businesses and big unions dominate collective bargaining councils.
The agreements that are reached between these big players are often extended to smaller businesses that did not take part in the negotiation.
These small businesses are often unable to meet the terms of the agreements reached between stronger, bigger market players.
A national DA government will change the labour laws that allow for agreements negotiated between big companies and unions to be extended to smaller players that were not part of the negotiations.
To reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses and encourage them to employ more people,
the DA would amend the definition of a “big” employer in the Labour Relations Act so that it only applies to entities that employ more than 250 persons.
To prevent historically dominant unions from keeping out new and smaller players, a national DA government will democratise labour relations by: Changing the labour laws that give big unions the right to claim fees from all the workers at a specific business, even if they are not members.
We will propose a model of proportional representation in labour bargaining, with firm minimum thresholds for participation, to prevent the proliferation of labour representatives in a given bargaining unit.
Repealing Section 18 of the Labour Relations Act, which allows majority unions and employers to agree on thresholds of representativeness for unions to gain organisational rights in a specific workplace or sector.
The DA recognises the importance of temporary employment agencies in preparing people for the formal job market.
The government should support the reputable formal employment agencies that contribute to job creation and get rid of the illegal, temporary employment agencies that exploit workers.
This should be coupled with a redesign of the Labour Inspectorate and increased resources for its operations to ensure that labour laws are adhered to.
TARGETED SUPPORT FOR STRATEGIC SECTORS
To create jobs and reduce unemployment the government must provide targeted support for labour-intensive sectors like agriculture, fisheries, mining and tourism, and appropriate stimulus for new growth industries in the knowledge economy, ICT sector and green economy.
Agriculture
Agriculture can only play an important role in supporting growth, creating jobs, protecting food security and reducing poverty.
To grow the agricultural sector and facilitate job creation a national DA government will: Provide the water, road and transport infrastructure needed for the sector to thrive.
Invest in training and education for agriculture – particularly the training of extension   officers that can support small and large-scale commercial farmers and advise on initiatives to improve rural livelihoods through subsistence farming.
Expand investment in research and development for agriculture and ensure that national research institutions serve the needs of the sector.
Keep rural communities and their property safe by establishing dedicated rural safety units.
Implement an effective disaster risk management system for agriculture and involve   local producer organisations in an early warning system for fires, disease and pest outbreaks that can threaten production and exports and lead to job losses.
Manage agricultural input costs, e.g. by keeping electricity price increases in line with   inflation; pushing for changes to the fuel price formula to smooth out the short-term   effects of exchange rate fluctuations and the international oil price; and simplifying the   requirements for farmers to claim diesel rebates.
Facilitate trade agreements which would optimise South Africa’s strategic advantages, including furthering trade with the rest of Africa, and the renewal of the United States’ African Growth and Opportunity Act.
Fisheries
Where we govern, the DA will create the policy and institutional frameworks to grow the size of the South African fisheries economy and increase the number of jobs it sustains.
We will ensure that small-scale fishing quotas are given to the communities in and around coastal villages that actually use their own quotas.
Large-scale quotas will go to commercial entities that use sustainable fishing practices, grow their workforces and invest in their staff.
Fisheries’ compliance will be improved by more effective monitoring and dedicated green courts.
Proper systems will be put in place to ensure that the research that is needed to allocate fishing quotas is done timeously.
The DA would not permit any form of foreign fishing in South African waters as we believe that all our fish stocks capable of being commercially fished can be fished by South Africans.
Tourism
South Africa’s abundant natural resources, cultural variation and local traditions give our country unique appeal as a tourism destination.
It is conservatively estimated that one new job opportunity is created for every 16 international tourist arrivals.
By bringing South Africans from different backgrounds into contact and conversation with each other, tourism can also play an important role in reconciliation.
The DA believes that South Africa’s attractiveness as a tourism destination, the competitiveness of our tourism industry, and its potential as a vehicle for reconciliation can be boosted by: Prioritising tourism in support programmes for small business development;
Supporting the tourism industry with research and information that can help them tailor their products and services to market demands;
Putting in place the necessary transport and other infrastructure to connect visitors  to tourism sites;
Clarifying the roles of tourism industry stakeholders and maintaining platforms for constructive interaction;
Promoting tourism as a career choice and facilitating skills development to ensure that the industry has access to the human resources it needs to succeed.
Mining
Mining can be a key driver of economic growth, but its contribution to the economy is dependent on investment.
To contribute to growth and job creation the mining sector requires policy certainty and an efficient, predictable regulatory environment.
If elected to national government, the DA will: Reform the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act to ensure that it facilitates investment in mining, rather than scaring it away.
Provide investment protection in the form of guarantees of conditions under which investment could take place over extended periods, provided licence conditions are met.
Use a percentage of royalty taxes for the benefit of local communities where mining   takes place.
Streamline empowerment requirements for the mining sector, with empowerment   recognition focussed on (i) ownership involvement by mining employees, the communities surrounding mines, and (where relevant) affected landowners,
(ii) investment in skills,
and (iii) investment in small business development.
Ensure that mining does not have a disproportionately negative effect on the environment and that environmental processes are carefully managed.
This will include prudent management of processes related to hydraulic fracturing.
The Green Economy
Where we govern, the DA will use positive incentives to encourage environmentally responsible behaviour by businesses and households.
In national government, we will establish a Climate Change Adaptation Fund to assist famers in adapting to the changing temperatures and rainfall patterns caused by global warming.
We will also use the spending power of government to stimulate the development of environmentally sustainable products.
Our investment in research and development will focus on stimulating innovative business solutions in the green economy that contribute to growth and create jobs while reducing the impact of our actions on the environment.
YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
Analysts say that if we want to create six million new jobs, we must create more than one million new businesses.
This highlights the importance of small business in any policy offer that has job creation as its top priority.
To grow new businesses, a national DA government will: Establish Opportunity Centres where small businesses can access support and conduct all their business with government.
Roll out small business incubators where small businesses can share resources and   have a supportive environment in which to find their feet
Give small business owners an Opportunity Card to improve awareness of, and access to, free or discounted training, business support services and business advisory services (such as insurance and accounting).
The card will give qualifying entrepreneurs credits to spend on an e-commerce portal listing accredited service providers.
Work to reduce the red tape that makes it so hard to establish a business in South Africa, with a specific focus on a streamlined small business regulatory system for registration, labour legislation and empowerment regulations.
Make it easier for small businesses to win government contracts through: An e-procurement system that brings down the cost of bidding and makes the process more accessible;
A community supplier database for small tender opportunities (e.g.  less than R30 000);
Breaking tenders into smaller contracts that can be won and completed by small companies.
Establish a National Venture Capital Fund to provide initial funding for start-ups and early-stage businesses.
Enter into partnerships with civil society organisations, businesses and education and   training institutions to establish an annual My Future Starts Now entrepreneurship competition for 18- to 30-year-olds, offering cash prizes for winning business plans.
Foster the role of the informal sector in enhancing livelihoods by: Providing safe trading spaces for informal traders.
Developing a Code of Good Practice on engagement with informal traders with a specific focus on (i) developing common ethics, values and policy guidelines for interactions with informal traders,
(ii) improving relationships with the police,
(iii) guidelines for good practice with regard to the confiscation of goods and the processing of permits at local government level,
(iv) identifying appropriate levels of protection for workers in the informal economy, and,
(v) assisting the sector in establishing credible, representative and accessible organisations to lobby on its behalf.
Initiating a comprehensive survey of the informal sector that can be used by an inter-departmental task team to develop a strategy to assist informal business owners and their employees.
Invest in awareness programmes on the support available to small business.
CREATING AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESS GROWTH
There is much more that can be done to create an enabling environment for growth and to break down the barriers that are keeping people out of the economy.
We need a single plan for the economy that can guide government policy, that can reassure international investors, and that all South Africans can unite behind.
In a DA government all Ministers in the Economic Cluster will sign a single economic framework as the blueprint for national development.
This plan must inform government efforts to target spending more effectively and to drive down debt.
It should also guide the national investment in infrastructure.
The DA will ensure that at least 10% of GDP is invested in the infrastructure that the economy needs to grow – including roads, ports, railways, airports, water, transport and communication infrastructure.
If we allow our transport and other infrastructure to continue deteriorating, it will have dire consequences for our economy and for job creation.
More money in the pockets of citizens and businesses can enhance spending, boost growth, create jobs and ultimately increase contributions to the fiscus.
The DA will keep corporate and individual tax rates as low as is financially viable.
High costs make life unaffordable for many consumers and discourage business activity in South Africa.
If elected to national government, the DA will work to bring down the cost base in the economy by: Strengthening competition authorities and increasing their budgets in order to counteract anticompetitive behaviour by Big Business ‘insiders’;
Strengthening the Consumer Commission through an increased budget and targeted   amendments to the Consumer Protection Act to give the Commission greater powers to impose fines when consumer rights are violated;
Exploring the privatisation of uncompetitive state-owned enterprises;
Establishing a Cost Reduction Caucus between organised business, government,  labour and the unemployed to work to reduce administered prices, wage increases  and inflation;
Giving operating licences to additional fixed-line operators to encourage competition in the ICT sector, bring down prices and improve service delivery for consumers;
Establishing a new regulatory framework for the ICT sector to ensure that broadband   capacity improves, that prices fall and that the internet becomes accessible to all;
Encouraging Independent Power Production through an overhaul of the institutional   framework governing the electricity sector in South Africa to facilitate competition   and drive efficiencies;
Investigating the lease or ownership of our ports and airports by private companies in   order to lower costs and improve service levels.
In the modern knowledge economy, growth and job creation rely on ideas.
Smart policy reforms will be needed at a national level to harness South Africa’s intellectual assets to solve our key social challenges, to drive growth and to create jobs.
A national DA government will aim to boost investment in research and development (R&D) to at least 1% of gross domestic product.
We will: Establish a research alliance venture fund to provide grants to researchers to turn their work into marketable products;
Allocate national grant and bursary funding to encourage research in priority areas;
Establish a web-based portal where innovators and designers can access information on the types of support available for R&D in various areas, the funding cycles for   financial support, application processes and opportunities for research partnerships;
Provide tax incentives for private investment in R&D and support towards the cost of   patenting, exempt R&D inputs from import duties and allow for the accelerated  depreciation of equipment used in R&D;
Strengthen the capacity of the Technology Innovation Agency to provide financial and   non-financial support for the development and commercialisation of knowledge-based   services and products;
Establish techno-parks, industrial zones or city rejuvenation projects as innovation sites.
Economic growth and job creation can also be promoted through an export regime and trade policy that make it easier for our companies to do business in the global market
If elected to national government, the DA will: Establish one-stop border posts to expedite border crossing processes, reduce administrative burdens and costs, and enhance regional trade;
Eliminate exchange controls to allow the efficient and productive flow of capital;
Make the promotion of trade with South Africa the primary focus of our foreign missions and train our diplomats properly to ensure that our vast network of   diplomatic representatives can deliver solid economic gains;
Simplify import, export and customs procedures to encourage trade with South Africa;
Work towards the establishment of a regional common market.
YOUR LAND
Making LAND Reform Work IN Rural Areas
Sustainable and fair land reform is the right thing to do in a country with our history of dispossession.
Land reform should also contribute to rural economies by giving rural dwellers greater access to productive assets.
We believe that land reform must achieve justice while ensuring that land productivity is retained and increased.
The current land reform programme has been an abject failure.
The total amount spent on land reform and restitution is R69 billion – enough to buy, at market value, around 58% of productive agricultural land in South Africa.
While the DA supports land reform, we believe it would be a travesty to continue the current policy, which the present government has admitted has a 90% failure rate so far.
Our approach will lead to land reform that is effective and productive.
The uncertainty around the ownership of key assets in rural economies discourages investment in agricultural activity.
The government has admitted that this uncertainty around land reform has reduced the number of commercial farmers and undermined food security, leading to increased imports and higher food prices.
This disadvantages the poor most.
The main pillars of our approach are: Using the available resources better: Wherever possible, state-owned land must be released for reform purpose.
We must get the Department of Land Reform properly staffed, corruption free and working efficiently.
Communal land reform: At present large tracts of South Africa’s most fertile  agricultural land produces very little food and hardly any jobs.
Approximately   21 million South Africans live on more than 17 million hectares of communal land   (around 17% of the country’s total farmland area).
State-owned land in communal areas must be released immediately for reform purposes and citizens must receive legal title to the land on which they live and farm.
Using the models that work: Research shows that collaborative reform models (such as joint ventures, contract farming and farm equity schemes) are more likely   to succeed.
Around 80% of farm equity schemes introduced by the provincial government in the Western Cape have succeeded.
We must put more money and effort behind these kind of programmes.
Training and support for new land owners: We must focus on increasing the percentage of projects that become self-sustaining and provide reasonable incomes for those involved (rather than only the number of hectares transferred).
When the right policy approach is in place it will make sense to invest more in effective land reform.
Pouring money into the current failed system will not improve its outcomes.
Once an overhauled policy is in place, we will commit an additional R10 billion to land reform programmes over the next five years, provide low interest loans for private land transactions and establish a dedicated fund for farm equity schemes.
The DA will eliminate uncertainty about land reform and land ownership through a clear commitment to the principle of willing buyer willing seller, and by making sure that the court remains the final arbiter in determining prices when land is expropriated in the public interest.
ADDRESSING URBAN LAND AND HOUSING PRESSURES
We must also recognise that more people are moving to the cities and that not every person who wants to own land necessarily wants to farm.
The DA will therefore broaden the focus of land reform to include initiatives to relieve urban land pressures.
This will include: Speeding up the expansion of housing opportunities by providing serviced plots close to urban centres.
Ensuring that all beneficiaries of state-subsidised housing receive the title deeds to their homes.
Increasing security of tenure in informal areas by lifting the restrictions on the sale of   state-subsidised housing (allowing new owners to sell their properties after two   years).
Abolishing transfer duties on land transfers for all first-time, owner-occupied  residential purchases under R2 million, as well as for purchases by over 65-year-olds.
Introducing a subsidy programme aimed at the low-income “gap” housing market to   assist those who do not qualify for fully state-subsidised housing in gaining access to   bank loans.
Making state land available for urban densification.
Piloting the use of flexible subsidies for housing delivery (particularly for serviced   sites, finance-linked subsidy programmes and subsidised rental housing).
We will also prevent the corruption and “back-room deals” that often see public housing going only to those with the right political connections.
Our housing allocations will be entirely independent of party loyalties and determined by such objective criteria as length of time on waiting lists, need and economic disadvantage.
The DA Delivers:
The national government abandoned farm equity schemes as a model for land   reform in 2009.
Of the 100 farm equity schemes in the country, 80 are in the Western Cape.
Almost all of these projects are successful.
Since we came to power in 2009 the DA-led government in the Western Cape has reduced the title deed backlog from 36% to 27%, issuing over 21 500 title deeds.
By using serviced sites, informal settlement upgrades and other housing initiatives to expand opportunities (rather than focussing only on providing top structures) we are able to deliver up to four times more housing opportunities with the same  money.
YOUR EDUCATION
Education That Empowers: A Focus On Quality Education
Quality education is key to improving quality of life.
It empowers individuals to obtain a fulfilling job, contribute to the economy and utilise their talents to the full.
Both national and international assessments show that whilst we are spending a lot of money on education and there has been significant progress in improving access to education, our education system is not equipping learners with knowledge to master modern life and the skills they need to succeed
While spending money on education is important, it is not enough.
It is what is taught, how it is taught and how the system is managed that matter.
A Textbook For Every Child, In Every Subject, Delivered On Time
Education outcomes can be improved by: More, better teachers: Training 15 000 more teachers per year, attracting great   teachers by offering bursaries to deserving students, and working with universities   to establish dedicated teacher training colleges.
Better management: Excellent provincial administration of the education system to ensure that every child has a textbook, a trained and motivated teacher, and enough  time in the classroom to master schoolwork.
The DA has shown in the Western Cape that a good provincial education department can get results.
Better resources: Proper planning and infrastructure spending to ensure that every   school has basic resources and services such as safe classrooms, water, electricity,   sanitation, libraries, laboratories and information technology that can enhance   learning.
Better together: Encouraging the sharing of facilities between schools and between   schools and communities, where some schools and communities are much better   resourced than others.
Better curricula: Aligning education outcomes with workplace needs by regularly   reviewing the curriculum to ensure that it equips learners for participation in a   competitive, modern economy.
Involved parents: Making parents active agents in their children’s future through   informed participation in well-run School Governing Bodies.
Getting a good start: Establishing formal Grade R classes at every public primary   school, with shared classes being used where learner numbers do not allow for a full   post of a Grade R teacher.
Proper testing: Continuing to use Annual National Assessments in Grades 1 to 6  and Grade 9 and ensuring that assessments in Grade 3, 6 and 9 are (i) internationally   benchmarked, and (ii) independently marked.
All assessments will be analysed to  make improvements to the system where necessary.
Appropriate support: Allowing schools that produce good results to become more   independent and assisting under-performing schools in identifying and addressing   their problems.
Rewarding performance: Focusing on accountability for both teachers and principals   by measuring performance and rewarding schools, teachers and principals who deliver   excellent learner outcomes or show significant improvement.
Focusing resources: Maintaining a differentiated model of school funding in which the   learners from low-income families receive the most support from government.
Supporting learning: Ensuring appropriate support for learners with special needs and   for students who are at risk of failing or dropping out of the system.
The DA Delivers:
In the 2013/14 and 2014/15 financial years, the Western Cape Department of Education has set aside an additional R65 million to allow another 200 schools (accommodating around 170 000 learners) to become no-fee schools.
In 2013, the Human Rights Commission found that the Western Cape was the only province to deliver 100% of textbook orders for the year.
In the Western Cape, the pass rate in schools serving poor communities (quintile   1-3 schools) has improved from 56.93% in 2009 to 73.05% in 2013.
In the Western Cape, the DA-run Department of Education has decreased the number of underperforming schools (with a pass rate of less than 60%) from 85 in 2009 to 23 in 2013.
In poorer communities the number of underperforming schools has decreased by 66% from 50 schools in 2009 to 17 in 2013.
The Western Cape has a strong focus on improving the quality of matric passes.
The total number of candidates in the province achieving bachelor passes (which   can give them entrance to a university) has steadily increased from 14 324 in 2009   to 19 477 in 2013.
The Western Cape’s bachelor pass rate is the highest in the country.
More Western Cape Grade 12s are writing and passing mathematics and physical science.
Between 2009 and 2013, the mathematics pass rate has gone up from 52. 9% to 73.3%.
Similar improvements have been recorded for physical science, with pass rates increasing from 52.9% in 2009 to 72.6% in 2013.
Youth at risk can be assisted through programmes modelled on the highly successful Chrysalis project pioneered in the Western Cape.
This programme is aimed at young men between the ages of 17 and 25, when they are most   vulnerable to involvement in criminal activity.
It uses a three-month empowerment training programme during which participants are exposed to life skills training and a range of practical courses, such as metalwork, construction, car maintenance, electrical circuitry, security, business administration, catering or basic computer skills.
SKILLS THAT MATTER IN THE WORKPLACE
Every Qualifying Learner Must Get An Opportunity For Further Study
To deliver on the DA’s vision of an Open Opportunity Society for All, we must ensure that our education system equips South African job seekers with the skills they need to succeed.
The World Economic Forum considers South Africa’s “inadequately educated workforce” as one of the key constraints to doing business and creating jobs in our country.
Tertiary education significantly improves the likelihood of getting a job in South Africa.
Research by the Centre for Development and Enterprise shows that fewer than 5% of people in South Africa who have a university degree are unemployed (versus overall unemployment at around 35%).
The DA wants every qualifying learner in South Africa to be given an opportunity to further his or her education.
We will gradually increase the NSFAS budget to R16 billion so that no student is denied further education because they cannot afford it.
To achieve this, we will expand the capacity of universities and Further Education and Training (FET) colleges to provide more opportunities for higher education.
In addition, we will ensure that a lack of funding does not discourage school-leavers, job seekers and those wishing to further their education from obtaining the skills they need to succeed.
We will do this by: Encouraging the use of skills levy funding for both short courses and long-term   studies at universities and FET colleges.
Providing dedicated funding for the development of scarce skills (e.g. teachers and social workers).
Expanding the assistance provided through the NSFAS and implementing current proposals to make funding for the full cost of study available as loans to poor students, and then converting them to bursaries if studies are successfully completed
Providing state sureties for students who do not qualify for NSFAS bursaries, but are   seeking student loans from commercial banks
Allowing students studying towards qualifications in identified areas, where the public service is in need of skills, to repay public loans through public service
In national government, the DA will implement an opportunity voucher programme that will provide funding to young adults who would like to start their own businesses or further their education and skills development.
The voucher would entitle the graduate to (i) a partial subsidy of university or FET college fees;
(ii) seed capital to establish small or micro enterprises subject to a well-formed business plan;
or (iii) a state guarantee to cover carefully screened small business loans extended by commercial banks.
The business community must be a key partner in a renewed national focus on vocational training that can prepare learners for the world of work.
We will get rid of the highly bureaucratic and inefficient Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) system, allow industry bodies to develop and manage apprenticeships, and reimburse employers directly for work-based learning.
This will mean that businesses, rather than bureaucrats, will determine what skills the economy needs and how to train workers to develop job-ready skills.
Work With Business To Deliver One Million Internship Opportunities
Education and training institutions must serve the country’s skills and knowledge needs.
The DA supports focussed occupational and professional education (potentially linked to universities) through dedicated teacher training colleges, nursing colleges, colleges training social workers and social auxiliary workers, agricultural colleges and occupation-specific academies (e.g. for the police).
To ensure that education and training curricula are aligned with workplace and knowledge needs, we will establish dedicated units for curriculum studies – aimed at educating a corps of trained curriculum developers for basic, further and higher education.
YOUR WELLBEING
Keeping Yourself AND Your FAMILY Healthy
A caring government must ensure that accessible, affordable, high-quality health care is available to every citizen.
Public healthcare must be well managed.
We need enough doctors and nurses to make sure that every patient is cared for.
Medication must be available to all who need it.
Wellness must be improved through a holistic approach to health which tackles behavioural and lifestyle issues that result in avoidable diseases.
The goal of universal healthcare will only be achieved through effective partnerships between public and private healthcare providers and through a decentralised, area-based, people-centred primary healthcare system.
Where we govern, the DA will: Conduct a full review of the nature and scale of vacancies in the public health system and work with tertiary education and training institutions to fill human resource gaps.
Ensure that management teams in public hospitals are qualified and effective by applying a quality rating system to all hospitals and establishing an Independent Office for Standards Compliance to conduct regular evaluations and propose interventions where necessary.
Develop standardised response times for emergency medical services in both urban and rural areas, and support the development of health and emergency services to bring emergency care to international standards.
Work to reduce the mother-to-child transmission rate for HIV and accelerate education programmes related to HIV/AIDS and general health issues.
Invest in research that finds solutions to the most important challenges in our society.
Including preventable illnesses that add to the burden of disease.
Modernise the health system and use information technology to improve health systems, including improvements to the system of buying and distributing medicines.
Patients should be able to collect medicines from any accredited pharmacy or premises, making collection more convenient and less time consuming.
The DA Delivers:
At 85.5%, the Western Cape has the highest TB cure rate in the country.
80% of patients at Western Cape hospitals either receive free services or pay a nominal fee
The Western Cape has the highest TB cure rate in the country at 85.5%.
78% of the provincial department’s budget is spent on providing health services in poor wards in the City of Cape Town and municipalities in the rest of the province.
We have built a brand new state-of-the-art hospital in Khayelitsha that services 500,000 people.
The R500-million Mitchell’s Plain district hospital will also be fully operational soon and will serve over 400 000 people.
The DA has increased Anti Retroviral Treatment provision from 14,370 to 132,279, and brought down the mother-to-child HIV transmission rate to 1,8% - the lowest   in the country.
SUPPORTING THE VULNERABLE AND GETTING PEOPLE INTO JOBS
The DA believes in the power of individuals to improve their own lives when they are given the opportunity to do so.
All South Africans deserve a chance to live a life that they value.
Unemployment prevents people from living a better life.
To give all South Africans a real chance to improve their lives, the most important responsibility of government is to create an environment in which people can invest, businesses can thrive, the economy can grow and jobs can be created.
But many South Africans remain excluded from jobs and opportunities.
The DA is strongly committed to providing a social safety net to vulnerable citizens and protecting all South Africans from extreme poverty and hunger.
The DA believes that social spending should be focussed on the disadvantaged and that such spending should improve the life chances of individuals born into poverty.
We also believe that citizens are capable of taking responsibility for their own destiny and should be viewed as partners rather than “subjects” in development
Where we govern, the DA will support children by: Ensuring that the parents or caregivers of every child born into poverty are able to   provide the child with the food, health care and education he or she needs to learn and grow.
Strengthening community oversight to ensure that child grants are not abused and  intervene if children on social grants are not attending school or not being cared for.
Working to expand and strengthen Early Childhood Development Centres to give every child an opportunity to learn basic skills before they start their formal schooling.
Expanding the school nutrition scheme to include learners up to Grade 12.
Where we govern, the DA will support the youth and young adults by: Rolling out Mass Participation, Opportunity and Development (MOD) centres to all provinces where we govern.
These centres offer sports, cultural and recreational facilities after school hours.
Encouraging young people to finish school and dedicate themselves to their studies by paying a reward to social grant beneficiaries who have completed Grade 12 or have performed above a set standard.
These benefits can be linked to our Opportunity Voucher Scheme which provides funding to young adults who would like to start their own businesses or further their education.
Introducing an internship programme across all government departments to bridge the   study-work divide, and equip recent graduates with valuable professional knowledge   and skills
Where we govern, the DA will support unemployed adults by: Helping them to get work experience through greater investment in Expanded Public Works Programmes (EPWP) and Community Works Programmes
that include proper training and provide opportunities on a fair basis – not only to those with political  connections.
Promoting employability by providing integrated support services to job seekers at Opportunity Centres across the country.
These centres can serve as a central point to provide information and assistance to job seekers, including: Information on private sector job opportunities, EPWP and Community Works Programmes;
Access to education and training opportunities (including Adult Basic Education programmes and support programmes for post-school education);
Assistance in writing CVs and applying for jobs;
Assistance with transport and communication related to job-search activities;
Placement in an apprenticeship scheme or government internship programme; and
Support programmes for small business and informal traders.
Where we govern, the DA will support the elderly by: Phasing out the means test for old age pensions to reduce administrative costs and ensure that all elderly persons are getting the support they need.
Encouraging saving by making membership of a retirement scheme compulsory for all   working adults.
Retirement savings can be facilitated through a National Social Security Fund.
Individuals must, however, be able to opt out of the national fund if they belong to an approved private sector fund.
Our key priorities with regard to people with disabilities is to promote access to education and job opportunities, to ensure that they can access the assistive devices that they need and to promote their economic and social inclusion.
Where we govern, the DA will support people with disabilities by: Strengthening the monitoring and evaluation of disability grants to ensure that all disabled South Africans can access the grants.
Ensuring the efficient administration of grant reviews – including ensuring that recipients receive ample warning of pending reviews and, where necessary, are well informed of the steps they must take to renew their grants.
Limiting the regulatory burden for persons with severe and permanent disabilities by   exempting certain categories of disability from the review process.
Ensuring that state-funded schooling options are available for learners with a wide range of special needs.
Providing transport subsidies to organisations in the disability sector to help people with disabilities to access services and support.
Continuing to promote the accessibility of buildings, public services, transport and other facilities for people with disabilities.
The DA Delivers:
National reports on Expanded Public Works Programmes (EPWP) show that half of the training for EPWP beneficiaries across South Africa is done by the Western Cape Government.
We are showing how EPWPs should be used to prepare people for jobs, not just to assist them temporarily through opportunities for unskilled survival labour.
432 000 learners receive lunch every day through the Western Cape school feeding scheme.
PROVIDING THE SERVICES THAT YOU NEED
General Service Delivery
Access to basic services like clean water and housing is a right guaranteed by our Constitution.
The DA is committed to ensuring that all South Africans have access to basic services.
That is why, where we govern, we spend the bulk of our money and resources on delivering services to poor communities.
More than R3 out of every R4 in the Western Cape budget is spent exclusively in poor communities.
The remainder is spent on programmes and initiatives that benefit the whole province.
Of the R18 billion spent on service delivery in the City of Cape Town, R11 billion is spent on the poor.
Our approach is delivering results: The latest Census results showed that the Western Cape has the best basic service delivery record in the country.
ACCORDING TO THE 2011 CENSUS:
99.1% of people in the Western Cape have access to piped water.
91.1% of people in the Western Cape have refuse removal.
93.4% of Western Cape households have electricity.
96.9% of people in the Western Cape have toilets.
Transport
When individuals cannot move around freely and easily they cannot access opportunities.
Transport costs have a disproportionate impact on the poor, who spend a significant portion of their monthly income on travel.
South Africa must have a transport network that provides safe, reliable and affordable transport options for all people over both short and long distances.
Public transport must also make it possible for people to reduce their use of private vehicles and minimise their impact on the environment.
Where we govern, the DA will make it easier, safer and cheaper to use public transport.
We will: Establish a dedicated Road Maintenance Fund, sourced primarily from the fuel levy, which will enable South Africa to eliminate the R150 billion road maintenance backlog over six years.
Avoid the tolling of commuter routes and urban roads, only consider tolls on roads   where there are properly maintained alternative routes, and then only after appropriate consultation with the affected stakeholders.
Introduce a massive road safety drive, modelled on the successful initiatives in the   Western Cape, to reduce our road accident rate by 50% over five years.
Introduce a single, multi-use ticket applicable to all certified public transport users to   make transport more accessible to everyone.
Continue to expand and improve Bus Rapid Transport and commuter rail services.
Privatise state-owned airlines and strengthen competition in domestic air travel services to make flying an affordable transport option for all long-distance trips.
Encourage the use of rail transport for goods in order to protect the road network from heavy vehicles that cause damage and make the roads unsafe for other users.
Communication
New information and communication technologies continue to break down traditional boundaries between people, businesses and nations by making it easier to engage, to exchange information, to transact and to deliver services.
Information and communication technology (ICT) is therefore vital to the development and wellbeing of all who live, work and play in South Africa.
It enables us to contribute to, share in and benefit from the opportunities of a networked world.
It connects people to education, jobs, opportunities and each other.
It sparks innovation, enables citizens and government to interact effectively, and facilitates the provision of basic services such as education, health and policing.
It supports the creative and cultural activities that define us.
Affordable, Reliable And Efficient Internet Must Be Available To All South Africans
The DA believes that every person in South Africa should have access to the internet.
Where we govern, the DA will work to ensure that information and communication infrastructure, the devices that access it and the services conveyed on it are affordable, reliable, efficient and readily available.
This will be achieved both by supporting the private sector to expand access to ICT and using government resources to provide ICT infrastructure and services in under-serviced areas.
The DA Delivers:
The DA-run City of Cape Town has established a single transport authority, Transport for Cape Town, to govern all public transport modes in the metro.
It is guided by a “Vision of Ones”: one plan, one network, one management system, one contracting authority, one ticket and timetable, one unified enforcement  system, one fare and one brand.
This is a first for South Africa and, since its establishment, the City of Cape Town has rolled out the most successful Bus Rapid Transport system in the country.
Cape Town is using investment in transport to break down the negative effects of Apartheid-era spatial planning.
DA municipalities work with the private sector to give more citizens access to the internet.
The City of Cape Town’s fibre-optic network programme is saving the city R25 million per year in communications cost and is extending opportunities to residents and entrepreneurs in less advantaged and outlying areas by providing quality access to the internet.
FIGHTING DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE
Drugs and alcohol abuse undermine the safety and wellbeing of our communities.
We must do whatever is needed to prevent our children from turning to drugs like tik and nyaope.
Keep The Youth Away From Drugs And Crime By Giving Them A Chance To Succeed
To protect communities from the devastating effects of drugs and alcohol abuse a national DA government will: Reinstate the Narcotics Bureau.
A dedicated unit within the SAPS to fight drugs would be in a position to co-ordinate an assault on drugs far more effectively than police officers working individually.
Create a public-private partnership to fight drugs and crime.
The DA would establish a public-private partnership between government and civil society to lead the fight against drugs and crime,
The activities of credible NGOs that specialise in targeting drug addiction and rehabilitation must receive more support.
Strengthen border security.
By improving our border security, we would make the shipping of drugs in and out of the country far more difficult.
Ensure better trans-national support.
South Africa’s relationships with neighbouring countries can be improved in terms of resource pooling (expertise, training, equipment, etc) as well as joint exercise collaboration (e.g. in border patrols, joint criminal investigations or fighting international drug and crime cartels)
Devote more funds to rehabilitation.
The long waiting list for existing rehabilitation centres emphasizes the enormous need for more of these facilities.
State funds must be more readily available for properly accredited residential and community-based  treatment centres.
Increase the number of addiction treatment centres to broaden access to rehabilitation programmes.
Expand drug rehabilitation programmes in prisons and ensure that continued drug abuse is considered in decisions around parole and early release.
Make use of random drug testing in schools where appropriate.
The DA would require that at least one teacher per school be trained in conducting drug tests, and that random tests are conducted regularly in problem schools.
Regular testing would enable the expansion of early intervention programmes for children and adolescents vulnerable to drug addiction.
Prioritise funding for combating alcohol abuse.
The establishment and funding of programmes to address the socio-economic impact of alcohol abuse, preferably with co-operative arrangements with churches and other community organisations, must go hand-in-hand with more vigorous efforts to reduce alcohol abuse.
Clamp down on illegal liquor sales.
The DA would be uncompromising about enforcing the law on alcohol sales.
Illegal sales points would be shut down, opening hours would be strictly enforced, and police and traffic officers would conduct regular blitzes around problematic areas to test patrons.
The DA Delivers:
The DA administration in the Western Cape increased the number of alcohol and drug addiction treatment centres in the province from seven in 2008/09 to 27 in 2012/13.
The City of Cape Town makes use of functional specialisation units, like the Liquor Control Unit, the Drug Enforcement Unit and the Gang Unit to assist in the war against drugs and substance abuse.
SPORT AND RECREATION
The DA understands the role that sport can play in our democracy and the defining role it plays in shaping and influencing our identity – as individuals and as a country.
We also understand that sport can play a role in more practical terms, as a mechanism to uplift and empower, to bridge divisions in our society, as an opportunity to enrich dayto-day life, as a means to healthy living and as a profession for those with the ability and talent to achieve success at the highest level.
Sport policy must support the competitive athletes and teams that can become our sports ambassadors, it must develop a pipeline of sporting excellence, it must promote participation in recreational sport and it must unite the nation behind our national teams.
Where we govern, the DA will: Conduct audits of sport facilities and use the information from the audits to develop plans to assist under-resourced areas in developing sport infrastructure.
Actively promote school and student sport as a mechanism to develop healthy   lifestyles among the youth, to discourage anti-social behaviour and to develop a pipeline of sporting talent for national teams.
Invest in sporting facilities and opportunities for people with disabilities.
Use sport as a celebration of heritage and shared spirit by hosting flagship   international events, supporting national events for indigenous games and encouraging interaction between different communities through the promotion of healthy lifestyles (e.g. through Reconciliation Walks).
Use mass participation sport events, like the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour, the   Cape Epic, the Comrades Marathon, the Two Oceans Marathon, the Dusi Canoe   Marathon and the Momentum 94.7 Cycle Race, to attract tourists and investment.
Develop an effective, integrated national sport academy system that will: Develop a pipeline of sporting excellence through a national corps of talent scouts;
Provide coordinated sport science and medical support to competitive athletes;
Assist competitive athletes in entering professional sport careers; and
Provide coordinated support to sport coaches in evidence-based technical coaching     techniques, sport psychology, game analysis and sport technology.
Adopt an approach to transformation in sport that promotes sporting excellence from   the grassroots upwards, rather than artificially manipulating the composition of elite   sports teams.
Ensure better cooperation and clarify the mandates of the various levels of government, different government departments, sporting bodies and non-government organisations that contribute to sport in South Africa.
Improve the governance of sporting bodies by supporting the boards of federations   through training in financial management and corporate governance, ensuring regular   engagement with the parliamentary portfolio committee on sport and recreation, and   making continued funding conditional on adherence to clear service level agreements.
Few things better capture South Africa’s potential for excellence – and the realisation of our hopes and dreams – than sport.
The DA will continue to prioritise investment in sport as a social development tool, a source of national pride, a health enhancer and an opportunity to promote social inclusion.
YOUR ENVIRONMENT
Protecting our natural environment and using resources in a responsible way is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century.
South Africa is blessed with rich resources and unique biodiversity.
Our environment is, however, under significant pressure from a growing economy, a rapidly increasing population and climate change.
Water scarcity is a reality for many people in our country.
The International Environmental Performance Index ranks South Africa 128th out of 132 countries, based on our poor performance in air quality, water quality, waste management and the management of our fisheries
If elected to national government, the DA will reward businesses and households for behavioural changes that reduce environmental impacts and strengthen the regulatory system to protect natural resources.
There will be a particular focus on streamlining the process of environmental and other impact assessments that are done prior to the approval of developments.
This process should apply the highest possible standards and be managed in an efficient and transparent manner by sufficient numbers of qualified environmental practitioners.
The DA understands that communities should be involved in the decisions that affect them.
A national DA government would host workshops to equip communities, civil society organisations and local councillors with the knowledge and skills to understand and contribute effectively to the public participation processes associated with environmental management.
The DA believes that we should be putting in place pro-active measures both to mitigate climate change and adapt to changes in our natural environment.
Key mitigation actions will include: Energy efficiency: Introducing compulsory energy efficiency labeling for appliances   and machines, and improved energy efficiency standards for buildings
Sectoral targets: Establishing mitigation targets in specific sectors in consultation with   the relevant stakeholders
Renewable energy: Scaling up the installation of renewable energy projects around   South Africa by encouraging investment by Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and   providing incentives for private households to use renewable energy.
Transport: Improving public transport to reduce individual car journeys.
Carbon capture and storage: Conducting studies to identify the best areas to capture   and store carbon to remove it from the atmosphere and limit the potential for climate   change.
While mitigation (actions to limit climate change) is mostly a global issue, adaptation (actions to manage the impact of climate change) is a regional and local issue.
Irrespective of the mitigation actions taken at the international level, a certain level of climate change is unavoidable.
Adaptation is therefore necessary.
We need to build climate resilience in South Africa as our country is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
Left unattended, these impacts can seriously undermine our attempts at job creation
and poverty alleviation, particularly in rural areas.
The DA would focus on a number of projects, programmes and policies that would contribute to adaptation and the building of climate resilience.
Among other things, these would include: Disaster management: The establishment of well-resourced disaster management centres around the country and improved early warning systems.
Agriculture: Better use of agriculture extension workers to assist vulnerable communities to develop appropriate responses to farming under changing climatic conditions.
Planning: Improved planning and building regulations that, along with rigorous environmental authorisations, minimise the risks from extreme weather events.
Coastal management: The establishment of clear coastal management lines to better   guide development along coastal areas.
Insurance: Engagement with the private sector to develop new insurance products that protect particularly vulnerable communities from extreme weather events.
Water: Increased investment and maintenance of water infrastructure, along with augmentation of supply from new sources.
Indigenous knowledge: Utilisation of indigenous knowledge to develop locally relevant   responses to climate change.
Carbon trading: Active encouragement of the appropriate use of carbon trading and   market schemes as a means to reduce carbon emissions and fund adaptation projects.
South Africa needs a reliable, affordable and sustainable supply of energy both to meet household needs and support a growing economy.
Energy planning in South Africa has been very poor and has not kept up with changes in energy demand in the country.
At the moment our economy is held hostage to the inefficiencies of Eskom’s monopoly control and over-reliance on large coal-fired power stations.
Eskom is currently responsible for 98% of energy generation, it owns and operates the transmission grid and distributes electricity to four million households.
In addition, the Minister gets to determine the energy mix and has significant influence over who gets to build generation capability.
The DA will change this picture dramatically by completely reforming the way in which decisions are made in the energy sector.
A national DA government will diversify our energy mix, reduce our reliance on coal and invest in grid technologies to make it easier for small-scale producers to feed electricity into the grid.
We will allow a new, independent entity to plan South Africa’s energy mix, to manage the national grid and to procure electricity from both Eskom and IPPs.
We will also reduce the country’s energy risks by opening up the market and allowing energy-intensive users to contract directly with IPPs.
YOUR SAFETY
In the DA’s vision of an Open Opportunity Society for All, children are safe from harm and citizens are able to walk in our cities and towns without fear.
Criminals are caught promptly and prosecuted speedily, and victims of crime receive appropriate support and are treated with compassion.
In our vision for South Africa citizens are respectful of the law and understand the consequences of violating it.
Communities are confident that those found guilty of crime will be punished.
Keep Communities Safe Through A More Effective And Caring Police Service
Whilst there has been moderate success in reducing crime levels in the country since 1994, South Africans still do not feel safe, nor do they trust that their property is safe from crime.
The Victims of Crime Survey published by Statistics South Africa in 2012 showed that more than one in three households avoid going into open spaces unaccompanied because of their fear of crime, almost one in four households would not allow their children to play unsupervised by an older person or play freely in their area.
Fewer than two out of ten households felt safe to walk around in their area in the dark.
The police, in partnership with communities and civil society organisations, must work hard to prevent crime before it occurs.
South Africa needs a police service that citizens can trust and respect and that does not participate in violent or criminal activities.
The police must be properly equipped and well trained and they must be disciplined and caring enough to keep communities safe.
Our justice system must have the necessary independence and resources to ensure that those prosecuted receive a fair and speedy trial and, if found guilty, are appropriately punished.
Our correctional service system must keep those found guilty of crimes securely detained and must offer effective rehabilitation to ensure that the level of criminality in our society is reduced over time.
In national government, the DA will also make the criminal justice system more responsive to the needs of the victims of crime by: Establishing a Victims of Crime Fund to ensure that victims have access to services and assistance.
Allowing the persons directly affected by a criminal case to access information on the case through a secure, integrated database,
Police
A national DA government will put nearly 100 000 carefully selected, well-trained police officers on the streets (we will increase the number of operational police officers from the current ±157 000 to 250 000).
We will work to keep citizens safe by: Recruiting new members that are properly qualified and trained, and committed to serving communities.
Making sure that all members have the equipment they need to perform their tasks,   including vehicles, firearms, bullet-proof vests, equipment for crowd control and ICT   equipment.
Making better use of technology in the fight against crime.
This must include: (i) a transversal, efficient and corruption-proof system to ensure that real-time information on crime, criminals and suspected criminals is available where it is needed (from police stations to police vehicles),
(ii) dedicated efforts to ensure that police personnel are trained to use such systems,
(iii) handheld consoles linked to police stations through which officers can update crimes reported and arrests made in real time,
and (iv) making greater use of closed-circuit television units to monitor crime hotspots.
Removing service members from the system if they abuse their power or participate in corrupt or criminal activities.
Establishing a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the extent of police corruption, with a particular focus on police involvement in illicit drug dealing.
Establishing a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to determine the causes of police brutality and to identify long-term solutions to the problem.
Improving the cooperation between private security companies and the police service.
As we have done in the Western Cape through the Community Safety Act, the DA will also get communities more involved in preventing crime.
Where we govern, we will establish provincial police ombudsmen to investigate complaints about poor service delivery, police inefficiency and a breakdown in relations between the community and police.
We will also strengthen the role of community police forums, neighbourhood watches and community safety structures that act as intermediaries between the police and community.
To make sure that criminals are caught once crimes have been committed we will: Employ an additional 8 500 detectives (to bring the total number of detectives to 31 500).
Maintain an integrated fingerprint system accessible by the police, the Department of   Home Affairs and the Department of Transport.
Dedicate additional resources to improving forensic and laboratory services to  enhance document analysis, chemistry testing, DNA sampling and ballistics testing.
A DA government will target specific crimes through specialised units, e.g. units for Narcotics, Gangs, Sexual Offences and Rural Safety.
To prepare our police to respond to high levels of family and sexual violence, the DA in national government will: Establish a seven-day-a-week, 24-hour VictimLink service.
By calling a specific number, women who have been raped or assaulted would be able to get immediate crisis support and police assistance, they would be able to discuss safety measures with a trained counsellor, and be given help with practical interventions such as a cell phone for high risk victims.
Regularly monitor police stations’ compliance with the Domestic Violence Act.
Establish an electronic system for monitoring domestic violence registers.
This would enable the police to track repeat offenders and complainants between stations and   provinces.
Ensure that SAPS members receive training to implement the Sexual Offences Act,   including protocols for gathering evidence and supporting victims
Ensure that rape kits (including HIV prophylaxis) are available at all police stations.
Every victim of rape should immediately be taken to a medical professional to collect   samples and to receive assistance regarding the correct use of anti-retrovirals.
Make real-time crime statistics available at every SAPS station so that the police can   prevent and respond to crime more effectively.
In the South African context, where there is at least one public protest every two days and public protests are often associated with violence and the destruction of property, the police must also be ready and able to maintain public order.
If elected to national government, the DA will: Develop a clear policy on Public Order Policing and operational guidelines to ensure non-violent responses to public protests.
Hold those responsible for violence and the destruction of property during public protests to account.
This would include action against trade unions which fail to maintain order during strikes they have organised.
Ensure that police officers receive the necessary debriefing and psychological support   before they are redeployed into high-risk situations after being exposed to traumatising scenes and events.
Ensure that public order policing units have access to the proper equipment and  vehicles to fulfil their duties effectively.
The Courts
Our courts must be free from political interference and they must be properly resourced to handle the number of cases coming through the system.
A national DA government will work to dramatically improve the conviction rate in cases before the courts.
Where cases are withdrawn, we will give the victims of crime the right to challenge the decision to withdraw charges against suspects.
We will also develop an integrated system for crime statistics in which the number of reported crimes can be compared to the number of arrests made, the number of cases referred to the National Prosecuting Authority, the number of prosecutions carried out and the number of convictions that are secured.
To ensure that there is access to justice for all citizens, the DA will strengthen the resources of Legal Aid South Africa, expand the use of Community Courts and work to improve the efficiency of the court system around child maintenance.
We want specialised Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence courts to protect vulnerable citizens from abuse and to make sure that sentences are commensurate with the crimes committed.
Correctional Services
Convicted criminals must be punished for their crimes.
It must, however, be a core priority of the correctional system to keep some first-time offenders out of jail to avoid further criminalisation.
Prison overcrowding currently limits opportunities for rehabilitation and is creating a culture of violence in South African prisons that contributes to the further criminalisation of inmates.
Indeed, currently most offenders sent to prison will emerge more criminalised on their release than on admission.
Overcrowding can be eased by building additional facilities, improving the management of remand prisoners and, crucially, by making better use of alternative sentences.
Rehabilitation must be improved through the structured management of the rehabilitation programmes of individual prisoners through the consistent implementation of sentence plans.
Rehabilitation programmes must also include purposeful work by all able-bodied inmates.
Such work must be geared to making prisons self-sustaining, to inculcating habits of work and responsibility and to enable restitution to individuals and communities affected by crime.
The re-integration of prisoners into society must be facilitated through halfway houses and an active partnership with faith-based organisations and NGOs as well as the removal of barriers to effective integration (such as the expunging of criminal records in deserving cases).
The majority of escapes occur in transit to or from courts, or from court holding cells.
Such escapes can be limited by establishing courts within prison precincts or by using technology (CCTV) to televise court proceedings in appropriate circumstances.
Electronic tagging for probationers and parolees must be expanded.
This technology allows for more confidence in non-custodial, community-based sentences and reduces staff and other pressure on the community corrections system.
A strong, independent Inspectorate of Correctional Services should work with civil society organisations to monitor conditions in prisons, to prevent prisoner abuse, to combat corruption in prisons and to improve prospects for successful rehabilitation.
The DA Delivers:
Provincial powers in terms of policing are limited to oversight.
The DA in the Western Cape has done a great deal to ensure that oversight is effective, and “has teeth”.
We have passed the Community Safety Act, which defines oversight and gives provinces clear powers in monitoring the police.
The Act also established the office of the Ombudsman to investigate complaints against the police.
We will introduce a similar act in all provinces governed by the DA.
A very effective oversight measure has been “Watching Briefs” where we place legally trained people into court rooms to report back on the quality of evidence and other matters relevant to police performance.
This has proved to be a very effective check on potential corruption and poor performance.
Disciplinary action against police officers is instituted if warranted by reports from the “Watching Briefs”.
In the Western Cape, the DA has also significantly increased the financial support to Community Policing Forums (CPFs) and neighbourhood watches.
The party has also piloted partnership programmes with 32 CPFs in which web-based feedback tools are used to record the activities and oversight of the forum.
Measurable standards for service delivery are linked to a funding model which then allows CPFs to invest in the resources they deem necessary to fulfil their role.
In the City of Cape Town more than 800 CCTV cameras across the city are monitored in a central management centre, allowing pro-active responses to crime and giving the police information to build cases against the perpetrators of crime.
Defence
The primary priority of the national defence force should be to keep South Africa safe.
The DA will increase the number of troops protecting South Africa’s borders and develop clear guidelines on the circumstances in which the defence force may be called upon to assist in preventing public violence.
Our participation in foreign peacekeeping should focus on the safety in the region, with missions further afield only being undertaken in exceptional circumstances and then only as part of mandated missions by the United Nations or African Union.
The weapons and equipment that we buy will be there to protect citizens.
Defence procurement will be closely monitored and managed as transparently as possible to ensure that it is not abused to line the pockets of corrupt government officials.
YOUR COUNTRY
A South Africa That Has A PLACE For ALL
The diversity of cultural practices, languages and histories in South Africa has become a defining feature of post-Apartheid South Africa.
This diversity must be promoted as part of our national identity and fiercely safeguarded as an essential ingredient of the Open Opportunity Society that has a place for all South Africans.
Promote Reconciliation Through Respect And Recognition For Our Individual And Shared Heritage
South Africa’s efforts at building a unified nation are relatively new.
We have emerged from our political transition in 1994 as groups divided by history, but united by the vision to “heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights”.
The DA and its supporters have a vision of a united South Africa in which we honour our past whilst taking positive steps to build a shared future.
While striving for unity, we must be a country which celebrates and protects our diversity.
Arts and culture can bring people together in new ways.
Our aim should not be to use these interactions to promote sameness, but to support interaction as the celebration of differences and as opportunities to build the foundations for mutual respect and understanding.
The DA wants to: Encourage every province to establish its own regional arts festival and commit to financially supporting at least one flagship event per province.
Offer national arts awards and establish an annual national arts awards ceremony, with the aim of encouraging new audiences and developing the stature of all artists in our society.
Make public funding available for exhibitions – with a specific focus on exhibitions that promote engagement across different cultures and artistic mediums.
Support the establishment of a national art bank that will be responsible for procuring   and curating art works from established and emerging artists in public buildings and   South African embassies.
Prioritise investment in the performing arts, where performance itself can be an act of social cohesion – for example in choral traditions, orchestral music and group dance.
Continue to provide support for national theatres and facilitate private sector   investment in their programmes and initiatives.
Improve the efficiency of community arts centres and promote community   participation in the arts through arts representatives at Mass Participation,   Opportunity and Access, Development and Growth centres.
Promote private sector investment in the arts by: Recognising investments in arts, culture and heritage in the socio-economic development element of the broad-based empowerment scorecard;
Providing tax breaks for investment in the arts – as a category of charitable giving; and
Recognising business contributions to the arts through a national award
The heritage of each South African is the heritage of the whole country.
In the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, this is encapsulated in the heritage vision of the province, which reads: “My Culture, Your Culture, Our Heritage”.
Visible representations of our history and heritage, including museums, monuments, memorial buildings, street names, outdoor art and heritage trails, must commemorate the many aspects of South Africa’s past.
The DA supports the provisions of the Use of Official Languages Act (2012) which gives government departments discretion in the use of any three official languages for communication purposes.
At a provincial and local level, language choices should be informed by the languages most widely spoken in the relevant area.
In national government, the DA would ensure that there is buy-in from all departments to implement this Act and will provide appropriate support to ensure its effective roll-out.
In schools, the decision on the language of learning and teaching will be made by the school governing body.
Multilingualism will be entrenched in schools by requiring learners to learn three official languages until Grade 7, after which two official languages will be compulsory.
National symbols can contribute to nation-building and the establishment of a common national identity.
South Africa’s national anthem, the national flag and the coat of arms are powerful symbolic representations of the country’s transition to a representative democracy and our collective commitment to building a society that truly has a place for all.
Other national symbols, like the national animal (the springbok), flower (king protea), fish (galjoen), bird (blue crane) and tree (real yellowwood) reflect proud aspects of our natural heritage.
Where we govern, the DA will promote awareness of these symbols and their meaning and will encourage the display of these symbols in public buildings, public spaces, on prominent hills and at schools and universities.
SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD
We are a society embedded in an international community.
We must manage our relationships in that community to the benefit of South Africans and in pursuit of a just world order.
A DA government would remain dedicated to a foreign policy informed by a commitment to human rights, whilst ensuring that our interactions on the global stage serve our national interests.
We will seek to build the pillars of a just society everywhere and to promote democratic governments and states characterised by accountable institutions, independent judiciaries, free media and vibrant civil societies.
Our primary priorities, both domestically and in our interactions with the world, must be to: Establish a growing economy that can create jobs,
alleviate poverty
and reduce inequality;
Raise living standards
and educational levels;
Increase our international economic competitiveness.
A DA government would use our position in multilateral forums like the United Nations, Southern African Development Community, African Union and the BRICS group of countries to contribute to a more just and safe world and to further our national objectives.
IN OUR 2009 MANIFESTO we said that South Africa needed a government of the people…
with leaders who are honest servants of the people…
with respect for values and the principles of the South African people...
a growing economy…
ensuring sustainable development…
educating and training our people for development…
improving the quality of healthcare…
ﬁghting crime and ensuring safety for all citizens…
advancing the African Agenda and creating a better world.
TODAY WE REITERATE WHAT WE SAID IN 2009, only this time we say it with a greater sense of urgency and the certainty that the vast majority of the people of our country will agree that SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A BETTER GOVERNMENT…
with leaders who are honest servants of the people,
who have respect for values and the principles of the South African people,
meet their promises of service delivery
and lead and create conditions for a growing economy and sustainable development,
a world class education system,
quality and universal healthcare,
ﬁght crime and ensure safety and security for all in human settlements that are conducive to building social cohesion,
a better South Africa and therefore place us in a better position to contribute to advancing the African Agenda and creating a better world.
IN 2009 WE SAID THAT SOUTH AFRICA NEEDED a government of the people and that there was a need to inspire South Africans to build a better South Africa.
Today we say that SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A BETTER GOVERNMENT.
We are reminding you that YOUR VOTE CAN DELIVER IT!
Today we are asking you to see that YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU.
TODAY we are calling on you to SAVE SOUTH AFRICA.
SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A BETTER GOVERNMENT - A GOVERNMENT THAT KEEPS ITS PROMISES AND REPORTS BACK
IN OUR 2009 MANIFESTO WE PROMISED YOU leaders who are honest and committed to serving the people.
We said that “COPE will present South Africa with a leadership who are committed to serving the people, protecting and preserving public resources and assets and ensure that corruption, waste and mismanagement are eradicated”.
WE ARE PROUD TO REPORT to South Africans today that we are still bound by that commitment and that we stayed true to that undertaking.
Wherever we found that our leaders or members were implicated in any of the above stated wrong-doing we acted with speed and without fear or favour.
IN OUR 2009 MANIFESTO WE PROMISED YOU a government of the people and said amongst other things that “Our country is full of good, hard-working people who deserve a government that is truly accountable and committed to serving them and does not tolerate corruption and personal greed".
To achieve this objective, COPE will enable people to directly elect their most senior representatives, namely, the President, Premiers and Mayors.
WE ARE PROUD TO REPORT to South Africans today that we are still committed to those principles and to that effect, the First National Congress of the Party revised our constitution to enable that with effect from the next Congress, the President of the Party be elected directly by all members of the Party, not only delegates attending the Congress - something that is unprecedented in South Africa
This is a process we intend to cascade down to the provincial and regional leadership of the Party in line with our 2009 commitment.
SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A BETTER GOVERNMENT
A government of the people, by the people, for the people with the people.
To achieve this we reiterate our 2009 commitment that a cope government will: introduce the direct election of Presidents by all South Africans, Premiers by all voters in a province and Mayors by all voters in the municipality in order to strengthen the power of South Africans to hold their leaders to account.
Introduce an amendment to current legislation, which is currently not explicit on the issue, that will require 100% impartiality from presiding ofﬁcers and a transparent reconciliation of votes to voter material to eliminate any possibility of election fraud and bias from presiding ofﬁcers.
SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A GOVERNMENT WITH LEADERS WHO ARE HONEST SERVANTS OF THE PEOPLE
A Cope Government Will:
Once again present South Africa with leaders who are committed to serving the people,
protecting and preserving public resources and assets and ensuring that corruption, waste and mismanagement are eradicated.
Downsize government so that resources can be redirected towards investment in the economy.
South Africa Deserves A Government With Leaders Who Have Respect For Values And The Principles Of The South African People
A Cope Government Will.
IN OUR 2009 MANIFESTO we indicated that “Since the formation of the Congress of the People, traditional leaders and the rural masses have thrown their weight behind COPE, …
and Communities of faith too have been at the forefront of the formation and promotion of the agenda to promote South African values that are progressive such as integrity, honesty and the rule of law, all of which are found in our faiths and religions in their diversity.
WE ARE PROUD TO REPORT to South Africans today that even more traditional leaders, rural masses as well as communities of faith have realised today what some realised then…
that South Africa deserves a better government and they have come in greater numbers to support the cause we started then, a cause we continue to be committed to.
WE CONTINUE WITH OUR COMMITMENT to build South Africa on the basis of a value system which deﬁnes the identity of the South African nation, giving us pride in ourselves as a people, constituting part of what makes all of us – Proudly South African!
SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A GOVERNMENT WITH LEADERS WHO MEET THEIR PROMISES OF SERVICE DELIVERY
Our Bill of Rights states that citizens have constitutional rights such as access to adequate housing, health care, food, water, education, a healthy environment, and security.
A Cope Government Will:
Install strong and stable state institutions to provide these services.
These include provisions for decent schools,
housing,
health care facilities,
water, sewage, adequate roads.
Re-commit itself to ensuring that all spheres of government are obliged by law to work consistently to create a climate of tolerance for different points of view, and the active involvement of the people in determining all elements of their future.
Attract skilled and professional personnel, irrespective of their political party afﬁliation, into these areas and will train additional personnel.
Ensure that public servants have the minimum requirement where there is a lack in existing legislation in this area.
Introduce a user-friendly system for reporting failure in municipal services, such as water supply, refuse removal, municipal maintenance and other services.
Ensure that inspectors are appointed to examine all services and see that standards are maintained.
Ensure that by-laws are enforced and transgressions prosecuted.
Set clear minimum standards for service delivery and.
Provide a benchmark for service delivery to ensure all communities receive the same level of quality of service.
Ensure that an inventory of repairs that are required to be made, is drawn up so that repairs and maintenance work can be prioritised and cost efﬁciency achieved.
Ensure that the National Budget is restructured so that more funding and capacity is directed towards local government so that service delivery is enhanced and communities participation is included in the supply of services.
Ensure that public service unions are not afﬁliated or aligned to any political party as this creates a conﬂict of interest in their public responsibilities.
SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A GOVERNMENT THAT IS RELIABLE, ACCOUNTABLE AND INCORRUPTIBLE
Accountability requires government ministers and public representatives to subject themselves and their actions (or lack of action) to sharp and continuous scrutiny.
Accountability ensures quality outcomes.
Corruption in all spheres must be stamped out because it corrodes the fabric of society.
The PFMA and MFMA are excellent pieces of legislation, but the practice of by-passing the measures in these Acts has seriously harmed our economy and must be fully addressed.
Our country is full of good and hard-working people who deserve a government that is truly accountable and fully committed to serving them in an ethical, honest and intelligent manner.
For the people of South Africa, only the best form of governance is acceptable.
To achieve this objective of total accountability...
A Cope Government Will:
Require all legislatures to demand much higher levels of accountability from themselves as public representatives.
Empower all legislatures to demand greater accountability of all members of the executive.
Allow for an annual debate in all legislatures on the extent to which governing parties are observing constitutionality, the rule of law and transparency.
Create conditions to ensure that the public as well as the private sector comply with requirements for accountability, transparency and good governance.
Protect the independence of Chapter 9 Institutions.
The recommendations of Chapter 9 institutions will immediately be taken up.
SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A GOVERNMENT THAT EMPOWERS CITIZENS
A cope government will:
Improve public participation in all spheres of government through the increased use of new technologies such as Information and Communications Technologies (ICT).
Ensure that popularly elected representatives can be removed from ofﬁce by the people, but only through clearly deﬁned and nationally agreed constitutional procedures.
Encourage South Africans to develop a culture of working together through voter coalitions to enhance the voice of every voter and give citizens greater constitutional ﬂexibility to govern themselves as they deem ﬁt even if they belong to smaller parties.
Facilitate, support, safeguard and reward citizen activism and investigative journalism to increase accountability.
Ensure that public representatives service their communities without any political bias that would favour members of their party.
Create conditions that facilitate NGO initiatives that aim to empower individuals and hold government accountable - such as anti-corruption and service delivery watchdogs - to be more effective and farreaching, so as to bring these programmes closer to the people.
Require all citizens to pay for basic services unless they have been officially classified as indigent.
SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A GOVERNMENT THAT CAN LEAD AND CREATE CONDITIONS FOR A GROWING ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
A Cope Government Will:
Support the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP).
Focus on developing implementation strategies to make the NDP work.
Support the growth of Agriculture, manufacturing and mining which are seriously under-performing at the moment will be given encouragement and assistance to increase production and expand employment.
Ensure that small, medium and micro enterprises enjoy increased support from government making it easier, not more difﬁcult, to start and run a small business.
Affordable loans will enable start-up enterprises, with mentoring support to make sure small businesses succeed.
Implement sound environmental practices, with an emphasis on sustainable development, recycling, environmental sustainability.
Organic farming, for instance, will be encouraged to protect both consumers and the environment.
Rural areas will be supported to create niche markets and take advantage of the growth of tourism to South Africa.
Create more trade-able goods and expand inter-African trade.
Support the green economy, being the economy of the future.
Invest resources and provide adequate support to existing and legitimate aspiring farmers, as well as qualifying new entrants to farming.
Prioritise the empowerment of rural women and young people through mentoring, support, and start-up micro-loans, using as a model the microloan system that has lifted millions of women out of poverty.
Strengthen youth service programmes and introduce community-based programmes to offer young people, especially marginalised young people, life-skills training, entrepreneurship training, along with opportunities to participate in community development programmes.
Invest in innovation necessary to turn our society from consumers into manufacturers.
Adopt Information and Communication Technology which must play a role as a signiﬁcant tool for socio-economic development.
Seek to exploit South Africa’s competitive advantage in the global supply chain.
Strengthen our productive base of manufacturing.
Ensure that communities beneﬁt from mines and mining on their land and that they are empowered to manage royalties properly for themselves and future generations.
Conduct a comprehensive audit on land ownership to help inform strategic and practical strategies on land reform, and
Un-utilized state-owned land will be made available prioritising housing
or agricultural purposes.
Hold discussion on land reform, restitution, marketbased valuations, partnership schemes and land administration involving all role players ensuring that the best policies for different areas are designed.
Making FARMING Opportunities available for individuals to buy shares in commercial farming enterprises as part of a programme to broaden and diversify land ownership, enhance food production, as well as protect and share skills.
SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A GOVERNMENT THAT CAN LEAD AND CREATE CONDITIONS FOR A WORLD CLASS EDUCATION SYSTEM
SOUTH AFRICANS DESERVE A GOVERNMENT that ensures an overarching system of world class education that builds our learners to be globally competitive,
is responsive to the socio-economic needs of society
and prepares all citizens to be equal participants in the Information Society and Knowledge Economy with a culture of life-long learning.
A Cope Government Will:
Set a benchmark for ICT literacy for educators and learners to empower them for e-learning.
Establish programmes to eliminate teenage pregnancies.
Provide for artisan programmes to be included in the curriculum.
Embark on a national literacy campaign.
Increase the minimum pass rate across all grades and support the enforcement of common certiﬁcation.
Currently, the pass rate of 30% is too low and does not adequately equip learners for future success.
We need to investigate scientiﬁcally what should constitute a minimum pass mark.
Common certiﬁcation will ensure that all learners in all schools will leave school with the same level of qualiﬁcation.
Support the exclusion of unions in the appointment and management of teachers at school level.
Politically, we need to limit the role of unions, and free teaching from the demands of union members that are often in conﬂict with the interests of the teaching profession, the teachers, and the learners.
Pay and promote teachers based on academic qualiﬁcations, performance and skills.
This forms part of establishing a professional civil service.
Lower the ratio of learners to teachers.
This will improve the quality of education and also create more jobs for teachers.
Re-open teacher training colleges and FETs with special emphasis on critical subjects.
Urgent intervention is needed in maths and science, where South Africa ranks second-last in global standings.
We must have greater emphasis on subjects like mathematics and science, as we have inadequate graduates in these subjects and this constrains economic growth.
Work ethic is another area where our education system is failing learners.
Introduce a multi-disciplinary skills-based performance competency for all learners.
Skills and competencies can be included in the Life Orientation / Life Skills curriculum to provide a learning curriculum.
Set up communication platforms to identify and develop marketable skills.
This will ensure that the education system is responsive to the needs of the economy.
Ensure that Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners should be recognised as a part of the education system as a whole in full employ of the Department of Education.
Introduce Physical Education as a compulsory activity in all schools.
Place special emphasis on training and empowering School Government Bodies, (SGB) so that they can play a more meaningful and decisive role in the running of the school.
Important gap reduction.
That every Municipality has an FET College.
Support the autonomy of Institutions of Higher Education.
SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A GOVERNMENT THAT CAN LEAD AND CREATE CONDITIONS FOR QUALITY AND UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE
A Cope Government Will:
Support the provision and availability of universal healthcare,
In the meantime, pay special attention to the improvement in the quality and affordability of health care taking into account the disparity in the provision of healthcare services between rural and urban areas, the rich and the poor and between the private and public sector.
Ensure that automated queuing systems are introduced at all health centres to prevent long lines,
Emphasis will be placed on preventative health care to ease the burden on health facilities;
Appropriate remuneration of home-based care givers is addressed and that provision exists within the budget of the Department of Health for home-based care givers,
Hospitals should consider the feasibility of ordering medicine directly from suppliers at pre-approved prices to eliminate tender irregularities and abuse, and to cut out the middle-man, which adds to the cost of medicines.
Government clinics should be open 24 hours in designated areas to improve accessibility to health care to all communities.
Ambulance services should be prioritized and attached to clinics so that there are better response times to rural areas and informal settlements.
Professional managers are appointed to run health care facilities.
Ensure that traditional health practitioners are properly accredited and monitored with the primary aim of improving health care in rural areas and recognising indigenous knowledge systems.
Support the global movement to encourage the general availability and use of natural therapies, treatments or medicines among South Africans.
Ensure that indigenous knowledge systems are given space to develop further within the wider ambits of the health care system.
SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A GOVERNMENT THAT CAN LEAD AND CREATE CONDITIONS FOR FIGHTING CRIME AND ENSURING SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR ALL
A Cope Government Will:
Ensure that the national and other police commissioners are suitably qualiﬁed, experienced and skilled as professionals in the relevant ﬁeld.
Depoliticise all the safety, security and intelligence services as part of establishing a professional civil service.
Review the Protection of State Information Bill (Secrecy Bill) so that it is not used to subvert the freedom of the press or to hide corruption or violate the rights of citizens.
Allocate resources to the police is standardised according to minimum criteria that will be established.
We need to consider population density as well as crime trends in responding to the needs of the community.
Ensure that the payment and promotion of ofﬁcers will be based on academic qualiﬁcations, skills as well as performance.
Re-introduce specialised police units.
Have a specialised focus on sexual offences, organised crime, drug trafﬁcking, fraud, etc.
Require that the Legal Aid Board to have stricter rules and regulations for deciding which cases are funded by the state.
Put in place a priority programme for maximum sentences for drug trafﬁcking and killing of endangered wildlife species will be legislated.
Drug trafﬁcking and poaching are two offences in South Africa for which there is no minimum sentence.
Other serious offences already have a mandatory minimum sentence.
SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A GOVERNMENT THAT CAN LEAD AND CREATE CONDITIONS FOR HUMAN SETTLEMENTS THAT ARE CONDUCIVE TO BUILDING SOCIAL COHESION
A Cope Government Will:
Identify land for settlement, will identify legitimate claimants, will provide serviced sites to empower people.
Ensure that community members who so wish are encouraged, empowered and supported, to build their own houses on serviced stands thus bring back pride in ownership, dignity and reduce massive housing corruption.
Ensure that a policy is in place to expand accessibility to housing with special attention being paid to the poorest, the youth, those in rural areas as well as those in urban informal settlements and the disabled.
SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A GOVERNMENT THAT CAN LEAD AND CREATE CONDITIONS FOR ADVANCING THE AFRICAN AGENDA AND CREATING A BETTER WORLD
A Cope Government Will: As Stated In 2009
Continue to ensure that our country plays its role as a force for progressive change for a stronger South Africa, better Africa,
and more humane world based on a human rights culture.
Work with the SADC countries to expedite the process implementing the agreements already reached to progress regional integration,
including addressing the challenges of poverty,
peace,
stability,
democracy,
and human rights.
Work with all the countries of our Continent to accelerate the processes towards the development and Unity of Africa,
including addressing the challenges of poverty,
peace,
stability,
democracy
and human rights
and to promote trade between African countries.
Work globally with all like-minded countries to address such important global challenges as the reform of the United Nations and other institutions of global governance in the multilateral system, climate change, trans-national organised crime, and international terrorism.
Ensure, by our actions, that the renewal of Africa through the implementation of NEPAD, remains the centre-piece of our foreign policy and that our country continues to enjoy the respect of the African masses throughout Africa and the African Diaspora; and
Work with fraternal parties for democracy, freedom of expression, press freedom and freedom of association and constitutionalism.
SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A GOVERNMENT THAT CAN LEAD AND CREATE CONDITIONS FOR BUILDING A BETTER SOUTH AFRICA
A Cope Government Will.
IN 2009 WE SAID THAT WE WERE “inspired by the vision shared by all our people, black and white, of the sense of history as we get a new opportunity to build anew a people-centred, caring and inclusive and common South African nation.
Building a South Africa in which we all, equally, have rights and responsibilities.
A South Africa to whose development we have individual and collective responsibility, for the sake of our future generations.
WE ARE PROUD TO REPORT to South Africans today that we continue to be equally inspired by ordinary South Africans who do extra-ordinary deeds every day.
IN OUR 2009 MAINFESTO WE SAID THAT “COPE will therefore support the emerging unity of all South Africans, sharing a common patriotism, and committed to combining their efforts to build the South Africa of our dreams, with special focus on the eradication of poverty and underdevelopment and of ensuring greater prosperity”.
WE ARE PROUD TO REPORT that we are implementing this noble ideal through our work with other South Africans within the Collective for Democracy where we have agreed on working together based on twenty points which we believe are a priority for our country, South Africa.
IN 2009 WE SAID THAT SOUTH AFRICA NEEDED a government of the people and that there was a need to inspire South Africans to build a better South Africa.
Today we are saying that SOUTH AFRICA DESERVES A BETTER GOVERNMENT.
Today we are reminding you that YOUR VOTE CAN DELIVER IT!
Today we are asking you to see that YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU.
TODAY we are calling on you to SAVE SOUTH AFRICA.
IN 2009 WE ASKED YOU, SOUTH AFRICANS, TO VOTE FOR COPE and be a part of history.
We thank you for writing that page and we are making that call to you one more time.
We ask you to VOTE FOR THE CONGRESS OF THE PEOPLE and turn a new page in the post democracy chapter of South Africa’s history noting that this is the most important and historic election in our country since the dawn of our democracy 20 years ago.
SERVICE DELIVERY: YOU DESERVE BETTER
The Problem
Service delivery is in crisis and South Africans have lost faith that national, provincial and local government can perform even the most basic of functions:
Water services have collapsed because existing infrastructure has not been maintained nor new infrastructure developed to meet our growing needs.
In some places, there is no water at all.
People’s health is threatened and their dignity affronted because the “bucket system” persists.
Money is wasted and municipalities do not spend the money they have.
This is why the poor live in squalor.
Municipalities cannot manage finances effectively creating opportunities for graft and fraud.
Those responsible for delivering essential services are not qualified and rely on overpaid consultants to do their jobs.
Only card-carrying members of a particular party are hired and promoted.
Too many councillors and officials are dishonest and do not care about our communities.
Our Solution
Professionalise how municipalities are managed.
Properly plan infrastructure and schedule regular maintenance of existing facilities;
This means employing qualified people who have the political will and experience to:  Deliver free basic services to all in need;
Host regular community meetings to give status updates and to listen to residents’ issues; and
Publicly account for all monies.
We will also hold municipal managers to their targets by tracking track their progress with regular site visits and spot inspections.
All South Africans deserve accountable delivery, not empty promises.
For the IFP, it has and always will be our duty as your representatives to serve you.
Action Steps
Actions speak louder than words.
Like you, the IFP wants to see action.
This is why we will: Implement the law without fear or favour,
and take quick action against those who do not deliver.
Employ competent and experienced people and offer on-the-job training to those who need it.
Assess and reward senior managers based on their performance and not their excuses.
Take politics out of service delivery.
You have the right to clean, drinkable water, dignified toilet facilities, shelter and electricity, no matter whom you vote for or where you live.
Address the current skills and capacity crisis by rolling-out professional training programmes linked to compulsory norms and standards.
Those who are not interested in learning will be retrenched and the policy of seconding temporary consultants will end.
Employ a zero tolerance policy on corruption, prosecuting those accused of corruption and ensuring that, if guilty, they serve their full sentences.
Partner with the community, especially women and differently abled members, to help deliver essential services.
These partnership programmes will promote sweat equity incentives to those who work to build houses, and lay pipes for water, electricity and sanitation in their communities.
An IFP government will work for you.
We value your dignity and your right to access clean water, electricity, toilets, roads, housing and other infrastructure.
It is our duty to ensure that every South African can access quality services wherever they live.
EDUCATION: IT'S ABOUT OUR CHILDREN!
The Problem
The education system in South Africa is broken.
Many of our children have no desks or books or toilets and their education is held to ransom by unions who seem to be accountable to no one but themselves.
The matric pass rate has been lowered to 30% to accommodate our falling standards – yet despite this, learners will not be allowed to fail a grade more than once before being promoted.
It is no surprise then, that the economy is underperforming because it lacks the required numbers of skilled people
By voting for the current government, we are harming our children’s future, and the future of our country.
The education system prioritises quantity over quality.
It is unacceptable that any child should leave school without being able to read, write properly and understand basic arithmetic.
Too many of our children’s schools do not have water, libraries, laboratories, toilets and textbooks.
Very few have adequate sports facilities.
Too many of our children cannot access scholarships, bursaries or to study further.
There is inadequate accountability for failure.
Absent and overtaxed teachers, together with strike action, compromise how and what our children learn.
Some principals lack the ability to navigate the system and manage their resources.
Many parents are not involved in their children’s learning and do not track or help their children’s progress.
Most matriculants do not meet universities’ real requirements, because the quality of their matric does not equip them for tertiary study.
The gap between high school and university needs to be bridged to ensure that students are able to cope with university demands.
The absence of work-integrated learnerships prevents learners from gaining essential experience..
Many teachers are under-qualified and are unable to teach the curriculum.
FET colleges are not working as they should, making them unattractive to learners and inadequate as an alternative.
The Solution
Our education system needs to be overhauled to meet world standards.
South  Africa’s future socio-economic stability and growth depends on a system that prioritises trained teachers, proper educational facilities and quality results.
Action Steps
To nurture our children, the IFP is determined to: Focus on teaching our children to read, write and understand arithmetic.
Re-focus the curriculum to concentrate on quality and to motivate teachers and children to learn to think and challenge themselves.
Standards must be raised.
Encourage parents to get more involved in their children’s education.
Take politics out of education – our children’s future should not be compromised by politicised unions and governing body politics.
Help teachers develop their skills by establishing more support programmes.
Reopen closed teacher training colleges.
Support each principal’s efforts to hold their teachers accountable and manage their schools honestly and efficiently.
Promote inclusive education to cater for the differently abled.
Spend the Department of Education’s budget honestly and effectively so that each school has textbooks, water, toilets, electricity, a library and a laboratory.
This means implementing the law to vet and monitor all tender procedures and to prosecute those suspected of corruption.
Provide better opportunities for school-leavers to find jobs by funding more apprenticeships, especially for those from rural areas and townships.
Support tertiary education by allocating more money for accommodation and scholarships, bursaries or loans.
Support FET institutions by helping skilled technicians learn to teach their craft.
Monitor all accredited adult education centres to ensure the quality their curriculum’s.
The IFP values our country's children and their future.
We believe our children deserve to learn how to think and challenge themselves and their environment.
This is the cornerstone of a quality education.
Unemployment  Job Creation: Get South Africa Working!
The Problem
Most South Africans are struggling to get by.
Without jobs we depend more on the State and less on ourselves.
We cannot make our own decisions and create our own future.
This puts our nation at risk because it breeds poverty,
inequality,
crime and hopelessness.
Some 7.1 million people do not work – 4.7 million South Africans are unemployed and a further 2.4 million have given up looking for work.
The economy is growing at less than 2%, which means we cannot create new jobs.
7 out of 10 people between the ages of 18 and 35 are unemployed.
Our education system is not teaching the skills our children need for today’s job market.
Prolonged unemployment increases crime, as well as drug and alcohol abuse, and other social ills.
Too many industries are uncompetitive.
The mining industry is in a state of severe decline.
Food industries such as sugar, textiles, tomatoes and chicken are threatened by imports from China and South America.
Bureaucracy and a complicated legal and financial system stifle new businesses, especially small businesses.
South Africa’s rigid labour laws, excessive bank fees and toll levies, and strike action destabilise the country’s economy and discourage new businesses and new sustainable jobs.
The Solution
The IFP will get South Africa working.
We have the experience, the knowledge and the will to take action NOW!
Our mission is to create conditions that attract and develop skills and investment, and that enable current and new businesses to create new jobs and drive our country forward.
Action Steps
To grow our country’s economy and create jobs, the IFP is determined to: Balance job creation and job protection by revising labour laws to allow more flexibility.
This will generate investment, new jobs and growth.
Take politics out of the economy – union politics should not hold our economic future ransom.
Focus on developing skills suitable for today’s job market by funding training programmes, apprenticeships and learnerships.
Support sustainable small and medium sized businesses (SMMEs) and reward them for employing and training women, youth and those who are differently abled.
Create a mentorship programme through which local and international business people can help young business owners learn to manage and grow sustainable ventures.
Establish Special Economic Zones (SEZs), particularly in rural areas, to help communities become self-sustainable and create tax incentives and low tax investment zones in these areas to stimulate growth, jobs and development.
Partner with the mining and related sectors to refine raw materials in South Africa and build our processing and manufacturing industries.
Encourage new and current farmers to grow cash crops for export.
Fund an experience-embracing FET learning programme with the public, private and third party sectors.
Invest in the future of our children by ensuring that within the next ten years every school has one counsellor, librarian, nurse, sports teacher, cleaner, library, laboratory and internet connection.
Our future, freedom and dignity depend on our ability to work.
The IFP will get South Africa working.
CORRUPTION: DEMAND HONESTY, IT’S YOUR RIGHT!
The Problem
To be corrupt is to be dishonest.
South Africa is riddled with dishonest people who through their stealing, lessen our ability to learn, work, and survive.
Dishonesty means: State procurement laws are abused and officials steal money from service delivery projects to enrich themselves and their families.
Those guilty of stealing escape public prosecution.
People are hired based on their party affiliation and not their competence.
State-owned enterprises and departments cannot function properly because their resources are used to advance the political and financial interests of the elite.
Big business steals your money by colluding to fix prices for essential items, like bread.
Law enforcement officers break the law by soliciting bribes, hijacking, extorting, pimping, assaulting, raping and murdering those they are meant to protect.
The Solution
Corruption is a cancer that is not easy to remove.
If allowed to thrive, it becomes a culture that will steal our future.
We, as South Africans, must not tolerate dishonesty.
We must refuse to be part of it, we must report it, and we must demand a justice system that punishes it.
The IFP believes in fighting corruption with a zero tolerance policy.
Action Steps
With your support, the IFP will: Enforce the Constitution and make Parliament review and punish dishonesty and inappropriate use of resources.
This also means guaranteeing the Auditor General, the Public Protector, the National Prosecuting Authority and the Special Investigating Unit have the resources they require to investigate and prosecute suspected abuse.
Appoint qualified and competent people to head the country’s prosecution and policing agencies.
Re-investigate all cases of corruption and prosecute the offenders in a specially mandated Corruption Court.
Fire all law enforcement officers and public servants found guilty of stealing from the State or abusing their power.
Eradicate tender fraud by giving the National Treasury the means to monitor all supply chain management activities.
Professionalise the civil service by limiting the policy of cadre deployment that currently compromises delivery and development.
Assess and reward officials based on their performance.
Ask communities to help us fight dishonest behaviour by reporting it.
As a South African, you elect your representatives to serve you, not themselves.
The IFP believes you deserve a government that serves you with integrity.
HEALTH: LET’S HEAL OUR NATION!
The Problem
Health and healthcare in the public sector in particular, is in a state of crisis: Poor funding, management, and maintenance have resulted in many State-run hospitals and clinics running badly or even having to close.
There are too many facilities that are filthy and under-resourced and cause the deaths of the very patients who should be helped.
Complex and convoluted policies strangle our ability to provide healthcare, especially in rural areas.
A lack of preventative treatment has created a nation in which obesity and lifestyle diseases are multiplying rapidly.
Doctors and nurses are leaving to practice in countries where their skills are better appreciated and rewarded, and too few replacements are being produced.
Corruption, tender fraud and operational mismanagement steal essential medical supplies and equipment.
The system is so dysfunctional that the proposed National Health Insurance initiative is seriously compromised.
The Solution
South Africa needs to professionalise how hospitals and clinics are run.
Proper planning, targets, accountability and oversight are essential to a Department of Health that cares about the people its serves.
The IFP believes that people should be hired based on their competence and rewarded for their performance.
The IFP has a proud history of delivery in government and we believe it is our duty to make sure you receive the healthcare you deserve.
To reform this system, the IFP will: Streamline the policies governing how healthcare is delivered.
Prosecute and punish dishonest behaviour according to the law.
Hire and reward people based on their competence and performance.
Promote and attract people to the healthcare profession by offering proper compensation and working conditions, especially in rural areas.
Train more doctors and nurses.
Take politics out of healthcare – party and union politics should not compromise the service you receive.
Train and re-train hospital staff to cope with new procedures and equipment.
The IFP believes you have the right to access proper healthcare.
We believe it preserves your dignity and helps us all build a brighter tomorrow.
We believe in you.
LAND USE AND REFORM: PROSPERITY THROUGH DIVERSITY! OR MAKE OUR LAND WORK
The Problem
Land ownership is one of the most contentious issues in South Africa.
It pits black claimants against white farmers, landowners against tenants, successful claimants and traditional leaders against government, and homeless people against municipalities.
Land reform policies affect how South Africa produces its own food, protects its food security,
and seizes socio-economic opportunities.
Despite 20 years of trying, Government has made little progress because: It has no plan to accommodate tenants and farmworkers, some of whom are 3rd generation tenants with nowhere else to go, when they are evicted by a land owner.
The ‘willing seller – willing buyer’ policy is too expensive to pursue, which is why the government is threatening to expropriate farms.
Hostile policies force established farmers to leave and farm in Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya and Uganda, boosting these economies instead of our own.
The high incidence of farm murders discourages farmers from continuing to farm.
Government delays buying land that is on the market.
This means farms lie fallow and lose their value, making it too expensive for new owners to make the farm financially viable.
Often new farmers do not know how to plan, manage, and access finance for their farms.
Government resettles communities on prime farming land harming the country’s ability to produce food to feed us all.
Where once we fed the world, we now have to rely on the world to feed us.
The Property Rates Act and the Extension of Security of Tenure Act threaten commercial farmers and their ability to compete in a global market.
Contentious relations between various stakeholders on farms are among causes for farm murders.
Government’s restitution efforts have failed because it does not know how much land it owns.
In one province alone the State owns 600,000 hectares, which emerging black farmers could own without the need for government to pay compensation.
Traditional leaders feel government is destroying their authority and right to administer communal land.
Government does not have a plan to accommodate people migrating to towns and cities.
This means informal settlements are mushrooming, along with frustration,
crime,
and disease.
The Solution
The IFP’s policy aims to build trust and common purpose amongst all land users: traditional leaders, claimants, tenants, farm workers, farm owners and government.
Action Steps
The IFP will work with stakeholders to search for common and viable solutions.
An IFP government will: Commission a full-scale land audit to officially determine who owns what.
Use these findings to focus on State land – to redistribute it where necessary and to support community projects to farm it commercially.
Expropriation will be supported on condition that compensation is paid.
A new owner will not be allowed to evict farmworkers and tenants unless s/he finds them alternative residential rights at his/her own expense.
Empower traditional leaders to develop communal land.
Our government will provide these leaders and their communities with equipment, seeds, fertilizer and training to cultivate these lands.
Extend provisions of the Ingonyama Trust Act to all provinces, in consultation with traditional leaders.
Efforts will be made towards delimiting every portion of land as public, private or communal.
Limit taxes that minimize a farm’s profitability, such as those required by the Property Rates Act.
Encourage partnerships and mentorships with experienced farmers to attract and train new farmers, and to develop supporting industries such as transport services.
Ensure that commercially productive farms will not be used for mere resettlement or subsistence farming.
Encourage subsistence farming and agricultural cooperatives within rural communities.
Build high-density housing for city dwellers that are close to places of employment.
Residents will be encouraged to grow vegetable gardens on the rooftops to provide for themselves and to help clean up the environment.
The IFP believes diversity creates prosperity for all South Africans.
Respecting each other and upholding our rights is the law, and the only way we can secure our future.
The IFP values this freedom.
LAW AND ORDER: HONOUR THE LAW!
The Problem
Government does not ensure our safety and security.
Law enforcement agencies cannot protect us because they are poorly trained and lack commitment and resources.
Political agendas complicate and compromise honest policing and prosecution.
State prosecutors are overwhelmed and demoralised by their caseloads.
The courts take too long to finalise cases; some 70% of all cases are not prosecuted, and most criminals escape punishment.
Our borders allow criminals free entry and exit.
Our prisons are overcrowded and encourage crime instead of rehabilition.
The Solution
The IFP believes the Judiciary, the Police and the prison system need to be overhauled.
Action Steps
An IFP government will insist that the Judiciary: Implement mandatory timeframes for each case to improve the efficiency of judgement and sentencing.
Make legal action affordable and accessible for all South Africans by improving the legal aid system.
Prosecute and punish any dishonest behaviour according to the law.
Improve the working conditions for prosecutors, judges and court administrators to boost morale and efficiency.
Depoliticise judicial appointments and instead appoint people who are capable and have.
The IFP believes a highly qualified, well paid and highly motivated police service is essential.
We will, therefore, support the Police by: Upgrading the current training curriculum to emphasise human rights, empathy, investigative skills, and forensic analysis.
Decentralising how the police and its various divisions are managed.
Encouraging the community to respect authority, and making the police more accountable to the communities they serve.
Funding and resourcing the police service properly to make it more effective, efficient and professional.
Appointing senior officers and administrators based on their ability and experience, and regularly review and reward their performance.
Depoliticise the appointment of the Commissioner and other senior positions.
Improving the conditions police officers work under and paying them properly.
Re-introducing specialised crime units.
South Africa needs prisons and correctional institutions that reform inmates.
To achieve this, the IFP will: Overhaul and depoliticise the parole system so that hard-core criminals and those who are politically connected serve their full sentences.
Introduce hard labour for those convicted of serious crimes like murder, rape and corruption.
Improve the working conditions of correctional service employees and reward them based on their performance.
Develop and fund programmes that rehabilitate juvenile offenders.
Develop alternative sentencing guidelines for those convicted of minor offences to reduce the number of inmates in our prisons and to ensure that violent criminals are not housed with those convicted of lesser charges.
Prosecute officials accused of corruption and hire and reward people based on their skills and experience.
South Africa needs a tougher and more professional approach to crime and its prosecution.
TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP: OUR CULTURE, CUSTOMS AND VALUES MAKE US STRONGER!
The Problem
Since 1994, traditional leaders have slowly seen their authority eroded.
They no longer have a say in how communal land is administered, and municipalities all but ignore indigenous and customary law.
Despite the fact that the institution of traditional leadership is enshrined in Sections 211 and 212 of the Constitution, post-1994 national and provincial legislation has whittled away most functions, powers and rights, once held by traditional leaders.
For instance, the Traditional Courts bill which is hotly debated in parliament currently provides that only a select few traditional leaders will qualify as judicial officers using traditional law and custom and these will first have to do a prescribed course.
Even the number of offences they will have jurisdiction to try has greatly been reduced.
The roles of municipalities and traditional leaders are duplicated and blurred.
In municipal councils, the right of traditional leaders is selective and limited.
No more than 20% of Amakhosi may participate in council business.
They do not have the authority of councillors nor can they vote.
Traditional leaders cannot administer their communal land according to customary law.
Traditional Authorities do not have budgets to work and plan with but are also prohibited from raising their own funds through levies.
Promises by the ruling party that Chapter 12 of the Constitution shall be amended so as to spell out functions, rights and powers of traditional leaders remain unfulfilled.
The Solution
Culture is the foundation upon which a stable nation is built.
The IFP believes that our traditions, customs and values are what define us as a people, and must be nurtured and protected.
Our traditions essentially compliment democracy, but the IFP will continue to work for greater inclusivity and recognition of the leadership role women play
Action Steps
An IFP government will: Protect and sustain the institution of traditional leadership.
Respect, train and properly compensate traditional leaders.
Support their efforts to promote and preserve the moral fibre and regeneration of our society.
Help traditional leaders promote communal economies through self-help and self-reliance programmes and projects.
Insist that traditional leaders promote peace, stability and social cohesion in their communities.
Insist on the amendment of Chapter 12 on the Constitution so as to spell out the functions, rights and powers of traditional leaders.
Our prosperity relies on our diversity.
We urge every ethnic group in South Africa to nurture and sustain their unique cultures and customs.
Our culture, customs and values define us.
Be proud of who you are!
A. WHERE   DOES   THE   ECONOMIC    FREEDOM FIGHTERS MOVEMENT COME FROM AND WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED?
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)  is a revolutionary socialist economic emancipation movement founded in 2013, in South Africa to fight for economic freedom in our lifetime.
The EFF  is a registered political party with 890 public representatives in the National Assembly, the National Council of Provinces, Provincial Legislatures and Municipal Councils.
Since its formation, the EFF has, among many others, registered the following victories: 1)Through various  efforts the EFF  led  the country into discussing the amendment of the constitution
to realise the expropriation of land without compensation for equal redistribution.
2)The EFF got former President Mr Jacob Zuma to pay back money spent on  non-security-related upgrades  at  his homestead in Nkandla.
3)The EFF effectively led a political process that stopped the Gupta criminal syndicate from running  the country’s government and key state-owned companies.
4)The EFF used its Parliamentary participation to table the following laws, which will fundamentally change the economic architecture of South Africa to benefit ordinary South Africans: i.  The National Health Amendment Bill, which will ensure that all clinics in South  Africa are open 24 hours a day;
ii.  The Insourcing of all Government and State Entities Bill, which will result in the insourcing of all workers who provide constant services  to government and state companies;
iii.   The Illegalisation of Alcohol Advertisement Bill, which will end the celebration and promotion of alcohol consumption in South Africa;
iv.  The Banks Amendment Bill, which will lead to the creation of a state-owned bank; and
v.  The Nationalisation  of  the South  African Reserve Bank Bill, which will discontinue private ownership of the central bank.
5)The EFF  used its Parliamentary participation  to  table motions which sought to achieve the following:  i.  Provision of free-fee education for the poor at higher education level, which was rejected by the ruling party;
ii.  Increase in mineworkers’  salaries  and
improvement of their working conditions;
iii.  Repeal of all apartheid legislation and laws that continue to govern South African society;
iv.  Nationalisation of banks and
changing how state- owned companies are managed; and
v.  Submission  on illicit financial flows, tax avoidance and base erosion in Parliament as well as to SARS and the Davis Tax Committee.
6)The EFF led and supported land occupation programmes which resulted in residential land being given to many landless people in all the provinces.
7)The EFF led a decisive political programme that resulted in  the admission of  more  than  100 000  students to institutions of higher learning without their having to pay any fees.
8)The  EFF’s public  representatives  and   leadership  have individually and collectively assisted many communities with: i.  Implements for  agricultural  productivity, including tractors;
ii.  School  assistance  programmes  and bursaries  that help hundreds of schoolchildren;
iii.  School uniforms and vital learning and teaching support materials;
iv. Many labour  disputes  that prevented racism, dismissals and retrenchments; and
v.  Legal representation that prevents evictions.
9)The EFF caucuses  at provincial and local levels tabled insourcing bills and motions for government to disallow anyone to work for government through a third party to provide common services such as cleaning, gardening, security guards etc.
10)  The EFF caucuses  in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay tabled successful motions on the insourcing of municipality workers,
as a result of which thousands of security guards are now full-time employees with proper salaries at the municipalities.
11)  The EFF caucuses  in Johannesburg and Tshwane tabled successful motions to have clinics remain open 24 hours a day.
As a result, clinics in cities are now open 24 hours, seven days a week.
12)  The EFF had  Parliament debate the plight of ‘Fees Must Fall’ activists in support  of all activists who were arrested and remained behind bars or who were involved in court cases or awaiting trial in prison.
13) The EFF  in KwaZulu-Natal tabled a motion for the discontinuation of all contracts with KPMG by provincial government.
The motion was adopted by the provincial legislature.
14)  The EFF in Rustenburg tabled a motion to reinstate 100 workers whose employment with the Council had been wrongfully terminated.
The motion was adopted by the Council.
15) The EFF  in Bela-Bela tabled a motion for a land expropriation programme.
As a result, the Council allocated 700  fully serviced stands to deserving recipients.
16)  The EFF in Modimolle tabled a motion for the Municipal Council to scrap all debt that indigent people owed.
The motion was adopted by the Council.
17)  The EFF in Nelson Mandela Bay tabled a motion for the insourcing of security guards, with a salary increase from R4 000  to R11 000.
The  motion  was adopted by the Council.
18)  The EFF  secured transport for learners who previously had to walk long distances to school in Buffalo City.
19)  The EFF in Matjhabeng in Free State helped 95 workers who had been employed on contract for more than ten years to secure full-time positions.
20)  The EFF protected the independence of the office of the Public Protector.
21)  The EFF has made politics fashionable and worthy.
22)  The EFF has made Parliament vibrant.
23) The  EFF   has  helped  many  people  with  legal representation, including artists.
24)  The EFF fought for the insourcing of workers at institutions of higher learning such as Wits University, University of South Africa (UNISA),  University of Kwa Zulu/Natal (UKZN) and University of Pretoria (UP).
25)  The EFF pushed President Zuma out of office through a motion of no confidence.
26)  The EFF introduced secret voting in Parliament.
27)  The EFF  has gained credibility at institutions of higher learning by constantly winning SRC elections.
28) Wherever the EFF  led the SRC, poor students were provided with free sanitary towels and one meal a day.
29)  The EFF effectively gave land to 50 000 people who were landless.
30)  The EFF helped to remove corrupt government officials at Nelson Mandela, Tshwane, Johannesburg, Thabazimbi, Modimolle, Mogale City and Jozini municipal councils.
31)  The EFF  has built the confidence of black people and confronted racism everywhere where it encounters it.
32)  The EFF is the only party that has a higher gender balance in Parliament,  provincial   legislature  and   municipal councils.
The EFF has had many collective and individual victories in all the provinces and numerous municipalities, some which cannot for reasons of space be included here.
In sum it has brought hope to ordinary South  Africans  and revived their confidence in politics.
DIAGNOSIS: WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY?
1)The large majority of black South Africans are landless, and
the post-1994 governments have cumulatively bought less than 7% of the targeted 30% of land meant for redistribution, over a period of 25 years.
2)Close to  40% of  South  Africans  who  need jobs  are unemployed, meaning that more than nine million South Africans who need jobs and are capable of working cannot find employment.
The present government has failed dismally in devising a strategy for creating employment for all,
and unemployment has since 1994, never been below 20%.
3)The South African governments have consistently over the past 25 years adopted a legislative and policy framework according to which service delivery is completely dependent on  external service providers and  tenders.
Thus, the government itself lacks the capability to perform basic/core government functions.
4)The food economy in South  Africa is dominated by the white minority at all  levels, from  land  ownership and agricultural production to the packaging and retailing of food - nothing has changed since 1994.
1. The   South    African   economy   has   not   fully developed its productive capacity to provide jobs for millions of unemployed people and
is still heavily dependent on the importation of finished goods and products.
2. South   Africa’s   education   system   is   not   well positioned to respond to the Fourth Industrial Revolution due to a lack of high-technology infrastructure, and
the post-secondary education and training institutions cannot absorb all learners from secondary schools.
3. South   Africa’s  health   care   system   excludes   a substantial number  of  South  Africans, and
the country is sadly, still far from achieving universal health coverage.
4. Millions of  South  Africans  still reside in  unsafe human settlements and
remain trapped in poverty.
5. South  Africa has extra-ordinarily  high  levels  of crime.
An average of 20 000 murders are committed annually, and
huge numbers of violent crimes are not properly resolved.
6. Social development and assistance do not deliver impactful results in resolving the massive poverty and inequality challenges.
7. South  Africa’s  criminal   justice  system  does   not serve justice to poor people, and
its correctional services system is not corrective.
8. South  Africa’s energy  plan  and  capacity  are  not dependable enough to allow for massive industrialisation and reliable household usage.
9. South  Africa’s environmental management  does not adequately address the protection of the climate because   of    the    country’s    complete dependence on polluting energy sources.
10. The financial sector in South Africa is owned and controlled by a financial cartel that excludes and discriminates against many people on racial grounds.
11. South   Africa’s   fiscal   architecture   permanently incapacitates the state from achieving basic service delivery demands, and
taxes  are not maximally collected from the private sector.
12. South Africa has trivialised science and technology and is thus not maximising the potential thereof to improve people’s  lives.
13. South  Africa’s international relations  policies  are not positioned to maximally benefit the country.
14. Women in South Africa are still at the margins of economic empowerment and
are largely excluded from senior positions in both the private and public sectors.
15. People with disabilities  are not optimally  taken care of.
16. South   Africa’s   infrastructure    back-log    is  still massive, particularly in areas where black people reside.
17. The role of  traditional  leadership is not clearly defined, and
this leads to abuse of the institution of traditional leadership.
18. South Africa’s architecture of procurement leads to massive corruption in both the private and public sectors.
19. In South Africa, women are violently abused and killed every day.
South Africa is thus considered a rape capital.
20. In South Africa, there is no free education.
21. In  South   Africa,  55%   of   young  people  are unemployed and cannot find work.
22. Data is expensive in South Africa.
23. In South  Africa, black people live on  dumping sites.
24. In South Africa, drug abuse and gangsterism are prevalent.
25. In  South  Africa,  leadership recipients are  paid poorly and exploited.
26. In South  Africa, teenage pregnancy is extremely high.
27. In  South  Africa,  violence against  the  LGBTQI community is prevalent.
28. In South Africa, anti-black racism and xenophobia against Africans are on the rise.
29. South   Africa’s  local   government   is   extremely underfunded.
30. In South  Africa, artists are underpaid.
Their jobs are not protected, and many die poor, as a consequence.
31. In South Africa, women in sports are paid less than their male counterparts.
32. South  Africa has a bloated cabinet with useless deputy ministers.
33. South Africa still has apartheid murders.
34. South   Africa  still  uses   an  apartheid  national anthem.
35. In  South   Africa,  streets, buildings,  towns  and monuments are still named after apartheid icons.
36. South Africa has one of the highest school dropout rates.
37. South Africa has insufficient learning spaces and
accommodation at institutions of higher learning.
38. South Africa still has schools where children learn under trees or in mud structures and/or must use pit toilets.
39. South Africa still has bucket toilets.
40. South Africa still has bogus initiation schools which lead to death.
41. South  Africa   still   has  a   huge,   widening  gap between poor and rich people.
42. ln  South  Africa,  there  are  still kids  who  walk kilometres  to school and back.
THE EFF’S COMMITMENT AND PLAN OF ACTION
LAND
1. The EFF government will ensure that the amendment of Section 25 of the 1996  South  African Constitution to allow expropriation of land without compensation for equal redistribution and use is carried through  with immediate effect.
2. All land will be under the custodianship of the state, for equal redistribution to all.
3. The EFF government will pass accompanying legislation such as a  Land  Redistribution  Act and  an  Agrarian Reform Act.
4. The EFF government will discontinue ownership of land by a few and ensure that all South African land is owned by all South African people through the principle of progressive state custodianship of land.
5. The EFF government will redistribute land in a manner that is demographically representative, meaning that black people will accordingly control the majority of the land, as they constitute the majority in South Africa.
6. The EFF government will redistribute a minimum of 50% of the land to be controlled by women and the youth.
7. The   EFF    government   will   abolish   foreign   land ownership.
8. The  EFF government  will establish   a People’s   Land Council to manage and redistribute land to all those who need it for residential and productive purposes.
9. The EFF government will establish a land ombudsman to ensure  that people’s  rights to the land  are  protected and not subjected to arbitrary abuse by state officials and injudicious mining companies.
10. The EFF government will reconfigure the Land Claims Court   into  the   People’s   Land   Court   which  will  be constituted by no less  than ten permanent judges  in order to speed up the resolution of all land disputes.
11. The EFF government will once and for all guarantee that the right to land of people living in communal areas, such as the people of Xolobeni, is an absolute right, and that no one has authority to dispossess indigenous people of their right to land for the benefit of a few capitalists.
12. The EFF government will develop a new system of land rights registration to ensure that communal and customary land rights are recordable and
offered the same protection as other forms of rights over land.
13. The EFF government will abolish rentals of all residential land.
14. The EFF government will allocate land for residential, agriculture and industrial usage for free.
15. The EFF  government will allocate land for residential purposes with inheritance rights.
16. The EFF  government will  not  abolish  the  rights  of traditional leaders in the allocation and redistribution of land.
17. The EFF government will nationalise all game reserves, particularly the game reserves in Waterberg region in Limpopo and uMkhanyakude region of Kwazulu-Natal, bringing them under the management of South African National Parks (SANParks).
JOBS
As of 2019, South Africa has a workforce of 25.4 million people with the capacity to work.
Only 16.4 million of them have jobs while the remaining nine million are unemployed, meaning that 35% of South Africans who are seeking employment are jobless.
To create jobs, the EFF government will do the following: 1. The EFF government will ensure and lead massive and protected sustainable industrial development and diversification to create millions of decent jobs between 2019  and  2024.
This will  happen through state-led industrialisation,
industrial diversification,
the protection of infant and existing industries,
the transfer of ownership to black people through subsidies,
an increase in tariffs, and
state-aided marketing and
promotion of South African products internally, across the continent and worldwide, with a focus on key, progressive and most beneficial trading partners.
2. The  EFF   government  will  declare  multiple  special economic zones in various regions of South Africa, clearly emphasising that each investor will gain special economic zone benefits such as tax incentives and factory building  allowances if they each employ and sustain a minimum of 2 000 jobs.
3. The EFF government will ensure that a minimum of 80% of the goods and services procured by the state at all levels and at all state companies are domestically produced.
4. The EFF government will ensure that a minimum of 50% of all South Africa’s mineral  resources are locally beneficiated, processed and value added.
5. The EFF government will ensure that all food for local consumption is produced and processed on a massive scale in  South  Africa.
This will  happen  through  the intensification of small-scale farming  and agriculture and
by giving strategic support to all small-scale agricultural operations, including providing trade routes.
All food traders in South Africa will be compelled by law to buy South African food products and
to support operations that produce these food products.
6. The  EFF   government  will   build   sustainable  food processing zones that will supply food items to other parts of the world, particularly the rest of Africa, China, Latin America and India.
This will lead to the creation of millions of jobs across the entire food chain.
7. The EFF government will help communities in the coastal areas to start agro-fishing corporates and businesses, which will be their main source of income and livelihoods.
8. The EFF government will ensure that all products and goods that contribute to state construction projects are locally produced, bar exceptional cases where there is no capacity to produce locally.
9. The EFF   government  will  ensure the  development, protection and localisation of industries which produce basic and daily used goods through import substitution mechanisms.
•These include: Glasses, cups, plates, spoons, pots etc.
•Tiles and energy-efficient building materials
•Furniture,energy-efficientlight bulbsand decorating materials
•Solar  water  geysers, insulation  material  and energy-efficient products
•Washing products and soap
•Electronics
•Basic energy-efficient electronics
•The textile industry including, clothing and shoes, and
•Agro-processing of food.
10. The EFF government will ensure that small and medium- sized enterprises are given strategic support and
that legislation is passed to ensure that key industrial inputs and  services to  big  corporates  and  companies  are provided by SMMEs.
11. The EFF  government will  protect the right  of  street hawkers and informal  traders to trade in a safe and clean environment in all the cities of South Africa without fear of police harassment.
12. The EFF  government will prohibit  the confiscation of street traders’  goods  as a means of enforcing  municipal by-laws.
13. The EFF government will amend the PFMA and MFMA to compel national, provincial and state-owned entities to procure 80% of all goods from local producers and
a minimum of 50% from producers of which 50% is owned and controlled by women and the youth.
14. The EFF government will build and support state-owned trading and retail platforms in every municipality.
15. The EFF government will declare the following areas as special economic zones with zero company taxes and a building allowance in exchange for each investor creating 2 000 full-time jobs, paying a minimum wage and pension contributions:
Free StateQwaQwa in the Thabomofutsanyana regionThabanchu in the Mangaung regionDeneysville in the Fezile Dabie region Eastern CapeButterworth in the Amathole regionMount Ayliff and Mbizana in the Alfred Nzo regionCofimvaba in the Chris Hani regionGraaff-Reinet in the Cacadu regionMthatha and Port St Johns in the OR Tambo regionSterkspruit in the Joe Gqabi regionKing Williams Town in the Amathole regionMpumalangaBushbuck Ridge and Mjindini in the Enhlanzeni regionMarapiane in Dr J.S. Moroka in the Nkangala regionMoloto in Tembisile Hani in the Nkangala regionMkhizeville in Mkhondo in the Gert Sibande regionEnyibe in Msukalikwa in the Gert Sibande regionLimpopoGroblersdal in the Sekhukhune regionSeshego in the Capricorn regionMogalakwena in the Waterberg regionShayandima in the Vhembe regionPhalaborwa in the Mopani regionNorth WestKagisano and Taung in Dr Ruth Segomotsi MompatiRamotshere  and Ratlou  in the Ngaka Modiri Molema regionMoses Kotane in the Bojanala regionKwaZulu-NataluMhlabuyalingana in the uMkhanyakude regioneDumbe in the Zululand region Utrecht in the Amajuba regionLadysmith in the uThukela regioneNquthu in UmzinyathiUmzimkhulu in the Sisonke regionScottsburgh in the Ugu regionMaphumulo in the Ilembe regionNorthern CapeThe whole province must be declared a special economic zone with  industrial  assistance for  all companies that create a minimum of 2 000 jobs per investor per area.Western CapeCape Agulhas in the Overberg regionBeaufort West in the Central Karoo regionAshton in the Cape Winelands regionOudtshoorn in the South Cape regionCitrusdal in the West Coast region.
16. Under the EFF government, township economy equates to township  industrialisation,  and
special  tax-free economic zones will be created in populous townships.
17. The EFF  government will  declare township areas as special tax-free zones
in exchange for 2 000 full-time jobs per investor paying a minimum wage and pension contribution per company.
18. The EFF government will pass legislation that ensures a minimum wage of R4 500 across the board for all full- time workers and will fight that each of the following sectors accordingly receives the stipulated minimum wage:
Mineworkers: R12 500 per month Farm workers: R5 000 per month Manufacturing workers: R6 500 per month Retail workers: R5 000 per monthBuilders:  R7 000 per month Petrol attendants: R6 500 per monthCleaners: R4 500 per monthDomestic workers: R5 000 per monthPrivate security guards: R7 500 per monthFull-time waiters and waitresses:  R4 500 per month.
19. The EFF government will use state procurement as an instrument for driving job creation,
meaning that a minimum of 80% of all goods and services procured by the state must be locally produced, and
majority-owned and controlled by the people of South Africa.
20. The localisation  drive  will  include  all  procurement, inclusive of automobiles, electronics, textiles, food and professional services.
21. The EFF government will pass a policy that 100% of the food procured by the state for school feeding schemes, hospitals, prisons, etc. is locally produced
by emerging historically excluded farmers, and
that a minimum of 50% is procured from women and the youth.
22. The EFF  government will  put  measures  in  place to ensure that a minimum of 50% of the labour force is unionised and
that collective bargaining is prescribed and actively promoted.
23. The EFF government will ensure that a minimum of 50% of all  state procurement benefits women and youth- owned and/or controlled companies.
24. The EFF  government will guarantee ‘one degree one job’  –  The EFF  government commits to  absorb  all unemployed  graduates  and  place  them  into  areas relevant to their qualifications.
25. The EFF government will drive a massive job creation programme by building studios in every municipality for artists to record and produce their work locally.
26. The EFF  government will  create jobs  through  local beneficiation.
27. The EFF government will impose a quota of 60% on all shops to sell locally produced goods and products.
CORRUPTION
1. The EFF government will increase, harness and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of governance institutions to pre-empt all forms of corruption.
2. The EFF  government will abolish the usage of private companies to fulfil functions and duties that government should fulfil.
3. The EFF  government will ban the usage of consultants and project management units as a basis for delivering government services.
4. The EFF government will build internal capacity to fulfil its own functions and responsibilities,
thereby avoiding being influenced and having its employees bribed by private companies and consultants in the fulfilment of government tasks.
5. The EFF  government will establish state administration courts to promptly respond to incidents of corruption with the aim of firing and blacklisting corrupt state employees and private companies and recovering money lost due to corruption.
6. The EFF government will introduce a minimum sentence of 20 years for all public representatives and servants convicted of corruption.
7. The EFF government will protect the independence of the Public Protector, the Auditor General and all  other corruption monitoring institutions to independently oversee government programmes.
8. The EFF government will introduce legislation preventing all public representatives and public servants from doing any form of business with public institutions.
9. The EFF   will  pass a  law  that  will  make  all  Public Representatives and Servants to forfeit their pension funds and savings if they are found guilty of corruption.
10. The EFF government will reduce and eventually ban the use of consultants and project management units as a basis for delivering government services.
11. The EFF government will strengthen the current legislation aimed at the protection of whistle-blowers.
12. The Eff government will introduce new legislation
13. The EFF government will introduce new legislation and other measures for: a. compulsory imprisonment plus community service during and beyond the term of imprisonment to pay back to society any money gained through corruption and send a clear message that corruption does not pay;
b.  corrupt offenders employed in the public sector to forfeit their pensions and other benefits; and
c. Corrupt offenders to receive lifetime bans from employment in the public sector.
14. The EFF government will act decisively on private sector corruption.
15. The EFF government will amend the Constitution to make the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) a constitutional institution accountable to Parliament
to guarantee its independence in the fight against corruption and crime in general.
GENDER, WOMEN AND LGBTQI
1.  Women have suffered most from the neo-liberal reality of the past 20 years.
The vicious circle of triple oppression, based on race, class and gender, has not been broken for black women in particular.
The EFF recognises  that while patriarchy and  sexism are pervasive in our society,
it is black women who suffer the most from gender-based violence.
Up to now, interventions for dealing with violence against women have been superficial, half-hearted and based on the wrong understanding of the root causes for  the vulnerability of women.
2. The EFF  government will strive to realise women's liberation  through a  variety of  interventions, starting with prioritising women when it comes to the benefits of economic emancipation.
These interventions  will include education against patriarchy and sexism, complemented by legislation to protect and promote women’s liberation  and the close monitoring of the implementation thereof in order to realise real women empowerment in society, within the family and at the workplace.
3. The EFF  believes that gender-based violence and related antisocial activities are reinforced and even sustained by the deplorable general conditions of our people;
therefore, a key to female emancipation is the emancipation of all.
The EFF will emphasise transforming the lives of our people in the ghettos from one of generalised structural violence as a mechanism to end all violence, including violence against women.
4.  The EFF government will ensure that the following key interventions are made: 50%  women  representation  in   all   spheres representing economic benefit, political participation, a managerial and leadership responsibility;
Compulsory gender education and training for all  (e.g.  at  school,  work,  within  the  family, church, in the legislative, executive as well as civil society);
Education of the police on gender justice and
the establishment of  specialised law  enforcement units to deal with women-related crimes;
Strengthening    of    education   of    men   on patriarchy, sexism and misogyny; and
Engaging custodians of tradition, faith leaders and other cultural practitioners to collectively find means to combat the oppression of women.
5.  TheEFF government will introduce a special inspectorate in the Department of Labour to monitor, report on and enforce gender parity and equality in the workplace.
Such measures will range from name-and- shame, heavy penalties to the withdrawal of trading licences in the case of repeat offenders.
6.  The EFF  government will introduce a whistle-blowing mechanism for  reporting  all  instances of  sexual harassment, jobs-for-sex and gender-based violence in the workplace.
7. The EFF government will initiate a comprehensive research project aimed at the recognition of work performed by women in the household as formal labour which contributes to the national economy, GDP and the formal tax system.
LGBTQI
1.  The EFF government will aggressively engage in public awareness and communication strategies and training interventions all aimed at or directed towards positively changing social norms which declare LGBTQI sexual preferences as abnormal.
2. The EFF government will amend the Criminal Law Amendment Act and existing legislation to include harsher minimum  sentences for ‘corrective’ rape specifically, or crimes committed with hatred as motivation in general.
3.  The EFF government will also amend the Sex Description Act and related legislation to ensure the Home Affairs Department expedites ID alteration applications for transgender applicants.
5.  The EFF government will invest in a public health care system  that ensures  easy access  to gender-affirming treatment.
6.  The EFF government will decisively enforce the Equality Act and related legislation to end unfair discrimination by government and private organisations in relation to the employment of women and the LGBTQI community.
7. The EFF  government will  amend  the  Facilities Regulations  Act and related regulations  to enable the implementation of gender-neutral toilet facilities in schools, public facilities and workplaces to benefit transgender populations and people outside of the gender binary.
8.  The EFF government will amend the Child Care Act and related legislation to impose penalties for unfair discrimination against LGBTQI individuals in relation to adoption processes.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
1. Youth development cuts across all aspects of the EFF manifesto, because the jobs the EFF government will create,
the businesses that will be financed,
the fee- free education that will be provided and
the social assistance programme will primarily benefit the youth.
2. The   EFF     government    will    mainstream    youth development in all sectors of government and
pursue active programmes to professionalise youth work.
3. The EFF   government  will  develop  mechanisms  to monitor the implementation of youth development initiatives.
4. The EFF  government will  pass legislation  that  will ensure that all government departments and all public institutions employ a minimum of 40% of people between the ages of 18 and 35.
5. The EFF  government will  pass legislation  that  will ensure that all government departments and all public institutions spend 50% of their procurement budget on youth-owned businesses.
6. The  EFF   government  will  ensure  that  all  private corporations employ a minimum  of 35% of people between the ages of 18 and 35.
7. The EFF government will ensure that all communities have a Youth Information and Advisory Centre which will inform, educate and guide young people on possible career paths and educational opportunities available in South Africa.
8. The EFF  government will ensure that a minimum of 40% of budget allocation to government departments in all spheres of government is specifically set aside for youth empowerment and upliftment.
9. Under  the  EFF   government,  the  NYDA  will   be autonomous from any direct influence or micro- management by government in an effective, efficient and integrated manner,
whilst rallying and advocating support for the implementation of women and youth- driven development strategies.
10. The EFF government will integrate and institutionalise youth development at local government level.
11. The EFF government will build NYDA offices in every municipality.
12. The EFF  government will  allocate R2  billion  to the NYDA, with a minimum of 50% of that allocated to companies, programmes  and projects controlled by women.
CRIME
1. The EFF government’s approach  to fighting  crime  will take into consideration that crime is a socio-economic consequence and should be fundamentally uprooted by economically developing our communities and
providing criminals with quality jobs and careers.
2. The EFF  government will  by 2024  establish satellite police stations that will be open 24 hours in a day and seven days in a week in every ward of the country where there currently is no police station.
3. The EFF  government will re-open police and satellite police stations in Marabastad, Zandspruit, Kocksoord, Azaadville, Morula Sun, Melville, Zithobeni and Thembelihle in Gauteng by 2022.
4. The EFF  government will re-open police and satellite police stations in Siyathemba, Emjindini, Botleng, Tjakastad, Kwazamokuhle, Msogwaba, Daanjie, Hectorspuit, Lebohang, Badfontein, Dundonald, Phola, Thuthukani, Phungutsha and  Kamhlushwa in Mpumalanga by 2022.
5. The EFF government will ensure that all police stations are housed in properties owned by the state.
6. The EFF government will ensure that each police station has officers with specialised skills to deal with cases of sexual violence against and abuse of women and children and to support victims.
7. The EFF government will require all police stations to have DNA kits by the end of 2019.
8. The EFF  government will retrain all police officers by 2022 so that they are able to process and investigate sexual violence and intimate-partner violence crimes, in a way that takes cognisance of the short-term and long- term mental and physical health of the victim.
9. The EFF government will determine the number of police officers to be allocated to a station in relation to the number of people within the station’s catchment area.
10. The EFF government will employ an additional 100 000 police officers by 2023.
11. The  EFF   government  will  repair  all  broken  police vehicles by 2020.
12. The EFF government will purchase an additional 7 000 police vehicles by 2022,
on condition that 50% of all parts are made in South Africa.
13. The EFF government will absorb all police reservists and security guards.
14. The EFF government will increase police visibility.
15. The EFF  government will  impose strict rules  on gun ownership and will aggressively recover illegal guns.
16. The EFF government will deploy a special task team to deal with gangsterism and drugs in places such as the Cape Flats in Cape Town,
17. The EFF government will improve the capacity of crime intelligence to include the usage of technology to solve crimes.
18. The EFF government will train additional detectives.
19. The  EFF   government  will  re-capacitate  Community Policing Forums across the country and
encourage the formation of crime watch and street committees in crime hotspot communities and areas
20. The EFF government will give rewards for citizens who submit evidence depicting alleged criminal  activities, including drug dealing, social crimes and domestic violence
21. Racism shall be declared a punishable criminal offence
22. As part of its massive drive for rural development, the EFF government will introduce a specialised unit to deal with the problem of stock theft in rural  and farming areas
23. Sentences for rhino poaching will be increased
24. The SABC must dedicate one hour per day on all radio and television stations to educate the public about crime prevention and community policing
25. All  immigrants  shall  be  registered and  have  their fingerprints captured by the new Department of Home Affairs and Internal Security.
EDUCATION
1. The EFF  government  will  introduce  free  decolonised education for all, advancing topics pertaining to indigenous  knowledge, sovereignty and economic freedom in the curricula.
2. The EFF government will criminalise all parents who do not take their children to school.
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT:
1. The EFF  government will make universal provision for early childhood development (ECD) programmes and
will make it compulsory for children from the ages of three years and upwards to be enrolled in an ECD for free.
2. The EFF will develop a common ECD curriculum focusing on nutrition programmes, book reading and storytelling, and other land-based activities to enhance children’s understanding of their surrounding environment.
3. Under the EFF government, all ECD practitioners will be employed on a full-time basis, with full pay and pension contribution by government.
4. The EFF government will train an additional 40 000 ECD practitioners by 2021,
of whom a minimum of 50% must be women and the youth.
BASIC EDUCATION:
5. The EFF  government  will  introduce  free decolonised education  for   all,  advancing   topics  pertaining   to indigenous  knowledge,  sovereignty and  economic freedom in the curricula.
6. The EFF government will increase the use of information and communication technology for teaching, with the aim of achieving universal coverage in computer literacy by 2024.
7. Under the EFF, each learner will get a tablet loaded with all  necessary  study material, tutorials and educational videos.
8. The EFF  government will prioritise indigenous  ways of teaching, learning and development.
9. ‘One education system, one country’ – Under the EFF government, all students will fall under one school system and all matric learners will write the same examinations.
Independent Examination Board (IEB) will be abolished.
10. The EFF will provide scholar transport for all learners who stay more than 2 kilometres from the school.
11. The EFF government will electrify all schools everywhere by 2021.
12. The EFF government will provide two nutritious meals a day to all learners in all schools by 2020.
13. The EFF government will ensure that there is clean water in every school by January 2021.
14. The EFF government will provide security in all schools.
15. The EFF  government will encourage all learners to do mathematics.
16. Under the EFF government, all schools will have remedial teachers.
17. The EFF  government will  ensure that  there are  safe flushing toilets in all schools by 2021.
18. The EFFgovernment will build new schools with technology integration in the classroom, sports facilities and computer labs to reduce the teacher-to-pupil ratio to 1:40 for primary schools and 1:30 for secondary schools.
19. The following areas will be prioritised for the building of new schools:
GautengWard 17 Sebokeng, Emfuleni in Extension 28Ward 1 Ekurhuleni, Clayville Extension 45Between wards 4 and 5 Mogale West Rand – KagisoBetween wards 1 and 2 Merafong MunicipalityWard 127 Mathole Roodepoort – JohannesburgKwa Zulu-NatalEmladlangegeni (Mange Area) Mtubatuba (KwaMsane Township) UbuhlebezweeRay NkonyaneuMsingaLimpopoNkomo village (Giyani) Mavalane village (Giyani) Biko village (Lulekane township)Boelane Maseke village (Namakgale) Phalama village (Thulamela)MpumalangaMshadza in Masoyi MbombelaLangeloop and Bosfontein in NkomaziAllandale in Bushbuck RidgeMametlakeNokanengLefisoaneNorthern CapeDuplooysburg and Olierivier primary schools and secondary schoolRichmondGamobediGasehubaneGaruele Siyanda primary schoolIkaganengNorth WestBlydevilleBoskuilVaal ReefsMarikanaIpelegengWestern CapeDe DoornsRawsonvilleOp die BergKayamandiEnaknini
20. The EFF  government will ensure that all  learning and teaching support materials  are delivered in September the year preceding a new school year and
will publish a report in  November of  every year on  the delivery of learner-teacher support materials.
21. TheEFFgovernmentwill launcha yearlong #TeachersMatter campaign, starting in 2020, to look at both the professional and personal needs of teachers, including training in soft skills, emotional wellness, financial literacy, assistance with debt management etc.
22. The  EFF   will  build  high-technology  teacher  training colleges to equip educators of the future with adequate technological skills to impart to learners.
23. The EFF government will introduce peer review evaluation for teachers that focuses on development.
24. The EFF  government will  launch  a  #ReturnToSchool campaign in 2020 for all people who have dropped out of school, including domestic workers, sex workers and girls who have left school.
25. The EFF  government will employ at least two physical education trainers in each school by 2022.
26. The EFF  government will  build  two  grass fields, two pitches and a swimming pool at every school by 2023.
27. The EFF government will appoint two social workers per school by the end of 2021.
28. The EFF government will appoint one nurse per school by 2021.
29. The EFF  government will appoint one orthodontist per school by 2023.
30. The EFF government will make it compulsory for every school to have a vegetable garden by 2020.
31. The EFF  government will employ one arts and culture teacher per grade in each school by 2022.
32. The EFF government will build computer labs, equipped with internet connectivity, by 2022.
33. The EFF  government will build a library in all schools without libraries by 2022.
34. The EFF  government will incorporate in the curriculum career guidance as a  mandatory subject for  all  high school learners.
35. The EFF  will  build  new special schools by 2021  with technology integration in the classroom, sports facilities and computer labs.
36. The  EFF   government  will  introduce  modules  about different disabilities and practical lessons on inclusion.
37. The EFF  government will  provide safe and  accessible transport for children with disabilities.
38. The EFF government will provide mobility, technological and human aids for all pupils with disabilities.
39. The EFF  government will provide sanitary towels to all learners in public schools immediately.
40. The EFF government will introduce vernacular languages as the foundation of the education system in all provinces.
41. The EFF government will introduce driving schools for all learners, including  a subsidy  for booking  leaner’s  and driver’s license tests.
42. The EFF  government will launch a countrywide literacy campaign to equip all citizens with the basic skills to read, write and count so as to enable them to become more knowledgeable about  all  aspects of  their lives and increase the literacy rate to 98% by 2024.
43. The EFF government will abolish the 30% pass mark and increase it to 50% and
ensure that all learners who enter the school system are accounted for by the 12th year of writing matric.
44. The EFF government will introduce basic sign language lessons to be taught to all learners.
45. The EFF  will introduce comprehensive Adult Education programmes and
guarantee educational access by adults who could not finish school for one reason or another.
HIGHER EDUCATION:
46. The EFF  government  will  introduce  free decolonised education for all,  advancing issues of indigenous knowledge, sovereignty and  economic freedom in education.
47. The EFF government will increase the use of information and communication technology for teaching.
48.    The EFF will pass a law that will zero-rate all Educational Apps  and  content in all  gadgets, such as computers, laptops, tablets, and phones.
49. The EFF  government will  make  it  compulsory for  all learners to pursue post-secondary education and training at universities, universities  of  technology and  TVET colleges.
This will  be  made  possible  through  state assistance and
massive expansion of vocational training and education.
50. The EFF  government will  cancel all  student debt,
re- integrate all students who were excluded on the basis of fees and
give certificates, diplomas and degrees to all students who passed and were denied their qualifications because of outstanding fees.
51. The EFF  government will establish a centralised higher education registration system  so that students are not required to fill  in their details and register more than once.
52. The EFF government will provide free higher education until a first degree for all and
will provide scholarships, including scholarships to study at overseas universities for postgraduate qualifications.
53. The EFF government will provide free accommodation for students at institutions  of  higher learning  and  will quadruple the number of rooms available by 2023.
54. The EFF government will provide two warm meals per day to each student at institutions of higher learning by 2020.
55. The EFF government will allow all students to travel for free on public transport, provided they carry their student card, by 2023.
56. The EFF government will place a price cap on food sold at all institutions of higher learning by 2019.
57. The EFF government will establish a free 24hours/7days clinic at each institution of higher learning by 2022.
58. The EFF government will provide free learning materials at all institutions of higher learning by 2021.
59. The EFF government will require each institution of higher learning to have a counsellor for every 1 000 students by 2023.
60. The EFF government will make all institutions of higher learning differently-abled friendly by 2020.
61. The EFF government will introduce free driving schools at all institutions of higher learning by 2020.
62. The EFF government will require each campus to insource all staff by the end of 2019.
63. The EFF government will require each campus to have campus security by 2020, with a sexual crimes unit,
more than 70% of employees of which must be female.
64. The EFF government will provide free sanitary towels at all institutions of higher learning immediately.
65. The EFF government will provide each student residing off campus with three gigabytes of data per month by 2021.
66. The EFF government will increase the intake at institutions of higher learning at both universities and TVETs by 20% annually.
67. The EFF government will synchronise the goals and needs of the economy with the number of places available at each institution of higher learning.
68. The EFF government will connect all institutions of higher learning to high-speed fibre networks by 2023.
69. The EFF  government will provide each student with a laptop by 2024.
70. The EFF  government will fast-track the digitalisation of institutions   of  higher  learning  according  to  annual targets.
71. The EFF government will re-open all nursing colleges that have been closed and will open five new nursing colleges by 2023.
72. The EFF  government will  re-open all  teacher training colleges that have been closed and
will open five new teacher training colleges by 2023.
73. The EFF government will require all institutions of higher learning to provide learning materials in the three most spoken languages where the institutions are located by 2024.
74. The EFF government will require all institutions of higher learning to teach 50% of all courses in a South African language besides English and Afrikaans by 2024.
75. The EFF  government will require 10% of all academic publications in the country to be written in a South African language besides English and Afrikaans by 2024.
76. The EFF government will require each university to offer Swahili Studies as a degree by 2024.
77. The EFF government will establish a digital library which will buy the rights to every academic publication that has ever been published so that all students can access them free of charge.
78. The EFF  government will require each university in the country to offer degrees and courses in coding, computer hardware development, artificial intelligence, robotics, the internet and biotechnology by 2022.
79. The EFF  government will  require  each TVET  to  offer courses focused on computer hardware and coding by 2022.
80. The EFF government will provide scholarships to students to study abroad,  specifically focusing on degrees  and courses which are not provided in South Africa or
that are of strategic importance or relate to national security.
81. The EFF government will require each medical school in the country to provide courses in traditional medicine by 2023.
82. The EFF  government will establish an agency to place each final-year student in an internship programme by 2023.
83. The EFF government will establish a satellite campus of the   University  of   Witwatersrand’s   School   of   Mining Engineering in Rustenburg by 2022 which will focus on mining and mineral beneficiation.
84. The EFF government will establish a satellite campus of the   University  of  Limpopo’s   School   of  Physical  and Mineral Sciences in Phalaborwa by 2022 which will focus on mining and mineral beneficiation.
85. The EFF government will establish a satellite campus of the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences  in Ehlanzeni by 2022  which will focus on agriculture and agro-processing.
86. The EFF government will establish a satellite campus of the University of Free State’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences in Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality by 2022 which will focus on agriculture and agro-processing.
87. The EFF government will establish a satellite campus of the University of the North-West’s School of Agricultural Sciences in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality by 2022 which will focus on agriculture and agro- processing.
88. The EFF government will establish a satellite campus of the University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Engineering  and the Built Environment in ZF Magcawu District Municipality by 2022 which will focus on renewable energy.
89. The EFF government will establish a satellite campus of the University of Johannesburg’s Department of Mining and Mine Surveying in Sekhukhune District Municipality which will focus on mining and mineral beneficiation.
90. The EFF  government will  pay a  once-off grant  of  R1 million to all black graduates pursuing doctoral studies at accredited institutions, including  overseas students, by 2024.
91. The EFF  government will  introduce a  scholarship for people  with  disabilities  to  incentivise doctoral  studies among them.
92. The EFF  government will  build  one  medical  training school per province.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS:
93. The EFF government will triple the amount of research funding available by 2024.
94. The EFF government will improve the remuneration and working conditions of lecturers and professors and
encourage them to continue with teaching and research and not take up administrative posts in private or public institutions.
95. The EFF government will heavily invest in research and development and
will  heavily invest in  and  subsidise technological and scientific innovations and discoveries.
96. The   EFF    government   will   support   and   subsidise technological innovation which leads to the development and manufacturing of a South African automobile (car), computer, tablet, phone and other world-class technological innovations.
97. The EFF  government will build  a specialist technology university or institute whose primary focus will be technological innovation.
98. The EFF government will use existing capacity to provide high-speed and quality broadband  to all  schools and institutions of higher learning in South Africa.
99. The  EFF   government  will  allocate  more  funding  to conduct research on HIV/Aids, TB and diabetes.
HEALTH
1. The EFF government will focus on primary health with a commitment to attain universal health coverage,
with the intention of decreasing infant mortality rates and
increase the life expectancy of all people in South Africa.
2. The EFF government will adopt a national health care system  that focuses on  primary  health care, quality clinics and disease profiling through public health care facilities.
3. The EFF  government will implement an immunisation and vaccination programme which will cover 100% of all South Africans by 2024.
4. The EFF government’s approach  to health  care  will be based on the pillars of a) prevention,
b) promotion and
c) education on health care.
5. The EFF will regularise and fully integrate Community Healthcare Workers as full employees of the State who will be responsible for provision of quality healthcare in each and every community.
6. The EFF  government will regularly send doctors and other health practitioners to schools, communities and places of work to test for diseases that can be treated at an early stage, starting in 2020.
7. The EFF government will work with established medical research institutions in Cuba to develop vaccines for identified preventable diseases in South Africa.
8. The EFF  government will  invest in  superior medical research which will explore the usage of cannabis for pharmaceutical and medical purposes.
9. The EFF  government will work with the South  African Broadcasting Corporation  (SABC)  and maximally use other forms of mass communication to produce health education content to be aired on all SABC radio and television stations and disseminated using all relevant platforms.
10. The EFF  government will establish a confidential and secured digital database of health profiles for all South Africa citizens by 2021.
11. The EFF government will build 24-hour integrated post- sexual trauma centres in all district hospitals for urgent medical, forensic, psychological and social assistance,
directly linked to policing and detective directorates, by 2021.
12. The EFF  government will upgrade hospitals such that each district in South  Africa has a regional or tertiary hospital with a minimum of 450 beds,
open 24 hours a day,
with internal medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology and general surgeons, by 2022.
13. The EFF government will build and upgrade hospitals in areas such as:
Eastern CapeMzimvubuMbizanaNtabankuluFree StateThaba NchuWepenerMasilonyanaGautengOrange FarmIvory ParkKwa Zulu-NatalManguzieNquthuuMzimkhuluLimpopoVhufuliMakhadoModimolleSusweBotlowkaMpumalangaBarbertonBethalWitbankAcornhoeckNorthern CapeKurumanSpringbokKimberleyPostmasburgHartswaterNorth WestDitsobotlaMogwaseRustenburgMoreteleWestern CapeMasiphumeleleGrabouwOcean ViewGansbaai
14. The EFF government will build specialised hospitals for the following disease categories: tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular diseases, heart  disease, hypertensive diseases, chronic lower  respiratory diseases and ischaemic heart diseases.
15. The EFF government will pay specific attention to autism
and build adequate and high level capacity to treat and respond to cases of autism.
17. The EFF government will strive to build at least one clinic per ward in all wards of South Africa
and will extend this to one polyclinic per village in wards that are composed of more than one village.
19. The  EFF   government  will  make  it  compulsory  for workplaces with more than 1 500 employees to have a properly equipped and staffed in-house health care facility, such as a clinic or hospital,
available for free to all employees.
20. All clinics under the EFF  government will be open 24 hours a day.
22. The EFF government will appoint qualified people, including    medical    practitioners,   with    adequate administrative and  managerial  experience and competency at all clinics, community-based health care facilities, therapy and rehabilitation centres and hospitals.
24. The EFF  government will  build  consulting rooms  for traditional and indigenous health practitioners, traditional healers and traditional herbalists to use for free in  all  district hospitals by  2021,
as a  way to incorporate  traditional  and  indigenous   health  care practices into the primary health care system.
25. The EFF  government will establish a fund to support indigenous African health knowledge production by August 2020.
26. The EFF government will massively increase the number of health care practitioners and
ensure that they are evenly spread across districts and provinces.
27. The EFF government will increase the number of nurses and doctors in South Africa’s health  care  system by:
I.Establishing at  least one health care training facility per province and
ensuring that there is no province without a medical school; and
II.Sending  recruits to train as nurses in countries across  the world,  including  in  Cuba,  namely 5 000  in 2021,  6 000  in 2022  and 7 000  in 2023.
28. The EFF government will allocate community health care practitioners to all ward-based clinics and polyclinics.
29. The EFF   will  make  sure  that  all  hospitals,  clinics, polyclinics and community health care centres have an adequate number of ambulances.
30. Ambulances  will be locally produced by investing in ambulance production plants in South Africa.
31. The EFF government’s state-owned health mechanical service workshops and  technicians will  prioritise  all machines and equipment in district hospitals,
and all machines and equipment will be in a working condition by the end of 2020.
32. The EFF   government  will  establish shared  services administration facilities for clinics in a ratio of one shared services administration facility to 15 clinics, to manage  all  administrative  services  such as  record keeping, medication management, facilities management, human resources and financial management services.
33. The EFF will replace all machines and equipment older than ten years in all clinics and hospitals by 2022.
34. The EFF government will develop a policy to guide and ensure the provision of school-based primary health care, social work and psychological services.
35. The  EFF   government  will  send  specialists   such  as dentists, optometrists  and audiologists  to all  primary schools at least twice a year, starting from 2020.
36. The EFF government will send scarce specialists to all district hospitals on a weekly basis.
37. The EFF  government will use ICT  in the health care sector for greater efficiency and improved reaction times when dealing with health problems and concerns.
38. The   EFF    government   will   build   a   state-owned pharmaceutical company to ensure the availability of adequate medicine in all health care facilities by 2021.
39. The EFF government will develop an efficient registration process for  generic medicines  to  ensure affordable prices.
40. The EFF  government will  establish a  pharmaceutical industrial zone for  investors with protection of investment and security of tenure on state land by 2022
on condition that they work with the state-owned pharmaceutical company and
supply medicine and equipment to clinics, hospitals and community health care facilities.
41. The EFF government will build a state-owned health care equipment company to manufacture health care equipment.
42. EFF government will ensure that the health care system and  health solutions  are  non-discriminatory towards sexual and gender minorities  and those with varying physical and mental abilities.
43. The EFF   government  will  establish indoor  residual spraying teams on a full-time basis in all malaria- infested areas.
44. The EFF government will provide health inspectors with all the basic resources they need to do their job.
45. The  EFF   government  will   police,   investigate  and prosecute all  illegal  advertisements of  medical procedures or organ sales, illegal health facilities and illegal providers of health care.
46. The  EFF   government  will  follow  the  national  and international calendars and
will produce health material, communication programmes and campaigns that are in line with both priorities and calendars.
47. The  EFF   government  will  use  evidence-based and scientific knowledge to educate and inform communities and individuals on health issues.
48. The EFF   government  will  establish four  specialised health research institutes, namely TB, malaria, HIV/AIDS and cancer institutes.
49. The EFF government will establish medical missions to send medical trainees to African countries to share and learn  from each  other’s experiences.
50. The EFF government will give all hospitals autonomy to procure goods and services.
51. The EFF government will appoint additional oncologists, especially for hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal.
HUMAN  SETTLEMENTS, WATER AND SANITATION
HUMAN SETTLEMENTS:
1. The EFF  government will  provide  quality,  spacious houses to all the people.
These houses will be located within  sustainable human  settlements with  basic services such as water, electricity, sanitation, schools, shopping complexes,
sports and recreation grounds, and parks.
2. The  EFF    government   will   re-zone   all   informal settlements by 2021.
3. The EFF government will put mechanisms in place to ensure that all public servants have houses.
4. The EFF government will subsidise housing finance for middle-income earners.
5. The EFF government will legislate for the reduction of 20- to 30-year housing loans to a maximum of ten years by 2020.
6. The EFF government will make it illegal for banks to repossess houses from people who have paid off 50% of their bonds and are unable to continue paying their bond instalments due to socioeconomic circumstances, by the end of 2019.
7. The EFF government will make it illegal to use houses as surety for any loans from financial institutions, by 2019.
8. The EFF government will regulate the cost of rent on state-owned land.
9. The EFF government will make it illegal for residents to be evicted from private properties  unless a suitable alternative is found for them.
10. The EFF government will ensure that access to a home is made an inalienable right in the Constitution.
12. The EFF  government will  do  away  with  apartheid spatial planning  and
expropriate   land   without compensation closer to inner city centres to build sustainable housing for all.
13. The EFF  government will  create a  housing  access coordinating unit that involves national, provincial and local government
which will regularly report to the Presidency on progress with housing provision,
the elimination  of slums and
the provision of dignified sanitation.
14. The EFF government will ensure that the state improves the quality and size of low-cost houses through the state housing construction company.
15. The EFF government will ensure that the state regulates housing finance by providing housing finance that does not exceed a period of ten years.
16. The EFF government will guarantee integrated human settlements that will in the real sense be definitive of all settlements led by the state and
that will be equipped with guaranteed bulk services such as water provision, electricity, sewerage systems,
parks  and  recreation facilities.
17. The EFF government will ensure that government-built houses meet the standards required to ensure ease of access for people with disabilities.
18. The  EFF    government  will   convert  unused  state buildings into affordable housing for the poor,
offering people long-term, secured leaseholds to these buildings.
19. The   EFF    government   will,    through    the   state construction company, build state-owned houses and complexes which will be made available to people on a lease basis for a period of 99 years.
WATER:
20. The   EFF     Government   will    discontinue   private ownership of bulk water infrastructure and
will ensure that each and every household, factory, farm, school, and public infrastructure has access to clean water.
21. The following areas will be prioritised for the building of water infrastructure:
Eastern CapeNoxoloMfuleni wothandoQaqawuliEmahlabathiniLimpopoGiyaniMalebohoSekgakgapengLulekaninNorth-WestLethabongThonandoMatlosanaBoikhutsoTlhakajengGautengTjovitjo Orange FarmLangaville KwathemaIkangala PhumekhayaMooiplas TshwaneZenzele WestanariaMpumalangaMoloto, in Thembisile HaniNokaneng, New StandSteenbok, Ward 18, NkomaziFree StateThenezen in MasilonyanaQwaqwa wards 10, 11, 18 and 19 inMaluti a PhofungMatlharantleng in TswelopeleMoipatong in DihlabengBaipehing in MetsimaholoWestern CapeEnkaniniMarikanaKayamandGroenheuwel5.  Ashton and Robertson informal settlements
22. The EFF  government will repair all  water treatment centres by 2020.
23. The EFF government will build a new water treatment facility in each province by 2021.
24. The EFF government will employ 10 000 artisans to repair all leaks in the water infrastructure with the aim of reducing the amount of water lost by leaks to 10% of the current rate by 2022.
25. The EFF government will ensure water sustainability for daily and industrial usage by building dams and large- scale water projects with the capacity to sustainably supply South Africa.
26. The EFF government will provide each South African with in-house hot running water by 2024.
27. The EFF government will build storm water drains in every street in South Africa by 2022.
SANITATION:
28. The EFF government will eradicate bucket toilets by the end of 2024.
29. The EFF government will provide each South African with in-house sanitation by 2024.
30. The EFF government will connect each house to the sewage system by 2023.
31. The EFF government will ensure that all schools have a flushing toilet by the end of 2021.
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
1.  The EFF government will introduce policies in both the public and private sectors to impose measurable goals and targets for the recruitment, employment and retention of people with disabilities to promote their economic independence and
reduce their dependence on charity and welfare.
2.  The EFF  government will ensure that each and every public institution such as hospitals, police stations, home affairs  offices, labour offices, and social development offices have at least two people who are trained at and understand sign language to cater for people who cannot speak.
3.  The EFF government will actively and materially support initiatives to organise and mobilise the disability sector so that it can constantly and integrally communicate its concerns and
amplify its voice in society guided by the principle; ‘Nothing about us without us!’
4.  Under the EFF government, the President will assume direct responsibility for the protection of this vulnerable sector and
report on progress annually in his/her State of the Nation Address, after consultation with the sector.
5.  The EFF  government will ensure that all  government buildings and facilities such as police stations, hospitals, clinics, schools and universities are accessible to people with disabilities.
6.  The EFF government will ensure that the public transport system is accessible to people with disabilities.
7.  The EFF government will establish doctoral scholarships for people with disabilities.
TRADITIONAL LEADERS
1.  In order to enhance state capacity and in recognition of the reality that the majority of South Africans subscribe to and align themselves with the institution of traditional leadership, the EFF government will give full recognition to the central role of traditional leaders.
2.  The EFF firmly believes that the received western notions of  democracy must necessarily be aligned  with and adapted to the African way of life, culture, traditions, customs and norms.
3. The EFF government will work hand in glove with traditional leaders as well as CONTRALESA on diverse issues that include:  Rural     development    initiatives     aimed     at discouraging rural-to-urban migration,
The capacitation of  rural-based  co-operatives and similar collectivist schemes  such as burial societies,
Climate change and the Green Revolution,
The abolition  of  all  cultural  practices  which promote and tolerate gender discrimination and gender-based violence,
The custodianship and redistribution of land and the holding of a land summit
Community participation  in  mining  and  other economic activities, especially in the North West and Limpopo Provinces,
The elimination  of  the  scourge of  deaths  at traditional  initiation  schools, especially in  the Eastern Cape Province,
The definition of roles and building co-operation between traditional leaders and democratically elected councillors,
Mass   participation   in   sporting  and   cultural activities, and
Conducting a comprehensive legislative review, amendmentor    repeal    of    relevant   and inadequate legislation such as the Traditional Leadership and Governance Frameworks Act 41 of 2003.
ENERGY
1. The  EFF   government  will  stabilise  energy  supply through maximally pursuing mixed energy sources, including safe coal, nuclear energy
and  renewable energy sources.
2. The EFF government will instruct and assist Eskom to build a massive renewable energy division which will make optimal use of solar, wind and hydro-energy sources
while the dependable energy base will remain safe coal and nuclear energy.
3. The EFF government will expand South Africa’s energy sources, ensuring that all  energy needed for South Africa, including fuel, is processed in the country.
4. The EFF government will give free electricity up to 200 kWh per household per month to poor households, and
all households will have electricity.
5. The EFF  government will  cancel all  contracts  with independent power producers and
will stop the roll-out of new independent power producers immediately.
6. The EFF government will ensure that all communities have electricity, starting in Lesedisele,  Lekoko, Marikana, Tshing, Jouberton, Khuma, Ditsobotla, Kraaipan, Menoto and Tlholakae in North-West; Matlharantlheng, Baipehing, Vrede Ext 4 and Memel in the Free State; and Madelakufa, KwaThema, KwaMkhancwa, Khutsong, Sonderwater, Vuka Setshe, Jabulani  and  Siyahlala  informal  settlements, Kromdraai ward 39,  Mathumbu section ward 23, Chief Mogale New Section, Prince, Chris Hani, Denver and Sofaya informal settlements, Lethlabong ward 36, Sobukweville ward 21, Ndlozi, Slovo, Soutpan Marikana, Mavuso and Mountain View informal settlements, Phomolong and Sizanani in Gauteng
7. The EFF  government will  establish an  independent state electricity economic research institute to prioritise research on energy security and support more than 100 years of energy infrastructure planning, which will report to Parliament.
8. The EFF government will scrap all historical electricity debt, including municipal debt, owed to Eskom.
9. The EFF government will clear all illegal connections and
launch  an  electricity safety campaign  in  June 2020.
10. The EFF  government will scrap all preferential tariff deals that give smelting companies owned by BHP Billiton electricity at below cost by January 2020.
11. The  EFF   government,  through  Eskom, will  invest heavily in renewable energy sources, including windmills, solar water heaters and all forms of renewable energy,
to ensure a good mix of sources of energy and energy security for the country.
12. The EFF government will cancel all indexed fixed-price and cost-plus contracts with immediate effect and
furthermore will cancel all mining rights issued to companies mining coal mines that belong to Eskom.
13. The EFF  government will  compile a comprehensive register  of  all  assets that  belong  to  coal  mines, including  coal  reserves, and
it  will  be  published publicly.
14. A state-owned mining  company will  take over the operations  of all coal mines owned by Eskom.
This company will prioritise the supply of quality coal at an affordable price to Eskom to lower the overall price of electricity.
A state-owned mining company will export surplus coal  and
will  prioritise  exports to  African countries to support the electrificationand industrialisation of the continent.
15. The EFF government will build rail infrastructure in and around its power plants and coal mines to facilitate access to its power plants, coal mines and infrastructure.
16. The EFF   government  will  work  towards  enlarging Eskom’s capacity  so  that  Eskom  is able  to  distribute electricity to all users in South Africa.
17. The EFF government will utilise Eskom’s  capacity  to build a nuclear power station.
18. The  EFF   government  will   specifically  discontinue private ownership of Sasol and Mittal Steel and
provide them with concrete developmental mandates to contribute to the rapid  sustainable industrial development of South Africa.
MINING
1. The EFF  government will nationalise all  mines  and mineral wealth in South Africa by the year 2023.
2. The EFF government will allocate key shares in South Africa’s mineral  and  petroleum resources to the Sovereign Wealth Fund.
3. The EFF  government will  establish an  efficient and impactful state mining company
to reposition the state as a central player in the development, management and utilisation of South  African wealth for industrial growth
and job creation.
4. The EFF government will, through state management and control of mineral wealth in the country, lead a process of rapid beneficiation of South Africa’s mineral resources, to ensure  that the bulk of South Africa’s minerals  are processed and developed into finished products within the country.
5. The EFF government will establish mining development and beneficiation schools in Rustenburg in the North West, Kimberley in the Northern Cape, Phalaborwa in Limpopo,  West Rand  in  Gauteng,  and  Witbank in Mpumalanga.
These schools will focus  on localised beneficiation solutions for mineral resources found in the areas.
6. The EFF government will ensure the rapid development of  South   Africa’s  productive   forces   in  the   mining industry by actively promoting  the development of black industrial and manufacturing entrepreneurs, cooperatives and small and medium enterprises.
7. The  EFF   government  will   ensure  that  the  local beneficiation of mineral resources takes place through a legislative mandate by introducing an amendment to the   Minerals    and   Petroleum  Development   Act,
ensuring that quotas are introduced on the exportation of raw mineral resources,
that no more than 30% of raw mineral resources are exported, and
that 70% or more of  raw mineral  resources  are processed into finished industrial products within South Africa.
8. The EFF government will introduce amendments to the MPRDA  to ensure that the manufacturing and processing of mineral resources are transformed and prioritise the participation of black companies in mineral beneficiation.
9. The EFF  government will,  through the state mining company, strategically exploit the country’s coal resources to ensure affordable and readily available coal
for rapid  expansion of Eskom’s ability to generate and redistribute electricity.
10. The EFF  government will ensure that a state-owned mining company will start operating at all coal mines owned  by  Eskom and
will  export surplus coal  to generate revenue to the fiscus.
11. The EFF government will commission research towards ensuring a sustainable method of extracting shale gas to diversify the country’s energy sources and
build up Eskom’s capacity to reduce  its dependence on coal.
12. The EFF government will regulate and promote small- scale mining in Kimberley in the Northern Cape, the Namaqualand Coast in the Northern Cape, Marikana in North West, and Emalahleni in Mpumalanga.
This will ensure community and locally driven mining development.
13. The EFF   government  will  listen  to  the  people  of Xolobeni and take direction from them on any development that must happen in the area, including their views on mining development.
14. The EFF government will force mining companies that left denuded mining landscapes  to invest in the rehabilitation of these mining areas.
As such, the EFF government will force Anglo to rehabilitate the entire Namaqualand Coast and
create sustainable jobs from mining rehabilitation.
15. The EFF government will revitalise abandoned dying mining towns such as Welkom in the Free State, Okiep and Poffader in the Northern Cape,
and will create mining-based manufacturing industries.
16. The EFF Government will track all ex-mineworkers or their close family members and ensure that each and every one of them gain access to their pension funds.
FINANCIAL SECTOR
1. The EFF government will nationalise the South African Reserve Bank and
discontinue its private ownership.
2. The EFF government will finalise the licensing of the Post Bank.
3. The EFF government will transfer ownership of African Bank to a restructured state-owned bank.
4. The  EFF   government  will  establish  national   and provincial state-owned banks in the following sectors by the year 2021:
Retail  state-owned bank, which will be built from the banking assets of African Bank,
Agricultural state-owned bank, which will be built from the banking assets and capacity of the Land Bank,
Housing state-owned bank, which will  be a new bank, and
Social assistance bank, which will be built from the assets and capacity of the Post Bank.
5. The EFF government will pass a special appropriation bill  allocating R100  billion  to the Sovereign  Wealth Fund in the 2021 budget.
6. The EFF government will pass a special appropriation bill to write off some debts in state-owned companies and
to convert the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) debt into equity.
7. The EFF  government will work with the PIC for the state-owned  asset manager to offload assets, where it is overexposed, into the prudent politically insulated management of the Sovereign Wealth Fund.
8. Under the EFF  government, executives and directors involved in collusion to manipulate currency trading will face jail sentences.
9. The EFF   government  will  lower  capital  adequacy requirements for  new banks owned by Africans, in particular, black and women owners.
10. The EFF government will issue a minimum of 50% of insurance licences to companies controlled and wholly owned by black people.
11. The EFF government will pass legislation to make it a requirement for other companies that hold insurance licenses to  include a  minimum  of  30% black ownership,
30% women ownership and
50% women and youth control in management and boards.
12. The EFF government will limit the number of insurance licences issued to majority foreign-owned insurance companies.
13. The EFF government will pass legislation for insurance companies to largely mandate black-owned asset management companies to manage their funds as a requirement to keep their license.
14. The  EFF   government  will  give  banks  and  asset management companies 12 months to change their ownership to mainly black people, particularly African,
with adequate ownership by women and people living with disabilities.
15. The  EFF   government  will  give  banks  and  asset management companies six months to change their management to mainly black people, particularly Africans, so that they form the majority at all levels of management,
with 50% of management being women and
10% being people living with disability.
16. The  EFF   government  will  establish an  incubation programme for black asset managers to increase the share of industry assets managed by black firms to R2 trillion,
with 50% women and
10% people living with disabilities as owners, by the year 2022.
17. The EFF government will increase ownership of shares in the JSE by black people, Africans in particular, to 30% by the year 2022.
18. The EFF government will establish a state-owned asset manager to manage municipal pensions of all municipalities by the year 2021.
19. The EFF  government will  regulate and  cap interest rates on unsecured lending, home loans, service and bank charges.
20. The EFF government will pass legislation for banks to report a racial breakdown of their lending, interest rates and
what the money was borrowed for annually.
21. The EFF  government will  pass legislation  that  will disallow banks to be transaction advisors and lenders in the same transaction.
22. The EFF government will amend the Pension Funds Act toincrease   investment   in    private   equity   for infrastructure development,
SME  development and
land transformation venture capital to 50%.
23. The EFF government will pass legislation to disallow the repossession of properties that have been paid off for more than five years.
24. The EFF  government will establish a relief fund for people who are in financial distress and cannot service their home loans owing to them losing their jobs.
25. The EFF government will pass legislation to disallow house mortgage  repayment periods  to  exceed ten years.
26. Under the EFF government, a minimum of 50% from development finance institutions will benefit women and youth-owned and controlled businesses.
27. The  EFF   government  will   introduce  a  policy  of aggressive  social and
green  investments
by  all government-guaranteed pension funds and mandated asset managers as well as equally impactful shareholder activism.
28. The EFF  government will introduce a free and user- friendly search engine to trace the billions of rands currently locked up in unclaimed insurance benefits, most of which belong to black people and the poor.
29. The EFF government will close down all illegal money lenders.
30. The EFF  government will  regulate and  cap interest rates by money lenders.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
1. The  EFF  government’s  philosophical   approach  to social  development and  assistance shall  be underpinned by two pillars:    firstly, to primarily safeguard the economic social wellbeing of children, the elderly, pensioners and people with disabilities and,
secondly, to constantly strive to reduce the number of South Africans who are solely dependent on social grants to a minimum.
Reductions in dependency will be announced annually by the President in his/her State of the Nation Address.
2. The EFF government’s approach to social development and assistance will be integrated across all sectors,
with automatic exemption of recipients of social grants from the many fees that the different spheres of government charge.
3. The  EFF  government’s  philosophical  approach   to social  development and  assistance is  to  primarily safeguard the economic and social wellbeing of children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
4. The EFF government will substantially increase socials grants payable to different categories of people as follows:
Grant  for  older  persons  to  increase from R1 700 to R3 400 per month,
Disability grant to increase from R1 700  to R3 400 per month,
War veterans grant to increase from R1720 to R3 440 per month,
Care  dependency grant  to  increase from R1 700 to R3 400 per month,
Child support grant to increase from R410 to R820 per month, and
Foster child grant to increase from R960  to R1 920 per month.
5. The EFF government will provide recipients of social grants with free water and electricity.
6. The EFF government will make it illegal to lend money to recipients of social grants.
7. The EFF  government will  build  multi-sectorial post- domestic and sexual violence facilities, shelters and social services centres  to  work  with  survivors and victims.
8. The EFF government will provide emergency housing, clothing and food to victims of fire, floods and unforeseen disasters.
9. The EFF  government will produce sanitary products and distribute them for free in all clinics, district, regional, tertiary and central hospitals across the country by 2020.
10. The EFF  government will  provide  treatment, post- treatment care and rehabilitation facilities for people suffering from drug abuse and violence.
11. The EFF  government will  ensure efficient adoption, foster care, co-parenting and guardianship services.
12. The EFF   government  will  respect the  right  of  all religions to exist.
13. The EFF government will work with religious leaders, churches and all religious institutions to promote the moral regeneration of society.
14. The EFF government will provide free transport to all pensioners, people living with disabilities and orphans to get to and from social grant pay points.
15. The EFF government will arrange for people who are sick and cannot get to social grant pay points to receive their grants and basic essentials on a monthly basis.
16. The EFF government will appoint a social worker for every ward by 2020.
17. Under the EFF government, all children living in child- headed households will be placed into foster care.
18. The EFF government will establish drug rehabilitation facilities.
STATE CAPACITY
1. The EFF government will retain ownership of all state- owned companies and entities under the control of the state and
ensure that they are all efficiently run and managed.
2. The EFF  government will  re-nationalise SASOL  and ISCOR and
maximally expand the capacity of the African Exploration  Mining  and Finance Corporation (AEMFC) as a state-owned mining company.
3. The EFF  government will  establish a  State-owned Assets  Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) which will consistently oversee state-owned companies and intervene when things go wrong.
4. The EFF  government will  position  the  bigger  state- owned companies to start massive infrastructure and developmental investments in other parts of the world, particularly on the African continent.
5. The EFF government will create a Sovereign Wealth Fund that will, among other things, partner with foreign direct investors with the clear purpose of maximising job creation and
combating illicit financial flows, tax avoidance and base erosion.
6. The EFF  government will  amend  the Public Finance Management and Municipal Finance Management Acts to make it compulsory for all spheres of government to directly provide services in areas that are inherent functions of the state.
7.  The EFF government will insource all outsourced security guards, cleaners, drivers, gardeners and general workers who  work  at  government departments and facilities, hospitals, clinics, police stations, border post offices, correctional facilities, schools and state-owned companies, and
it will employ an additional  80 000 workers within six months of being elected to government, with pension and leave benefits.
8. The EFF government will fill all the funded vacant positionsin   all   government  departments,  clinics, schools, hospitals and provincially owned entities  by June 2020.
9.  The EFF  government will immediately abolish tenders for:
•Cleaning services,
•Security guard services,
•Gardening,    horticulture   and   landscaping services,
•Construction and maintenance services,
•Consultants,
•Professional services,
•Banking services,
•Telephone and internet services,
•The  procurement   of   hospital   linen   and garments,
•IT services and electronic equipment,
•Provision   of    catering   in    all    hospitals, correctional services and other government facilities, including state-owned companies,
•Rental of buildings,
•Travel services,
•Management,  maintenance  and   repair   of government vehicles,
•Building of schools,
•Building of roads and other infrastructure.
10.  The EFF government will establish capacity to collectively and in bulk procure 80% of locally produced fruits and vegetables,  paper, electronics, linen, garments, uniforms, wooden and plastic materials for construction, and
store the goods to leverage economies of scale.
11.  The EFF government will employ all public servants on a full-time basis,
with a clear employment contract and performance agreement.
12.  The EFF   government  will  review and  upgrade  the salaries  of teachers, nurses, police officials, soldiers, warders and all  general workers to narrow the gap between the highest and lowest paid government workers.
13.  A minimum of 50% of all senior positions in government must be occupied by women,
with equal pay, by 2022.
14. The EFF government will mandate all government departments and state-owned entities to deposit documents into the South African National  Archive Services annually.
15.  The EFF government will publish the requirements for promotion and all public servants who were promoted on a quarterly basis.
16.  The EFF  government will disallow the use of bottled water in all government facilities, including state-owned entities.
In the event that it is impractical to use tap water, bottled water will be purchased from black- owned companies, and
women and youth-owned companies will be prioritised.
17.  The EFF  government will  bank  and  pay  all  public servants’ salaries  through  a state-owned bank.
18.  The EFF government will abolish the Expanded  Public Works Programme (EPWP) and
employ all people in the programme on a full-time basis.
19.  The EFF government will establish the following state- owned companies and provide them with strategic and financial support:
•A state-owned housing construction company,
•A state-owned roads construction company,
•A state-owned cement company,
•A state-owned pharmaceutical company,
•A state-owned mining company,
•A  state-owned food  stocking  company  (to regulate the prices of basic foodstuffs and guarantee food security for all), and
•State-owned banks.
20.  The EFF government will compile a detailed list of black professionals, i.e. teachers, nurses, engineers, quantity surveyors, project managers, geographers, chemists, architects, biologists, environmental scientists, psychologists, social  workers, accountants, financial analysts, audiologists  and speech therapists, dentists, dieticians and nutritionists, pharmacists, applications programmers, computer network professionals, databaseand    network    professionals,    software developers, system administrators and analysts, geologists, meteorologists, etc. for placement into strategic positions.
They will undergo a training programme and mentorship in government departments and state-owned entities, and will be responsible for  building  houses, roads and  schools; developing curricula; managing state-owned information technology systems, etc.
21. The EFF  government will employ graduates from institutions of higher learning in government entities, including state-owned entities, immediately after they have graduated.
22.  The EFF  government will pay a once-off grant of R1 million  to  all  black  graduates  who  enrol  for  their doctoral studies.
23.  The EFF will pass legislation for the new government to appoint all directors-general, boards and CEOs of state-owned entities within six months after the elections.
24.  The EFF government will establish a state-owned burial scheme to bury the poor with dignity at no cost.
25. The EFF government will use professional services companies that are 100% owned by South Africans and
50% owned by women and youth.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY
AGRICULTURE:
1. The EFF government will strictly procure 100% locally produced food.
2. The EFF government will build and support fresh produce markets in each municipality for access  by small-scale food producers,
with a minimum of 50% access by women and the youth.
4. The EFF government will lead a massive programme of food production by ensuring that all arable land in South Africa is placed under production.
5. The EFF government will immediately put a stop to the conversion of agricultural land into residential land and  game  farms by adopting  a  strict principle  of ‘agricultural  land only for agricultural production’.
6. The EFF government will build agricultural colleges to enhance and harness food production capacity at all levels.
7. The EFF   government  will  establish and  capitalize agricultural development nodes in each of the nine provinces to increase the quantity and quality of agricultural production in these areas
and create a million agricultural jobs.
8. The  EFF    government   will   maximise  agricultural productivity and
massively invest in agro-processing in all nine provinces through the following initiatives:
The  EFF   government  will  maximally  build  and support the cultivation and agro-processing of citrus products in the Mopani region;
the cultivation and agro-processing of tomatoes in Mopani and
the cultivation   and   agro-processing   of   avocados, bananas and other products in the Vhembe region of Limpopo Province.
The  EFF   government  will  maximally  build  and support cattle farming and the agro-processing of the resultant products in the Amahlathi region;
cultivation and agro-processing of maize in the Chris Hani region;
tea in the OR Tambo region;
cannabis for  industrial and  medical processing in  the OR Tambo and Alfred Nzo regions of the Eastern Cape and
aloe products in Amathole and OR Tambo.
The  EFF   government  will  maximally  build  and support the cultivation and agro-processing of maize and cherries in the Thabo Mofutsanyane region in Free State Province.
The  EFF   government  will  maximally  build  and support the cultivation and agro-processing of dry beans, maize and soybeans in Gauteng Province.
The  EFF   government  will  maximally  build  and support  the  cultivation  and  agro-processing  of potatoes and tomatoes in the Namaqualand  and Pixley regions and
grapes in the Siyanda ZF Macau region in Northern Cape Province.
The  EFF   government  will  maximally  build  and support  the  cultivation  and  agro-processing  of sugarcane in the eThekwini, iLembe and Zululand regions;
maize in the uMzinyathi and uThukela regions;
citrus and bananas in the uGu and uMkhanyakude regions;
cattle-farming in the Amajuba, uThukela and Zululand regions and
timber in the uMkhanyakude and Sisonke regions in KwaZulu-Natal Province.
The  EFF   government  will  maximally  build  and support  the  cultivation  and  agro-processing  of oranges,  litchis,  bananas,  naartjies,  avocadoes, macadamia nuts and mangoes in the Ehlanzeni region;
mangoes and bananas in the Bohlabela region;
peaches, plums and maize in the Nkangala region and
timber and maize in the Gert Sibande region in Mpumalanga.
The  EFF   government  will  maximally  build  and support  the  cultivation  and  agro-processing  of sunflowers and maize in the Ngaka Modiri Molema region;
cattle and poultry farming in the whole of North-West Province and
cattle farming in Taung.
The  EFF   government  will  maximally  build  and support  the  cultivation  and  agro-processing  of grapes and onions in the Cape Winelands region;
increase the production of wine, cattle and sheep livestock and  grapes  in  the Central Karoo, West Coast  and  Overberg  regions  in  Western Cape Province.
The EFF government will also increase the production of potatoes, onions and animal products in the West Coast region and
livestock production in the Overberg region of the Western Cape.
This will also include abalone, especially in Hermanus - Western Cape.
9. The EFF   government  will  ensure that  young  and emerging black farmers in all these agricultural development nodes are prioritised and
receive technical and financial support, and
that a minimum of 50% of them are women.
10. The EFF  government will  unbundle  the constricted agricultural sector to reduce the monopoly of big businesses  and
ensure a more decentralised and vibrant agrarian regime.
11. The  EFF    government  will   actively  promote   the subdivision of agricultural land and
will ensure that our new vision for  agrarian  reform is premised on the sound and viable principle of promoting smallholder agriculture.
12. The EFF government will, based on the agro-ecological conditions of each province, limit the amount of land that individuals and families have rights over.
13. The EFF   government  will  re-introduce  agricultural product marketing boards to ensure that farmers derive the most benefits from the sale of agricultural products
while, at the same time, opening up market opportunities for emerging black farmers.
14. The EFF government will offer tax breaks to companies that invest in catalysing agricultural production in any of the identified agricultural development nodes,
provided that such investment is based on strict principles of empowering local farmers to develop into independent farmers.
15. The EFF government will outlaw the monopolisation of the seed industry by a few companies and
will allow the local production of seed for agricultural development.
16. The EFF government will outlaw the use of genetically modified seed in South Africa until the health hazards of  these   genetically   modified   seeds  are   fully understood.
17. The EFF government will protect and subsidise local agricultural production and marketing and
will ensure that the country does not import what can be produced locally.
18. The EFF government will revitalise and rehabilitate the dying poultry industry by strictly regulating the importation of cheap and unhealthy poultry products from the USA and Brazil,
which has led to the collapse of the local poultry industry.
19. The EFF government will regulate the importation of dairy products and
ensure that local dairy production is capitalised, supported and protected.
20. The EFF government will introduce a law that compels state institutions such as prisons, hospitals and schools to procure their food needs from small and emerging farmers.
21. The  EFF   government  will  construct and  maintain central abattoirs in every municipality to give access to the market on  a  durable  and  sustainable basis to producers of chicken, cattle, sheep, pig  and sheep meat products.
22. The EFF  government will  provide seeds, chemicals, implements, irrigation and water schemes to communities.
23. The EFF government will use tariff measures to protect the forestry industry.
FISHERIES:
24. The EFF government’s approach to the fishing industry will be guided by the principle that marine resources are public resources and
the exploitation of these resources should benefit the public as a whole.
25. The  EFF   government  will   ensure  the  widescale transformation of the fishing industry by allocating fishing rights and licences to small-scale and emerging black fishing companies.
26. The EFF government will provide technical and market- related support and subsidies to fishing communities to guarantee that they transition from subsistence to commercial fishing.
27. The EFF government will intensify the development of black  participants   in  the  fishing  industry  in  the following areas; West Coast (Western Cape), North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal - particularly the area around Kosi Bay, Margate on the South  Coast, Jeffreys Bay and Bluewater Bay in the Eastern Cape.
28. The EFF government will establish state-supported and
black-run aquaculture plants in each of the nine provinces
to promote the local production of fishery requirements.
29. The EFF government will ensure the local beneficiation of marine resources by constructing processing plants in all the coastal provinces and
promoting the creation of jobs in fishing communities.
30. The EFF government will regulate the management of protected marine areas such that local communities are not deprived of their means of livelihood.
To this end, the EFF government will pay specific attention to areas such as; Dwesa and Cwebe in the Eastern Cape, to allow  for  the sustainable exploitation of  marine resources to provide for people’s  livelihoods.
31. The EFF  government will prioritise the regulation of deep-sea trawling to minimise the destruction of marine life by injudicious fishing companies
and ensure the long-term sustainability of our marine resources.
32. The    EFF   government   will   legislate  against   the exploitation of endangered fish species and
will outlaw commercial sales of these endangered species.
FORESTRY:
33. The EFF  government will recapitalise and reposition the South African Forestry Company (SAFCOL), a state company, as the prime  forestry company in  South Africa,
leading  the transformation objectives of  the state in this sector.
34. The EFF government will give SAFCOL overall control of all state forests currently leased out to private companies,
allowing SAFCOL to renegotiate the terms and conditions of the lease agreements to prioritise the flow of benefits to communities in and around these forests.
35. The EFF government will establish forestry development nodes in the five forestry provinces of the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal,
which will focus on ensuring community ownership and control of forests and
the processing and production of community-owned forestry products by timber-processing plants, furniture and paper producing factories.
36. The EFF government will ensure that these community enterprises are developed fully into major  industrial players
that employ thousands of people.
37. The EFF government will take over full control of the Zingcuka forests from the Amathole Forestry Company and
will ensure the socialisation of this forest by the land claimant communities in and around this forest.
38. The  EFF    government  will   guarantee   community ownership of the Langeni Sawmill and Matiwane Forest in Mthatha and
will capitalise this forestry enterprise to ensure it expands its employment footprint.
39. The EFF government will ensure that ownership of the state-owned forests in Hazyview and White River that are currently leased to  MTO Forestry (Pty)  Ltd  are restored to the people and
that MTO’s continued operation in the area is premised on maximum community participation and benefit.
ECONOMY
1. The EFF government will strive for South  Africa’s economic sovereignty premised on  inward industrialisation with export capacity,
the protection and promotion of the labour-absorptive manufacturing sectors and
the provision of quality jobs to all people who need employment.
2. The EFF  government will strive for a South African economic outlook where the state owns strategic sectors of the economy, and
where the ownership and control of the    non-state-owned    sectors    reflects     the demographics of South Africa.
3.  The EFF  government will  de-commodify basic needs such as education and health so that such services are driven by the needs of the people and not by profit maximisation.
4.  The EFF  government will  amend  the legislation that governs the stock markets to  introduce a  minimum number of women, youth and workers as owners and beneficiaries of all listed companies.
5.  The EFF  government will introduce laws that compel huge corporations to directly contribute to the construction of schools, hospitals and other important social development projects and programmes.
6. The EFF  government will drive for regional and continental economic integration in a manner that will qualitatively and quantitatively expand economic activities and intra-trade in South Africa, the SADC and the African continent.
7. The EFF  government will use state and state entity procurement to stimulate local productive economic expansion and development.
8.  The EFF government will deliberately pursue a strategy of economic decentralisation by promoting, protecting and supporting industrial activities, particularly manufacturing activities, in areas that currently do not have significant industrial and manufacturing capacity and activities.
9.  Under the EFF government, the economy will grow at 6% in the first two years and
10% in the remaining three years.
To achieve this growth, the EFF government will take the following key steps: Stabilise energy supply, particularly electricity supply,
through the qualitative and quantitative expansion of Eskom’s capacity to provide environmentally friendly electricity from coal, nuclear and renewable sources.
Stabilise  water supply through the construction of dams, water treatment plants and
massive investment in the conversion of seawater into usable water for industrial and household usage.
Bring   maximum   stability   to   all    state-owned companies.
Introduce legislation compelling all asset managers to place a minimum of 30% of their investments in the productive economy and not speculative markets.
Enforce the investment of a minimum of 40% of all state-guaranteed pension funds, including those of local municipalities and state-owned entities, in the productive economy and infrastructure.
Compel development financial institutions  (DFIs) to finance,  incubate  and  promote  a  minimum  of 30 000 SMMEs with less stringent requirements and joint accounts.
This will be supported through the increased allocation of funds to DFIs.
Enforce the domestic beneficiation of a minimum of 50% of natural resources extracted in South Africa.
Pursue gradual   import  substitution through  the creation and support of domestically owned retail outlets and spaces.
Create  multiple   state-owned  banks  in   various sectors.
Declare tax-free zones  for industries
on condition that each company employs 2 000 workers on a full- time basis, pays minimum wages and contributes to workers’ pensions.
Protect infant industries.
Protect and promote informal traders.
Expand      the     ocean     economy,     particularly transforming marine manufacturing and transportation,
gas and oil exploration, and
aquaculture.
Build    a    new    railway    system     to    support industrialisation.
Expand  SOEs to provide services  to other African countries.
JUSTICE SYSTEM AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
1. The EFF government will massively expand the capacity of Chapter 9 institutions that provide assistance to the people particularly the; Office of the Public Protector of South Africa, Human Rights Commission and Gender Commission.
2. The EFF government will provide ordinary people with access to quality legal representatives to represent them in civil and criminal cases to ensure that their rights are protected.
3. The EFF government will ensure that the correctional services system is corrective rather than punitive.
The levels  of re-arrests  in South Africa are disproportionately high because the country’s correctional services system is not corrective.
4. The correctional services system will be transformed to include compulsory education and skilling for all prisoners.
This will be followed by the scrapping of the criminal  record  statuses of  ex-convicts who  were convicted of certain schedules of crime, depending on the seriousness of the crimes committed.
5. The EFF government will ensure that there is substance to rehabilitation programmes with the intention to properly re-integrate ex-offenders as productive, useful and law-abiding citizens.
6. The EFF government will ensure that no correctional services facility or  programme  is run  by a  private corporation or company.
7. The EFF  government will ensure equality before the law, regardless of class, gender or race.
8. The  EFF   government  will  prioritise  rehabilitation, correctional behaviour and counselling programmes as the fundamental programmes run by correctional services,
complemented by skills development and academic training.
9. The EFF government will strengthen state capacity and
spearhead the training of all civil servants in matters pertaining to basic statutory laws.
10. The EFF  government will establish economic justice courts to adjudicate civil matters involving both individuals and corporations, so as to, achieve maximum justice for those who have been unlawfully mistreated and exploited by corporations.
11. The EFF government will criminalise the use of state agencies to victimise, harass or kill members of the population, whether privately or publicly.
12. The EFF government will protect the right to strike or organise marches.
13. The EFF government will incorporate a functional and effective juvenile and sexual offences arm into the legal system.
14. The EFF  government will abolish the bail  system in cases where the offence is a minor infraction.
15. Under the EFF  government, minor  offenses  will not attract a criminal record.
16. The EFF government will establish separate budgets for all  Chapter 9 institutions  such as the Office of the Public Protector, South African Human Rights Commission, Commission for Gender Equality, Auditor General, Electoral Commission, Public Service Commission, Financial and Fiscal Commission, Pan South African Language Board, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, and Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities to ensure their independence and proper executive oversight.
17. The EFF government will double the number of sexual offences courts by 2024.
18. The EFF government will require each law faculty at institutions of higher learning to introduce a course, by 2020,  on  how  legal  professionals should conduct themselves in court cases in order to protect the short- and long-term mental and physical health of victims.
19. The EFF government will develop an online database of all sexual predators, along with their relatives, which any member of the public would be able to access at any time, by 2020.
20. The EFF government will legalise the use of marijuana by the end of 2019.
21. The EFF government will legalise  sex work by the end of 2019.
22. The EFF government will introduce community courts for minor and petty crimes, excluding any crime that is of a sexual nature or involves a child, by 2020.
23. The EFF   government  will  appoint  additional  new warders at correctional services facilities as follows; 1000 in the Eastern Cape, 700 in the Free State, 1 500 in Gauteng, 1 200 in KwaZulu-Natal, 500 in Limpopo, 600 in Mpumalanga, 700 in North West, 600 in the Northern Cape and 1 000 in the Western Cape.
24. The EFF  government will  increase the  capacity of correctional services facilities to accommodate 43 000 people, so as to reduce over-population by 2021.
25. The  EFF   government  will  introduce  measures   to strengthen the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) to ensure the adequate and speedy filling up of judicial vacancies,
the training of judges and
the qualitative transformation of the judiciary beyond numbers and demographics.
New measures will include the retirement regime of judges and
the role of retired judges in the provision of judicial training and development.
26. The EFFgovernment will introduce legislative measures to ensure the measurable transformation of the legal profession by imposing strictly monitored and enforced targets for briefing patterns of the historically disadvantaged, women and black practitioners.
27. The EFF  government will  give legal  briefs to legal practitioners reflective of South Africa’s demographics, with the emphasis on women and the youth.
28. The EFF   government  will  consistently consult with progressive voluntary associations in the legal sector.
29. The  EFF   government  will   enhance  and   harness ordinary  people’s  access  to  quality  legal representatives for civil and criminal cases to ensure that there is universal access to justice and courts.
30. The  EFF government will pardon all ‘fees must fall’ students and political prisoners.
CONSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE AND DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION:
1. The   EFF    government   will   table   the   following constitutional amendments:
2. Introducing measures  to strengthen the power and independence of the judiciary and the legislature;
Changing the constitutional structure,
including the abolition  of the provincial sphere of government,
Accompanied by a mass restructuring and
strengthening of local government spheres  into a unitary state,
Reducing  the frequency and  cost of  elections  by holding national and local government elections at the same time
to  enhance political  stability and accountability,
Introducing  provisions  specifically aimed  at  the protection of vulnerable groups, especially women, children, people with disabilities and the LGBTQI community,
Introducing a progressive reduction of the voting age to 16 with immediate effect to expand youth participation in democracy,
The abolition of registration fees for new political parties  and
further  regulation  of  political  party funding to reducedependency on corporate manipulation,
Increasing the alcohol intake age to 21 years and
the further  regulation  of  the liquor  industry and anyone who sells alcohol,
Introducing measures to enhance democratic and public participation between elections in the workplace, academic institutions, sporting and other voluntary associations and across society in general,
Clarifying and elaborating on the role of traditional leaders  in   respect  of   rural   development  and
dispensing indigenous forms of justice, and
The repeal of all apartheid laws.
ENVIRONMENT  AND CLIMATE
1. The EFF government will rapidly increase the protected area network to ensure that all representative ecosystems unique to South Africa are preserved and protected.
2. The EFF  government will integrate local community forums in the management of protected areas to ensure that local people are not excluded from the management of protected areas in their localities.
3. The EFF government will promote local participation in initiatives to protect endangered and iconic species such as rhinos.
People living in and around protected areas will be empowered and employed as the first line of defence against marauding poachers.
4. The EFF  government will  streamline environmental authorisation procedures to ensure that the Department of Environmental Affairs becomes the only authority that is able to grant authorisation for mining, property development and other forms of development.
5. The  EFF   government  will,   through   strengthened legislation, ensure that mining companies that have abandoned mines are forced to come back and rehabilitate denuded mining landscapes.
6. The EFF   government  will  improve  the  monitoring capacity of the state to ensure that there is zero acid mine water drainage.
7. The EFF  government  will  officially  adopt  the  civil society-driven ‘one million climate  jobs’ initiative as a government programme.
Through this initiative, the EFF government will create one million jobs
aimed at transitioning South Africa from coal-based energy sources to renewable energy.
8. The EFF government will build a new recycling plant in each municipality by 2023.
9. The EFF government will phase out the use of plastic bags, so that by 2024 they are no longer being distributed.
10. The EFF government will require all mining companies to pay for the rehabilitation of mines that they have abandoned and
for the draining of acid water.
11. The EFF government will reduce carbon emissions by 10% by 2024.
12. The EFF government will reduce the levels of pollution in all South Africa’s rivers by 60% by 2024.
13. The EFF government will require all children to clean their school and the school grounds once a week.
14. The EFF government will require all citizens to clean up their community once a month.
15. The EFF  government will increase the allocation  of fishing quotas to small-scale fishermen and
decrease the allocation of fishing quotas to multinational corporations.
16. The EFF government will nationalise all game reserves, particularly the game reserves in Waterberg and uMkhanyakude, and
bring them under the management of South African National Parks (SANParks).
17. The EFF  government  will  collaborate  with  African governments to drive the Green Revolution across the continent,
underpinned by agriculture,
good production and
environmental protection
18. The  EFF   government  will   progressively   introduce carbon taxes as one additional  tool in the fight for sustainable development.
FISCAL FRAMEWORK
1. The EFF government will maximally collect taxes with the aim  of  a  20% increase in  current annual  tax collections.
2. The EFF government will reduce the state debt to under 20% of the GDP.
3. The EFF government will equitably distribute nationally raised revenue in the ratio of 40% nationally and 60% locally.
4. Under the EFF  government, a minimum of 50% of funds allocated to local government must be used solely to deliver services.
5. The EFF  government will use a build,  operate and transfer funding mechanism for infrastructure development.
6. The EFF government will increase capital gains tax and inheritance tax so as to ease the tax burden of the poor and transfer it to the rich.
7. The    EFF      government,    including     state-owned companies, will abolish tenders and insource all security guards, cleaners, gardeners, drivers and general workers.
8. The  EFF    government,  including   all   state-owned companies, will disallow the use of consultants and directly employ people with capacity.
9. The EFF government will discontinue housing subsidies for ministers.
10. The EFF government will discontinue the appointment of deputy ministers.
11. The EFF  government will  move  the  Parliament to Pretoria.
12. The  EFF    government,  including   all   state-owned entities,  will   discontinue  the  rental  of   buildings.
Instead, it will  occupy government-owned buildings built by a state-owned construction company.
13. The  EFF    government,  including   all   state-owned entities, will use Telkom services for all information and technology related services.
14. The EFF  government, including state-owned entities, will use the services of state-owned banks.
15. The EFF government will remove all presidential and ministerial spousal support.
16. The  EFF    government,  including   all   state-owned companies, will buy all goods directly from manufacturers at a discounted price to leverage economies of scale.
17. The EFF  government will  build  government-owned storage facilities to store non-perishable goods.
18. A state-owned mining company will start operating at all coal mines owned by Eskom and
will export surplus coal to generate revenue for the fiscus.
19. The EFF  government will nationalise all  mines  and allocate  key shares  in South Africa’s mineral  and petroleum resources to the Sovereign Wealth Fund.
20. The EFF  government will increase corporate income tax from 28% to 32%,
with a 25% dividend tax, in 2020.
21. The  EFF    government  will   increase  capital   and inheritance gains tax.
22. The EFF  government will  introduce education and training taxes on all private companies at a minimum of 2% of total revenue for companies with a turnover of R50 million and more,
to be used to fund fee-free quality education.
23. The EFF government will increase taxes on speculative capital inflows to 60%.
24. The EFF  government will  raise an  additional  R100 billion annually through curbing illicit financial flows,
including the expropriation of multinational companies which participate in tax avoidance and
institute a stronger penalty regime with jail sentences for directors and executives.
25. The  EFF government will pass an Anti-Avoidance of Tax Act to illegalise all forms of tax avoidance and
will ensure that all  those found  to  be engaged in  tax avoidance and tax base erosion are imprisoned.
26. The EFF will establish a multi-disciplinary cross-agency task team, independent from the South African Revenue Services  (SARS) and National Treasury, which will include officials from the National Treasury, Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and SARS, to gather and publish reliable statistical data on illicit financial flows.
27. The EFF government will launch a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into illicit financial flows since 1990, headed by a Constitutional Court Judge, by 2020.
The Commission will include local and international experts on illicit financial flows and it will make specific recommendations in respect of past and future transgressions, prevention, detection and  the impositionof   suitable   punitive   and   restorative measures.
28. The   EFF    government   will   adopt   a   long-term infrastructure financing model.
29. The EFF government will combine  all  Municipalities’ Pension Funds into one Municipal Employees Pension Fund (MEPF),
with an investment mandate that focuses on Municipal Infrastructure Development.
30. The EFF government will reduce the cabinet to half of its current size and
proscribe the positions of deputy ministers.
31. The EFF government will reduce VAT to 14%.
32. The  EFF    government  will   highlight   employment targeting as the primary measure of fiscal.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. The EFF government will use science, technology and innovation not as ends in themselves but to produce the knowledge, information, skills and talent needed to support, facilitate and fuel the development and growth of  strategic industries  and  sectors of  the economy and society
which are central to the overall independence and sovereignty of South  African and African people.
2. In order to do this, the EFF government will focus on: • Knowledge acquisition and deepening,
•Knowledge creation,
•Knowledge transfer,
•Developing and nurturing a culture of innovation, and
•Ensuring that research and development spending accounts for 2.5% of GDP by 2024.
3. The EFF government will connect all schools to high- speed fibre by 2023.
4. The EFF government will build and upgrade computer and science labs and
provide all necessary equipment to every school,
creating 5 000 jobs,
2 500 of which will be reserved for women, by 2024.
5. The EFF government will integrate critical thinking and problem solving into every part of the school curriculum by 2024.
6. The  EFF   government  will   integrate  the   use  of technology across the curriculum,
and into teaching methods, by 2023.
7. The EFF government will include robotics and coding into the curricula at all schools by 2023.
8. The  EFF   government  will  increase  the  intake  at institutions of higher learning at both universities and TVETs on an annual basis.
9. The EFF  government will synchronise the goals and needs of  the economy with the number  of  places available at each institution of higher learning.
10. The EFF  government will incentivise the studying of science, engineering, software development, robotics and artificial intelligence.
11. The EFF  government will  connect all  institutions  of higher learning to high-speed fibre by 2023.
12. The EFF government will provide each student with a laptop by 2024.
13. The EFF government will fast-track the digitisation of institutions of higher learning according to annual targets.
14. The  EFF   government  will   integrate  the   use  of technology into  all  fields  of  study at institutions  of higher learning by 2022.
15. The EFF  government will  support  and  protect the following industries,
while incentivising and encouraging innovation and  the use of  technology within these industries,
thereby creating jobs:
•Agriculture and animal husbandry
•Health care and pharmaceuticals
•Energy
•Water and sanitation
•Environment
•Transport, aerospace and drones
•Biotechnology
•Mining
•Information and communications technology
•Industrialisation and manufacturing
•Robotics, artificial intelligence and big data
•Defence and cybersecurity.
16. The EFF government will build and establish two seed banks by 2024,
creating 3 000 jobs,
1 600 of which will be reserved for women and the youth.
17. The  EFF   government  will  build  three  agricultural research and development centres, focused on animal husbandry, seeds, and soil and irrigation  by 2023,
creating 7 000 jobs,
3 600 of which will be reserved for women and the youth.
18. The EFF government will train 25 000 farm workers by 2022 on how to operate new farming machinery and computers.
19. The EFF  government will establish a digital  e-filing system linking the entire South African health care system and all records by 2021,
creating 4 000 jobs,
2 500 of which will be reserved for women and the youth.
20. The   EFF     government   will    establish   a    state pharmaceutical research and development centre focusing on biotechnology and generic pharmaceuticals, tailored to the pharmaceutical needs of South Africa and the continent, by 2022,
creating 2 000 jobs,
1 000 of which will be reserved for women and the youth.
21. The EFF government will establish two new research and development centres focused on developing cures and treatments for communicable and non- communicable diseases,
integrating  the use of traditional forms of medicine, by 2023,
creating 2 500 new jobs,
1 300 of which will be reserved for women and the youth.
22. The EFF  government will  establish a  research and development centre focused on integrating artificial intelligence and  robotics into  the health system  by 2024,
creating  1 500  jobs,
800  of  which will  be reserved for women and the youth.
23. The EFF  government will  establish a  research and development centre focused on developing technology in the renewable energy sector and batteries by 2022,
creating  2 500  new jobs,
1 300  of  which will  be reserved for women and the youth.
24. The EFF  government will  establish a  research and development centre focused on  nuclear technology and
the disposal of nuclear waste by 2023,
creating 2 500 new jobs,
1 200 of which will be reserved for women and the youth.
25. The EFF  government will  establish a  research and development centre focused on oil and gas refining and
the development of clean coal and oil  use by 2024,
creating 2 000  jobs,
1 000  of which will be reserved for women and the youth.
26. The EFF  government will  increase the  number  of artisans and engineers employed by Eskom at a 10% annual rate over the next five years,
with 60% of all new artisans and engineers employed being women and the youth.
27. The EFF government will establish two research and development centres focused on sewage, dam development  and  irrigation,   and  desalination  by 2022,
creating 3 500  jobs,
1 800  of which will be reserved for women and the youth.
28. The EFF  government will  increase the  number  of artisans and engineers employed by the Department of Water and Sanitation at a 10% annual rate over the next five years,
with 60% of all new artisans and engineers employed being women and the youth.
29. The  EFF   government  will   employ  250   software developers,
125 of whom will be women,
to provide AI-driven solutions to water management and water scarcity by 2022.
30. The EFF government will complete the digitisation of South   Africa’s  railway   network   by  2023,
creating 2 500 jobs.
31. The  EFF   government  will   employ  350   software developers,
175 of whom will be women,
by 2022 to provide AI-driven traffic solutions for South African cities and rail networks.
32. The EFF  government will expand the mandate and budget of the South African National Space Agency,
creating 7 500 jobs by 2023.
33. The EFF  government will  establish a  research and development centre by 2024,  which will be accountable to the Departments of Defence and Transport and will focus on drone development,
creating 7 500 jobs,
4 000 of which will be reserved for women.
34. The  EFF   government  will  upskill  50 000   miners,
20 000 of whom will be women, by 2024
so that they have the skills to operate new mining machinery and computer systems.
35. The EFF government will establish a new research and development centre by 2022, focusing on new uses for minerals  and mineral beneficiation, new methods of mining, and safer methods of mining,
creating 10 000 jobs,
5 000 of which will be reserved for women and the youth.
36. The EFF government will employ 20 000 new people in cybersecurity,
10 000 of whom will be women and the youth, by 2024.
37. The  EFF   government  will   employ  300   software developers,
150  of  whom will  be women and  the youth,
to provide AI-driven solutions to policing and the allocation of police resources in South  Africa by 2022.
38. The EFF  government will  facilitate, coordinate and incentivise vertical and  horizontal  cooperation  and coordination between institutions of higher learning, research and development centres, state-owned enterprises, and productive and strategic sectors of the economy.
39. The EFF government will coordinate and facilitate the transfer of  skills from  the education system  to  the strategic and productive areas of the economy.
40. The EFF government will encourage and incentivise the application of research and development findings to the various production processes of SOEs and private companies.
41. The EFF government will establish and fund research and development units at all SOEs by 2023,
creating 12 000  jobs,
6 000  of  which will  be  reserved for women.
42. The EFF government will require SOEs to spend at least 2% of their budget on research and development by 2022.
43. The EFF government will fast-track the digitisation of all SOEs.
44. The EFF government will encourage the use of artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced technologies  of the Fourth Industrial Revolution at SOEs.
45. The EFF government will establish artificial intelligence, robotics and  biotechnology SOEs,
creating 45 000 jobs by 2024,
23 000  of which will be reserved for women and the youth.
46. The  EFF   government  will   protect  and   subsidise companies focusing on advanced Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.
47. The EFF  government will  provide tax incentives  for companies in strategic sectors of the economy that allocate more than 2.5% of their budget to research and development.
48. The EFF government will both regulate and nationalise telecommunications companies.
49. The EFF government will significantly reduce the cost of data.
50. The EFF  government will  roll  out  fibre  across  the country with the goal of universal internet access by 2024,
creating 25 000 jobs,
12 500 of which will be reserved for women.
51. The EFF government will fast-track the migration from analogue to digital transmission.
52. The EFF government will subsidise the production of ICT hardware, ICT software, robots, artificial intelligence and biotechnologies.
53. The EFF government will use state financial institutions and SOEs to invest in ICT infrastructure.
54. The EFF government will launch five communication and GPS satellites  belonging to the state or SOEs by 2023.
55. The EFF  government will  require each department, SOE and municipality to submit an annual report detailing how they have innovated and used technologies, particularly advanced Fourth Industrial Revolution  technologies, to improve service delivery and meet their mandates.
56. Research  and   development AND 8%  on  prescribed developmental goals set  by  the  state  as  a  sole  or majority shareholder.
57. The EFF will roll out free Wi-Fi in all schools,institutions of higher learning and  public parks.
SPORTS, ARTS, CULTURE AND RECREATION
1. The EFF government will remove apartheid statues and
take them to a  dedicated apartheid museum as a reminder  to  future  generations  under  the  theme: ‘NEVER AGAIN’.
2. The EFF  government will  immediately  change  the National Anthem to the original Nkosi Sikelela I Afrika.
3. The EFF  government, through PANSALB,  will ensure that every child is able to speak, read and write in their mother tongue before matriculation.
4. The EFF  government will establish a statutory body which will regulate and professionalise the arts and culture industry.
5. The EFF will facilitate the provision of financial services specific to the creative industry.
6. The EFF will deal decisively with the culture of artists’ paying bribes to radio DJs to play their music.
7. The EFF government will commission the writing of a proper history of South Africa.
8. The EFF  government  will  build  two  multi-purpose indoor sports facilities in each district municipality and
five in each metropolitan municipality.
Each facility will include gym equipment, an indoor pool, an indoor hall comprising six separate pitches which can be used for various sports, and shower facilities, by 2023.
9. The EFF government will build outdoor gyms in each ward.
10. The EFF government will build a minimum of one park in each ward.
11. The EFF government will subsidise the broadcasting of all South Africa’s national sport codes on the SABC.
12. The EFF government will immediately require sponsors of sporting codes to split the money equally between femaleand maleteams,particularlyBanyana Banyana.
13. The EFF  government will  immediately increase the game and training day salaries of all female sports teams representing the country by 200%.
14. The EFF government will change the names of every road, natural attraction, building or any other asset where the name has any direct or indirect link to the colonial or apartheid period by the end of 2019.
15. The EFF  government will commission South  African sculptors to build statues memorialising African and anti-colonial  heroes,
with 50% of  all  statues  to be commissioned to be sculpted by women and the youth.
16. The EFF  government will refurbish and revitalise all relevant museums and memorials  in the country by 2022.
17. The EFF government will require radio stations to play a minimum of 75% African content by 2024.
18. The EFF government will require all TV stations  to air a minimum of 75% African content by 2024.
19. The EFF government will build a small outdoor mini- theatre in each ward in the country by 2022.
20. The EFF  government will  build  an arts and  culture centre in each ward in the country by 2022.
21. The EFF government will establish a state non-profit music distribution and production company by 2023, which local artists can use to produce and distribute their music,
which will also provide legal services to artists so that they can reclaim ownership of  their material from record companies.
22. The EFF government will only hire local artists for state events,
with  prioritisation  of  up-and-coming  artists over those that are already established.
23. The EFF government will loan recording and musical equipment to artists free of charge by 2021.
24. The EFF  government will commission local artists to paint and beautify government facilities  and public spaces such as schools, hospitals, parks and buildings.
25. The EFF government will require art galleries to exhibit and sell a minimum of 90% locally produced art.
26. The EFF government will allocate a minimum of 75% of the Department of Arts and  Culture’s budget to the support and development of local artists.
27. The EFF government will hold monthly festivals in each district municipality, allowing local unknown artists to showcase their talents to the public.
28. The EFF  will establish a fund to support all African writers,
in particular women, by 2020.
29. The EFF  will  turn the Pan South  African Language Board into an institution supporting democracy
with a budget to develop all indigenous languages.
30. The EFF government will buy 3 000 copies of every book published by a South African author to be distributed to libraries across the country.
31. The EFF government will build a community library in every ward by 2023.
32. The EFF government will establish a fund to support the production of local films.
33. The EFF government will establish a central database on which all artists can publish their portfolios.
34. The EFF government will subsidise the distribution of local films by 2020.
35. The EFF will require local film producers to only employ local actors by 2023.
36. The EFF will require any studio or company that wants to film in South Africa to use 95% local actors by 2023.
37. The EFF will require any studio or company that wants to film in South Africa to engage in some form of co- production, with skills hand-over.
38. The EFF  will introduce seven more channels on the SABC which will be solely dedicated to the airing of South  African and African TV series and movies by 2022.
39. The EFF will require all advertisers to use 90% local music.
40. The EFF will require the co-production of Telenovelas by white and black-owned production companies,
with all projects to be handed over to black-owned production companies by 2024.
41. The EFF government will release a once-off grant and partnerwith  the  insurance  industry  to  start   an insurance company for the creative industry.
42. The EFF government will make sure that broadcasters pay artists their royalties on time, including historical claims.
43. The EFF  government will build recording studios for artists in every municipality.
44. The EFF government will ensure that artists own their intellectual property.
45. The EFF  government will establish a state organ to replace SAMRO and perform the duties of SAMRO for artists to get their money on time.
46. The EFF  government will  transform the advertising space.
47. EFF   government  will  work  with  artists  to  create programmes for the fashion, photography and design industries etc. and
will use existing school and community centre infrastructure as places of training to offer various skills to the youth through extramural activities.
48. The EFF government will create incubator programmes for artists to offer them training in various aspects of running a commercially sustainable creative business.
49. The EFF government will arrest anyone who is found selling pirated material and will also pass legislation for harsher sentences.
50. The EFF government will develop a central, transparent and accessible system for artists to apply for funding and
consolidate all government funding into one funding system to achieve maximum impact.
51. The EFF   government  will  build  an  additional  six theatres in Limpopo Province (Polokwane), the Eastern Cape (Mthatha and Port Elizabeth), North-West (Mafikeng), Mpumalanga (Nelspruit) and the Northern Cape (Kimberley).
52. The EFF government will establish functional and well- funded local arts and culture councils in all provinces for the development of arts and culture at a provincial level.
53. The EFF government will establish an arts and culture regulatory body regulated by an act of Parliament for all creative arts bodies to register with and be regulated.
All of this is with the aim of professionalising the creative industry.
54. The EFF government, working with the University of the Witwatersrand, University of Cape Town, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of Fort Hare, University of Limpopo, University of Pretoria and University of the Free State, will establish a national control body to acknowledge and recognise prior learning and practice in the creative industry to empower artists and give them qualifications.
55. The EFF government will take creative arts practitioners with experience and place them in schools to develop the curriculum and
to teach and peer review each other.
56. The EFF government will pass legislation for 80% of all adverts that are aired by public broadcasters to use local music and African artists,
a 50% minimum of which must be owned by women and the youth.
57. The EFF government will establish a directorate within the Department of Arts and Culture, and
employ creative industry practitioners, to offer practitioners in the creative industry on a monthly basis:
Assistance with contracts management, and Assistance  with  applications  for  grants,  tax incentives and infrastructure subsidies.
58. The EFF  government will  establish a  creative arts marketing board to assist all practitioners to market their work in Africa and the world.
59. The EFF government will abolish tenders for festivals and
will  subsidise  the hosting of  festivals in  each province annually.
60. The EFF government will pass legislation to prosecute all music compilers at SABC Radio who get paid by/demand payment from artists for them to play their music in their radio stations.
61. The EFF government will require sporting codes to split their budgets equally between female and male teams by the end of 2019,  starting with Banyana Banyana and Bafana Bafana.
62. The   EFF    government   will    release   a   once-off capitalisation grant of R10 billion and partner with the insurance industry and the PIC to design insurance and other financial services products specifically designed for the arts, culture, entertainment, film and music and sport sectors
63. The EFF government will outlaw payola,
introduce high penalties and
design regulations aimed at giving equitable airplay for new local music and films.
All radio stations will be compelled to play a minimum of 51% of local music per day
64. The EFF government will pay royalties owed to living and departed musicians, including processing historical claims
65. The EFF government will replace SAMRO with a state- owned entity which will be tasked with looking after the financial interests of musicians, songwriters and composers and to protect their intellectual property.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
1. The EFF government will own 60% of Telkom.
2. The  EFF   will  ensure  the  diversification  of  media ownership and transform the media.
3. A minimum of 50% of government advertisements will be spent on  black-owned companies,
in  particular women and youth companies.
4. The  EFF   government  will  allocate  spectrum in  a manner that seeks to drive transformation of the communications  sector,
break  the concentration of control,
drive industrialisation, and
prioritise state- ownedcompanies     which    have    the    highest representation of black people, women and the youth.
5. The EFF will assist black and
particularly black female- owned telecommunications companies to enter the market
in partnership with the state.
6. The EFF  government will  roll  out  fibre  across  the country with the goal of universal internet access by 2024,
creating 75 000 jobs,
38 000 of which will be reserved for women.
7. The EFF government will fast-track the migration from analogue  to  digital  transmission so that migration takes place by the end of 2019.
8. The EFF  government will  provide free Wi-Fi for  all state-owned public transport  systems, clinics, hospitals, government buildings, schools and institutions of higher learning.
9. The EFF government will establish free Wi-Fi parks in wards.
10. The EFF  government will  establish a  subsidiary of Telkom which will specifically focus on the production of  ICT  hardware  and  software by  2023,
creating 15 000  jobs,
7 500  of  which will  be  reserved for women.
11. The EFF  government will establish an ICT hardware manufacturing hub in Ekurhuleni focusing on computers and micro-chip development and manufacturing by 2024,
creating 45 000 jobs,
25 000 of which will be reserved for women.
12. The EFF  government will  establish an ICT  software development hub in Cape Town by 2024,
creating 40 000  jobs,
20 000  of which will be reserved for women.
13. The EFF  government will  establish an ICT  software development hub  in  eThekwini by  2024,
creating 40 000  jobs,
20 000  of which will be reserved for women.
14. The EFF  government will  require each government department, SOE and municipality to have an ICT plan by 2020, detailing how they will digitalise and migrate to paperless facilities, processes and services.
15. The  EFF   government  will  require  all  government workers to undergo basic ICT training courses.
16. The EFF government will by the year 2020, establish a well-resourced state social media unit which will communicate all government announcements, programmes   and  decisions,
creating  8 000   jobs,
4 000 of which will be reserved for women.
17. The EFF government will require each municipality to have a social media team to deal with service delivery queries,
with each team having a minimum of two full- time employees, by 2021.
18. The EFF government will require Telkom to spend 25% of its annual profits on ICT infrastructure over the next five years.
19. The  EFF   government  will  build  a  computer  lab attached to every public library in the country.
20. The EFF government will increase the number of staff members employed by the SABC by 11% annually over the next five years.
21. The EFF government will subsidise all community radio and TV stations by 2020.
22. The EFF government will provide interest-free loans to start-ups in the ICT sector by 2021,
with 55% of loans to be allocated to women and the youth.
23. The EFF  government will  digitalise the filling  in  of government forms so that the public is able to access them, fill them in and submit them online by 2023.
24. The EFF government will employ an additional 5 000 software engineers by 2022.
25. The EFF government will assist black and
particularly black female-owned entrants into the communications and media industry,
placing a limit on the number of white-owned entrants.
26. The   EFF    government   will   prioritise   black   and
particularly black female-owned communication and media companies when it comes to subsidies, market access and state contracts.
ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE
1.  The EFF government will see to the labour-absorbing
construction of  quality roads for  all  communities
by employing people in communities to maintain and ensure the sustainability of the roads.
2.  The EFF government will abolish the e-Toll system and
will  physically remove all  e-Toll structures  from  our roads.
3.  The EFF government will investigate ways of helping the taxi industry financially and
will find concrete ways of protecting and promoting it into an efficient public transport system.
NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE
1.  The EFF  government will adopt a long-term funding framework for infrastructure development and
will explore different build, operate and transfer models as a  means of  infrastructure delivery,
working  with the private sector to  build  infrastructure through  public- private partnerships.
2.  The EFF  government will maximally use infrastructure development and expansion as a means for massive labour-absorbing industrialisation for the upstream and downstream sectors.
3.  The EFF government will establish the following state- owned companies and provide them with strategic and financial support:
A state-owned housing construction company.
A state-owned roads construction company.
A state-owned cement company.
4.  The EFF  government will introduce laws that compel large corporations   to   directly   contribute   to   the construction of schools, hospitals and other important social development projects and programmes.
5.  Railway infrastructure:
The EFF government will expand the railways,
buy new trains, and
invest in affordable  speed trains along Moloto Road between the Tshwane and Nkangala regions in Mpumalanga, between Soweto and Johannesburg, between Musina and Johannesburg, between Johannesburg and  Cape Town and, vitally, between Durban and Johannesburg to transport  people and goods that come from the harbour.
The EFF government will upgrade and refurbish all current public transport railway lines by 2021.
The EFF  government will increase the number of carriages on public transport railways by 50%, by 2023.
The EFF  government will increase the number of carriages on public transport railways by 35%, by 2024.
The EFF government will build railway infrastructure in and around its power plants and coal mines to facilitate easy access thereto by 2022.
The EFF government will build and upgrade railway infrastructure around all mines and industrial hubs by 2022.
6.  Water and dam infrastructure:
The EFF government will repair all water treatment centres by 2020.
The EFF government will build a new water treatment facility in each province by 2021.
The EFF government will employ 10 000 artisans to repair all leaks in the water infrastructure
with the aim of reducing the amount of water lost by leaks to 10% of the current rate by 2022.
The EFF government will build storm water drains in every street in South Africa by 2022.
The EFF government will build water infrastructure so that each household will have in-house hot running water and sanitation by 2024.
The EFF government will ensure water sustainability for daily and industrial usage by building dams and large-scale water projects with the capacity to sustainably supply South Africa,
increasing current capacity by 20%, by 2023.
7.  Sports and recreational infrastructure:
The EFF  government will build  two multi-purpose indoor sports facilities in each district municipality and
five in each metropolitan municipality by 2023.
Each facility will include gym equipment, an indoor pool, an indoor hall comprising six separate pitches which can be used for various sports, and shower facilities.
The EFF government will build outdoor gyms in each ward by 2022.
The EFF government will build a minimum of one park in each ward by 2022.
The EFF government will build a small outdoor mini- theatre in each ward in the country by 2022.
The EFF government will build an arts and culture centre in each ward in the country by 2022.
The EFF government will build a community library in each ward by 2023.
The EFF government will build recording studios in every municipality for artists to record their work by 2022.
8.  Harbour infrastructure:
The EFF government will build three new harbours along the West Coast and six new harbours along the East Coast specifically designed for small-scale fishing vessels to use.
The EFF government will build industrial-size freezers at all harbours for use by small-scale fishermen.
The EFF government will increase the ship and cargo holding capacity of Cape Town Harbour, Richards Bay Harbour,  East London  and Ngqurha  (Port Elizabeth) by 30% by 2022.
The EFF  government will re-equip all harbours so that they are able to handle a variety of products, including industrial products.
The EFF government will increase the fuel storage capacity of all harbours by 30%, by 2024.
The EFF government will install industrial-size x-ray machines at all harbours by 2021.
The EFF  government will increase the railway line capacity of all major harbours by 30%, by 2023.
9.  Educational infrastructure:
The EFF  government will  electrify all  schools by 2021.
The EFF  government will ensure that there is hot running water and in-house sanitation in every school by 2021.
The EFF government will tar all roads around schools by 2021.
The EFF  government will ensure that no school is built from inappropriate material by 2020.
The EFF government will build two grass fields, two pitches and a swimming pool at every school by 2023.
The EFF government will build a library in all schools without libraries by 2022.
The EFF government will connect all schools to high-speed fibre by 2023.
The EFF government will connect all institutions of higher learning to high-speed fibre by 2023.
The EFF government will ensure that each institution of higher learning is connected to a railway line or has a taxi rank by 2023.
10.Health care infrastructure:
The EFF government will build a taxi rank at every hospital by 2022.
The EFF government will tar all roads around public health care facilities by 2022.
The EFF government will connect every public health care facility by 2023.
The EFF government will upgrade hospitals such that each district in South Africa has a regional or tertiary hospital with a minimum of 450 beds,
open 24 hours a day,
with internal medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology and general surgeons, by 2022.
The EFF government will build specialised hospitals for  the following  disease categories: tuberculosis, diabetes  mellitus, cerebrovascular diseases, heart disease, hypertensive diseases, chronic  lower respiratory diseases and ischaemic heart diseases.
The EFF government will build at least one clinic per ward in all wards of South Africa and
will extend this to one polyclinic per village in wards that are composed of more than one village by 2024.
11.Community infrastructure:
The EFF  government will increase the number of drug rehabilitation facilities in the country by 50%, by 2024.
The EFF  government will  construct and  maintain central abattoirs in every municipality to give access to the market on a durable and sustainable basis to producers of chicken, cattle, sheep, pig and sheep meat products, by 2022.
The EFF government will build a market place with stands in each ward by 2022.
The  EFF will  establish  multi-purpose   community centres,
which will include free Wi-fi, in every ward by 2023.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. The EFF  government will  work  towards ending  the global imperialist dominance of the West.
It will build relations with all progressive nations in Latin America, Asia and the African continent.
The aim will be to establish a world order that is not dominated by the West but is conducive to equal political and economic relations.
2. The EFF government will lead a progressive programme to build international political, social and economic solidarity among African states.
3. The EFF government will lead a progressive programme to reject foreign and in particular Western domination of African economies.
4. The EFF government will lead a progressive programme which  will end  Africa’s being   merely  an  exporter   of natural  resources, turning  it  into  an  economy that beneficiates and industrialises its own raw materials.
5. The EFF government will work towards the rejection of the Africa Command Centre, a military programme of the United States based in Botswana.
6. The EFF  government will  work  towards the  African isolation of  Botswana, which has been home to an imperialist military base, and fight for progressive internal reforms within Botswana which should involve the people of Botswana.
7. The EFF government will work towards building a strong relationship with Lesotho and
will ensure that the resources that South Africa receives from Lesotho, particularly water, benefit the people of Lesotho.
8. The EFF  government will,  within five years, fight  for democratic political reforms in Swaziland, including the political and economic isolation of the Monarchy, until there are meaningful political changes and tolerance in the country.
9. The  EFF   government  will  protect  Zimbabwe  from imperialist threats and sanctions,
ensuring that Zimbabwe is self-sustainable and
returns to using its own independent currency within five years.
10. The  EFF    government  will   implement   incremental boycotts, divestment and sanctions  against the apartheid state of Israel as a concrete form of solidarity with the Palestinians to end the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel.
11. The EFF government will build sustainable and balanced relations with all progressive forces in the world and will relate with growing economies, particularly China, Russia, Brazil and India, in a mutually beneficial way.
12. The EFF  government will  work in  solidarity with the people of Western Sahara to realise real political independence from colonial domination.
13. The   EFF     government   will    radically pursue   the democratisation and radical transformation of multilateral bodies such as the UN Security Council so that they are reflective of the countries of the world, as opposed to reflecting the economic and military strength of countries.
14. The EFF   government  will  radically  pursue regional economic integration with a view to easing economic trade within the African continent.
15. The EFF government, with the cooperation of regional and continental governance structures,
will engage in ethical peacekeeping missions to ensure peaceful resolutions in conflict-ridden regions.
16. The EFF  government will advocate for a Pan African Parliament (PAP) to have legislative powers to hold other states accountable.
17. The EFF government will advocate for the establishment and functioning of an African Court and the equipping thereof with resources.
18. The EFF  government will  play a  leading  role in  the promotion of intra-African trade partnerships and relationships.
This means that the EFF government will direct the South  African economy to purchase goods and services that can be produced within the African economy,
whilst exporting its economic goods and services to other countries within the African economy.
19. The EFF will build relations with countries that appreciate that South Africa and Africa as a whole is not merely a supplier of natural resources and products, but a country and continent that should develop industrially and technologically.
20. The EFF government will build relations with countries and economies that are willing to invest in real and genuine industrial development and skills transfer to the South African and African economies.
21. The EFF government will lead a progressive programme to reject the foreign, particularly Western, domination of African economies
as well as so-called neoliberal globalisation.
22. The EFF   government  will  radically  pursue regional economic integration
with the view to easing economic trade within the African continent.
This will include the radical transformation of the African Union and the revision of its Project 2063 into a more comprehensive Project 2038, by which year the African economy must resemble the best practices found in, for example, the modern  Chinese economy while guaranteeing basic democratic freedom.
23. The EFF government will champion global co-operation between progressive political parties and governments which subscribe to the humanist ideologies  of the left and
believe in people before profits
as opposed to the neoliberal philosophy of celebrating greed, selfishness, exploitation and
the concentration of wealth among the richest 1% of the world’s population.
24. The EFF will fight African leaders who want to stay in power forever.
25. The EFF government will strengthen the African Union to intervene  in   places   where  there  are   political instabilities and social crises.
26. TheEFFgovernmentwill re-evaluateall trade agreements.
27. The EFF  government will  fight  for  the  International Criminal  Court (ICC) to prosecute war lords  such as Tony Blair and George Bush.
28. The EFF   government  will  mobilise  and  fight  trade embargoes against Cuba through increased trade exchanges.
29. The EFF government will ensure that the International Criminal Court is restructured and democratised so that it  is enabled  to  prosecute war  criminals across  the board, including western leaders.
30. The EFF  government will fight for a borderless Africa and
a single currency in the medium to long-term
31. The EFF government will advocate for the introduction of  Ki-Swahili  as a  common  and  compulsory official language of communication across the African continent.
OUR VISION AND PLAN
The African National Congress is a broad movement of the people with the historic mission to build
a united and
democratic South Africa
that is non-racial, non-sexist and
prosperous.
Many people fought a long and hard struggle and sacrificed much to bring about freedom and democracy in this country.
The Freedom Charter remains our inspiration and our strategic guide to realising a better life and a South Africa that truly belongs to all who live in it.
The Freedom Charter is the living soul of our country’s progressive constitution and
is the foundation of Vision 2030 of the National Development Plan (NDP).
Everything we are doing is in pursuance of the vision of the NDP to address the triple challenges of unemployment,
poverty and inequality.
Over the past 25 years, the dignity of our people has been restored.
The lives of South Africans have improved.
We promoted nation-building, social cohesion and
celebrated our diversity as a nation.
We pursued world peace and
advanced an agenda for a better Africa and
a better world.
Much of what we set out to do in the 2014 Manifesto has been implemented with varying degrees of success.
So much remains to be done to bring us closer to the achievement of the Freedom Charter.
Our struggle for radical socio-economic transformation continues.
Our economy has not been fundamentally transformed to serve all people.
Unemployment remains high, particularly among the youth.
The land question has not been fully addressed.
The country has obscene levels of income and wealth inequality.
Gender-based violence has reached crisis proportions and
drugs, violent crimes and gangsterism are wreaking havoc in many communities.
Corruption continues to raise its ugly head,
threatening the very moral and ethical basis of our young democracy.
Our education, training and
health systems still need radical improvements.
The ANC acknowledges that we made mistakes and veered off course.
As a nation, we have learned the harsh impact of corruption on society and the economy.
We have witnessed the loss of integrity in some of the institutions of state, business and political and other organisations.
We have learned hard lessons about the vigilance needed to stop lawlessness, greed and selfishness from taking root.
We are resolved to work with our people to address this cancer in our society.
After a difficult time, we are on the cusp of a new era of hope and renewal – the New Dawn is upon us.
The ANC has a unique history of advancing the aspirations of South Africans.
The commitments we make in this Manifesto are in the spirit of Thuma Mina that inspires the New Dawn.
At critical moments in our country’s history, we have demonstrated that we can mobilise and unite South Africans around the common challenges facing the country.
We have shown the capacity to self-correct where mistakes have been committed.
We are a movement with experience in governance and
a clear resolve to advance an agenda of radical socio-economic transformation.
This Manifesto is informed by the 54th National Conference of the ANC and, true to our tradition, we have consulted widely and listened to many voices in drafting the Manifesto.
These voices include those of our Alliance partners and a broad range of organisations in the wider civil society.
The peoples’ priorities are incorporated in this Manifesto.
Our Manifesto is a coherent and bold people’s plan for a better life for all,
addressing the persistent realities of unemployment,
poverty and inequality.
The NDP will to continue to guide government’s policy agenda and
will be implemented at a brisker pace.
Our Manifesto is about: Transforming the economy to serve all people,
through interventions that promote a developmental growth path to create more jobs and decent jobs.
This will need sustainable and radical land reform and
a plan to broaden ownership of the economy.
It will mean that we must address monopolies, excessive concentration and the growth- inhibiting structure of the economy and advance an industrial plan for localisation.
We must drive innovation and the digital revolution,
increase levels of investment in the economy,
accelerate the provision of infrastructure to support the economy and meet basic needs,
transform and diversify the financial sector,
consolidate support for small businesses and cooperatives,
as well as the grow the township and village economy.
These interventions will be accompanied by the development of an appropriate macroeconomic framework
to support the transformation of the economy to serve all people.
Advancing social transformation that continues to make education and health our priorities to radically improve access and quality,
building more homes,
a modern, integrated, affordable, accessible and reliable public transport system, and
working towards a comprehensive social security system to protect the well-being of the people and society.
Our Manifesto focuses on keeping our communities safe by ensuring there is security in our streets, our homes, our schools and our borders.
This includes our fight against gender-based violence, drugs and gangsterism.
Stepping up the fight against corruption throughout society and
safeguarding the integrity of the state and ethical leadership.
Re-building and renewing a capable and developmental state,
re-organising the way government interacts with the people,
rebuilding and improving local government, and
improving public accountability and responsiveness to the needs and concerns of the people, and
rebuilding and improving the local government system.
Advancing nation-building and social cohesion,
stepping up the fight against racism, sexism, homophobia and other intolerances.
Building a better Africa and a better world.
This manifesto sets out how we will improve the lives of South Africans and grow South Africa together.
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY
Twenty-five years ago, the South African people changed the course of history and broke the bonds of colonialism, apartheid and patriarchy.
On April 27, 1994, we finally held South Africa’s first non-racial, democratic election and the nation delivered a decisive majority to the African National Congress.
It is through this election that our beloved President Nelson Mandela assumed the helm with a commitment to build a better life for all South Africans.
Today, we look back at this process of critical political and social change full of pride because of what the ANC, its allies and the people of this country have achieved.
We have made progress and faced challenges in our foundational aspiration to build a united and
democratic South Africa.
Our constitution is embraced by all South Africans, advancing the individual and collective rights of our people.
Our robust Chapter Nine institutions, judiciary and parliament are critical safeguards to protect these rights.
We have improved the representation and empowerment of women in the public and private sectors through our constitutional commitment to non-sexism and gender equality.
Our democracy unleashed the creative energies of all people in sports, arts, music, literature, film and dance, as well as science, technology and innovation.
Although the demon of racism is far from defeated, we have a society that refuses to accept racism as the norm.
The lives of the majority of South Africans have improved:
Electricity:
In 1994, only 36% of the population and only 12% of people in rural communities had access to electricity.
Today, 8 out of 10 South Africans, including those in rural areas, have their homes electrified.
This has improved the quality of lives and
reduced exposure to dangerous levels of air pollution from using coal, wood or charcoal for cooking and heating.
Progress towards universal access is now integrated with the use of renewable electricity from the sun, wind and water to power buildings, transport and industry.
Water:
In 1994, only 6 out of 10 South Africans had access to clean drinking water.
Today, that figure has increased to nearly 9 out of 10 South Africans.
The improved access to water services has reduced the time spent, mostly by women and girls, on gathering water and has given more time for productive activities, adult education, empowerment activities and leisure.
We will continue to maintain water infrastructure and
expand access to water for all,
while enhancing quality control and management for the sustainable use of our water resources.
Housing:
Since 1994, over 4,7 million free houses have been built benefiting over 14 million people.
This has meant a massive extension of home ownership,
growing the productive assets of our people.
In the recent period, we have been hard at work to ensure that more and more South Africans live closer to economic opportunities and
that we eventually overcome the race-based spatial separation of our people inherited from apartheid.
Education:
In the 2014 Manifesto, we committed ourselves to eradicating illiteracy.
Today 9 out of 10 adult South Africans can read and write, and an illiteracy-free South Africa is within our reach.
Ninety percent of public schools have become no-fee paying schools, and
learners are benefiting from school feeding schemes and subsidised public transport.
This has contributed to the increase in school attendance from 51% in 1994 to 99% today.
We have achieved near universal access to basic education for young children aged 7-14 years of age.
The number of learners who passed matric increased from 50% before
1994 to around 78% today, with a major shift in the balance of high performers to schools with learners from poor backgrounds.
We will continue to build a solid foundation for quality teaching and learning well before Grade 12.
Our support for university and TVET college students from poor and working class backgrounds through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has hugely increased from R70 million in 1994 to nearly R15 billion in 2018.
This has contributed to the enrolment of students doubling over the same period to over two million,
significantly transforming the racial and gender composition of the student population.
Building on the NSFAS programme, in 2018 we introduced free higher education at first year level for students from poor and working class families.
This policy will be extended to second year students this year and
by 2024 all undergraduate students will be fully funded by NSFAS.
We have made signficant progress in meeting the NDP goal of graduating at least 5,000 doctoral graduates annually by 2030.
In 2017, 2,450 students graduated with doctorates from our universities and we will continue expanding our investments in graduate education.
Health:
More South Africans are living longer, with average life expectancy increasing to 64 years in 2018 from a low of 53 years in 2005.
Progress in life expectancy reflects improvements in the quality and availability of health care,
our massive campaign to turn the tide against HIV and Aids and
our efforts to meet basic needs like access to clean water, electricity and adequate housing.
More than 4.5 million South Africans living with HIV receive antiretroviral treatment, up from 2.4 million in 2014, making it the biggest antiretroviral treatment programme in the world.
We have made dramatic progress in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
In 2004, over 70,000 of babies born to HIV positive mothers became infected.
By 2018 this figure had plummeted to 4,500, saving tens of thousands of new born babies per year.
New HIV infections have decreased but our collective fight continues for an AIDS-free generation.
In 2009, there were 69,000 TB related deaths, and by 2016 these had dropped to 29,000.
Access to free primary health care has been expanded from pregnant women and children under six years of age in 1994
to free primary health care for all today.
Thousands more medical doctors, including from poor families, have been produced by our public medical schools.
More needs to be done to improve the production of more health professionals.
We have begun the process of establishing the National Health Insurance (NHI) by rolling out various pilot sites across the country and drafting the enabling legislation for the country-wide introduction of the NHI.
Comprehensive social security:
The number of individuals on social grants increased from 3 million in 1994 to 17,5 million in 2017, benefiting children, the elderly, people with disability and veterans.
The Unemployment Insurance Fund has been extended to help most workers (including domestic workers) and .
the benefit payment period has been increased from 6 months to 12 months.
Women on maternity leave who paid into the UIF for 13 weeks or more will now be entitled to receive benefits for between 17 and 32 weeks and receive a flat rate of 66% of their salary (instead of 38% to 60%).
These benefits also extend to the LGBTQI community.
More recently, we introduced unprecedented legislation in South African history, the National Minimum Wage, which will improve the wages of at least 6 million workers who are currently being paid below the national minimum wage level of R20 an hour.
This National Minimum Wage forms part of the broader reforms aimed at achieving a living wage for most South Africans.
Economy:
Since 1994, we have seen sustained growth, tripling the size of the economy and improving the GDP per capita.
Sustained growth has been crucial for enabling redistribution of public resources to meet the basic social needs of our people.
Employment also picked up since 1994 compared with the pre-1994 period.
Today seven million more people are working, making a total of over 16 million.
However, employment growth has slowed since 2013 due to a combination of global and domestic factors.
We face a more significant challenge to meet the target of 24 million employed by 2030.
We have advanced the rights of workers and protected vulnerable workers through progressive labour legislation.
At the same time, relative to full-time employment, we have seen the growth of more precarious forms of work through casualisation and labour brokering.
The black middle class has grown significantly thanks to the ANC’s progressive policies on affirmative action, black industrialisation, broad-based black economic empowerment and gender equality.
Infrastructure:
We have invested more than R2 trillion in infrastructure projects over the past 10 years to build more schools, clinics, roads and the freight logistics network.
These achievements and many others have been the most critical factors in the support the ANC has received from the voting public since 1994.
People have affirmed the confidence they have placed in us to achieve the vision set out in the Freedom Charter.
Throughout these years, the majority of the South Africans have voted for an ANC government and
renewed its electoral mandate to continue with its historic mission of building an inclusive South Africa and
contribute to a better Africa and a better world.
TRANSFORM THE ECONOMY TO SERVE THE PEOPLE
We aim to transform the economy to ensure it serves the people.
Our Manifesto builds on the recently announced stimulus and recovery plan and
sets out our key commitments to change the structure of the economy.
Too many people are unemployed, particularly among the youth and
too many jobs are lowly paid and insecure.
Our Plan for More Jobs and Decent Jobs takes forward the outcomes of the Presidential Jobs Summit aimed at protecting and creating decent jobs, with a focus on addressing youth unemployment.
The public and private sector must take concrete steps to bridge the gap between skills and the labour market,
including the implementation of mass apprenticeship opportunities for young men and women.
Our Plan for Broadening Ownership promotes mixed ownership of the economy,
with a focus on extending worker ownership across the sectors of the economy.
We will carry out a Sustainable Land Reform Programme that expands participation in, and ownership of, agricultural production,
advances food security and
helps reverse the apartheid spatial separation of our cities and towns.
This will be done through a range of measures, including expropriation without compensation.
We will address Monopolies, Excessive Economic Concentration, Abuse of Dominance by Large Corporations and the Growth-Inhibiting Structure of the Economy by de-concentrating and transforming the economy and
opening it up to participation by small and medium enterprises, emerging co-operatives and township and village enterprises.
Our Investment Plan aims to increase the levels of investment by R1.2 trillion over the next 4 four years
to grow our economy and
create jobs.
We will create a publicly-led infrastructure fund to build more roads, schools, health facilities, water and sanitation infrastructure, transport networks, ICT systems and energy generation and distribution capacity.
Our Industrial Strategy will accelerate industrialisation by supporting enterprises, including black industrialists, to save and
create decent jobs in the core industries of manufacturing, agro-processing, mining and beneficiation, and tourism.
Industrial policy support will include sectors of the future, such as renewable energy.
We will address the rising energy prices and
strengthen public procurement and other regulatory tools
which will be leveraged to support locally produced goods and services and promote the Buy Local Campaign.
We will work with the private sector and organised labour to drive the industrialisation of South Africa and Africa.
The country and the world are at a critical point in the Digital Revolution.
We must craft our common digital future and devise a national programme for innovation that will unleash the talents and creativity of South Africans.
Our country must become the centre of digital transformation in Africa.
Its benefits must be spread across the economy and society rather than reinforcing existing inequality.
We will help grow Small Enterprises, Co-Operatives and the Township and Village Economies for economic transformation,
job creation and
innovation and
encourage all forms of entrepreneurship.
We will Transform and Diversify the Financial Sector and
ensure the industry serves the economy and the people.
Our Macroeconomic Framework, through fiscal and monetary policies, will be aligned to support the commitments made in this Manifesto.
MORE JOBS, MORE DECENT JOBS
Working with labour, business and communities, we will create many new jobs and
ensure that all workers can earn a decent living.
Create an extra 275,000 jobs each year by boosting local demand for goods, investing more in mining, manufacturing and agriculture and expanding export markets
Massively increase internship and training opportunities for young people
Implement the national minumum wage to improve the lives of 6 million workers
Mobilise R1.2 trillion in new investment over 4 years
Establish an Infrastructure Fund to build roads, rail lines, hospitals, schools, dams and other infrastructure vital for a growing economy
JOBS, DECENT JOBS
Too many of our people are without decent jobs.
Our plan is to draw more South Africans, particularly youth and women, into decent employment and self-employment.
Much work still needs to be done to promote decent work.
We will: Work with social partners (business, labour and communities) to implement the Presidential Jobs Summit framework agreement,
which has the potential to create around 275,000 jobs annually.
Ensure that we not only create new jobs, but work hard to protect existing jobs.
In line with the Presidential Jobs Summit outcomes, we will take active steps to ensure that retrenchments are the last consideration taken by employers and
that retrenchment procedures are reviewed.
Set bold but achievable targets for youth internships, including prescribing a minimum percentage in the public sector while securing concrete commitments from the private sector.
Increase employment through programmes that expand early childhood development sites, primary health care services and increase police visibility in our communities.
Remove work experience as a requirement for employment of young people, especially in the public sector, as it robs the youth of employment opportunities.
Scale-up support for micro, small and medium enterprises, co-operatives and township and village enterprises, including through the rapid implementation of measures contained in the Competition Amendment Bill.
Support for these enterprises will include enterprise development,
public and private procurement and
access to funding and enterprise development.
Increase participation in public employment programmes such as the Expanded Public Works Programmes through a guaranteed placement of TVET graduates and
increasing private sector placement for beneficiaries of public employment programmes.
Roll out the implementation of the National Minimum Wage to cover workers in domestic work, farming and forestry and other vulnerable sectors and
ensure effective compliance.
Ensure adequate legislation is in place to give effect to the Constitutional Court’s ruling on labour brokers.
Develop a short and medium-term plan to insource support services back into the public sector.
Ensure that the laws of the country are observed in the employment of foreign nationals by firms.
INVESTING IN THE ECONOMY FOR INCLUSIVE GROWTH
The rate of investment in the productive economy and infrastructure has slowed in the recent past.
Increasing such investments will help us grow the economy faster,
create jobs and boost incomes.
This should help us to strengthen our infrastructure for more roads, schools, toilets, clinics and hospitals, housing, public transport, communications systems, energy generation and distribution.
We will: Work tirelessly to increase the levels of investments by R1,2 trillion over the next four years as part of our plan to grow the economy and
create jobs.
We are within reach of our target.
These investments will help diversify the economy in sectors like mining, forestry, manufacturing, telecommunications, transport, energy, water, agro-processing, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure and financial services.
Investigate the introduction of prescribed assets on financial institutions’ funds to unlock resources for investments in social and economic development.
Build a social compact on infrastructure investment with business and organised labour to build more and better infrastructure.
These investments will boost faster economic growth and
improve the lives of many South Africans.
Establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund to invest in strategic sectors of the economy and
long-term social and
environmental needs of the county.
Establish an Infrastructure Fund to finance key economic and social infrastructure projects.
Strengthen the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC) to unblock and fast-track the delivery of infrastructure projects, such as the public passenger transport system, water infrastructure and integrated communities.
AN INDUSTRIAL PLAN TO SUPPORT LOCALISATION
The ANC will strengthen the country’s industrialisation path by boosting domestic demand through public and private procurement,
building our core industries of manufacturing,
agriculture and agro-processing,
mining and beneficiation,
energy and renewable energy,
tourism, the ocean economy and creative industries.
On localisation, we will: Strengthen government and state-owned enterprises procurement and
leverage private sector procurement to support local enterprises, including township and village enterprises, black industrialists, and
support stronger job creation and
localisation.
Increase designation of products that are locally produced to facilitate an expanded Buy Local Campaign,
stronger support for the Local Procurement Accord agreed to at NEDLAC and
greater partnerships with and commitments by the retail sector to support local industries.
Impose penalties for state institutions or agencies that do not comply with the government’s localisation commitments and
ensure this forms part of the perfor- mance agreements with accounting officers.
Attach conditionalities to all forms of state support, including incentives, to encourage the private sector to match government local procurement commitments.
These conditionalities will be similar to the Tax Clearance Certificate required for all enterprises doing business with the state and receipt of incentives.
Build an institutional capacity to support localisation, including SARS with an urgent focus on combating illegal imports, smuggling, invoice fraud and dumping.
Apply targeted tariffs and non-tariff measures where necessary to protect and incentivise labour-intensive industries, including agriculture, clothing, textile and footwear and other manufacturing industries.
On renewable energy, we will: Continue to support the use of renewable technologies in the country’s energy mix to reduce the cost of energy,
decrease greenhouse emissions,
build the local industry through increased localisation and
create jobs,
while recognising the reality that we have large coal reserves that can provide cheap energy that can also assist with affordable prices.
Take forward NEDLAC’s Green Economy Accord on renewable energy.
We will ensure that workers are treated fairly and
reskilled and
that the needs of people and
the environment are at the centre of a just transition to a sustainable and low carbon energy future.
Develop and implement a dedicated education and training programme on renewable energy targeting young people.
Contribute to investment to boost greater demand in the renewable sector – particularly solar, municipal waste, biomass, biogas and wind –
to support rural development,
localisation,
research and development,
small enterprises and co-operatives.
The universities in Mpumalanga and Northern Cape will offer academic programmes in renewable energy.
Reposition Eskom to play an active role in the renewable energy sector and
promote public ownership in renewable energy infrastructure.
Investigate the cost-benefit of introducing solar panels in state buildings and
mandate new commercial and residential developments in the medium term to use renewable energy technologies to reduce utility costs.
These should include deploying clean energy solutions to provide lighting and small power needs in the informal settlements.
On reducing administered prices, we will: Use administered prices as an intervention for growing the economy and
supporting localisation in specific sectors.
On mining and beneficiation, we will: Support the local recycling industry, especially metals, rubber and paper.
For scrap metals used by local foundries and steel mills, we will introduce an export tax to ensure greater local use of the resource
to create local jobs,
reduce energy emissions and
support the national infrastructure programme.
Ensure that the Mining Charter provisions benefit state, community and employee ownership.
The state mining company will be strengthened to play a significant role in the industry.
On clothing, textile, and footwear, we will: Support the growth of the industry through boosting existing initiatives,
including strengthening the Buy Local Campaign and
intensifying the fight against illegal imports.
Increase opportunities for women entrepreneurs, worker-owned businesses and SMMES in urban and rural areas through access to funding and markets, including public procurement and
engagements with the retail sector to support local enterprises.
Consider the establishment of a Special Economic Zone for clothing, textile, and footwear.
On the pharmaceutical industry, we will: Establish a state-owned pharmaceutical company
as part of our programme to promote an affordable and reliable supply of medication
and localisation, especially in the production of vaccines and active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Support the local pharmaceutical industry through a range of measures, including access to public procurement and the black industrialist programme.
On the tourism industry, we will: Increase support for the tourism sector, including cultural tourism, to boost its job creation capacity by adopting a ‘whole-government approach’ to tourism, including reducing visa requirements for tourists and measures to ensure the security of tourists.
Identify iconic and landmark sites that can be expanded for domestic and international tourists.
On the creative industries, we will: Promote and support the diverse creative industries, from folk art, festivals, music, books, paintings, performing art to the film industry, broadcasting and video games.
Ensure public funding schemes do not exclude the creative industries and
work with the private sector to increase investment in the sector.
Develop and implement cultural projects in schools and communities that raise awareness of career opportunities in the creative industries.
Develop and implement cultural projects in schools and communities that raise awareness of career opportunities in the creative industries.
Promote and invest more in museums, archives, heritage and cultural projects.
These will include support to conserve, protect and promote the country’s Liberation History and Heritage – archives, struggle sites, values, ideas, movements, veterans and networks.
Work with stakeholders to ensure that innovators and artists are justly rewarded for their labour in the digital age and
protect the copyrights of artists.
Actively promote the growing African film industry by: producing more local content and
investment in local infrastructure, especially in townships and rural areas,
developing skills in capital raising, post-completion and distribution,
providing capital for producing content and
extending funding to address sales, marketing and distribution.
Ensure demand for creative goods and services by tourists by supporting the development of creative industries.
On the ocean economy, we will: Establish an integrated governance framework for the sustainable growth of the ocean economy that maximises socio-economic benefits
while ensuring adequate ocean environmental protection.
Promote investment in offshore oil and gas exploration and production as new growth areas.
Continue to support infrastructure development in marine transport
as well as modernising and expanding the capacity of our ports.
Finalise fishing quotas and
ensure this is given effect to support aquaculture and
sustainable livelihoods.
Develop a marine policy that ensures the use of South African ships as part of our trade with the rest of the world.
INNOVATION, DIGITAL AND DATA REVOLUTION
The world and our nation are at a critical point in the rapid digital transformation linked to the 4th industrial revolution.
This is reshaping the future of work, social interaction and industrial production.
The rise of new technologies in robotics, artificial intelligence, big data and the internet-of-things will all have a profound impact on our country.
We will: Create a legal and regulatory framework for promotion of innovation.
Work with stakeholders through the Presidential Digital Industrial Revolution Commission to shape a common digital future that places people at the centre of digital transformation and
ensure that its benefits are spread across society.
Increase spending on innovation and
aim for more technological break- throughs critical to the country’s development through support for research.
Scale-up skills development for the youth in data analytics, the inter- net-of-things, blockchain and machine learning, to enable training of young people to develop and operate new technologies.
Work with partners to train workers and unleash their talents and creativity.
A just transition framework will be developed with all stakeholders address re-skilling and support for workers displaced by new technologies.
Reduce the cost of data through the work of competition authorities and the communication regulator, ICASA.
Lowering the cost of data will be one of the major requirements in the licensing of the much-needed radio frequency spec- trum this year.
Extending the government broadband rollout programme.
Ensure there is significant localisation of new technologies and
ensure that SMMEs and co-operatives are drawn into the digital economy.
Support e-commerce which will enable SMMEs and co-operatives, including rural producers, to sell their products online, allowing them access to national, regional and global markets.
This will include access to digital secure storage facilities known as data centres and cloud computing.
Open opportunities for young people to develop new software and applica- tions, devices and equipment through specialised start-up support programmes for use by all spheres of government and society.
A digital innovation centre will be established for this purpose within the next three years.
Strengthen and consolidate efforts to digitalise government, utilise big data in planning and execution, and
expedite the implementation of e-governance so that citizens can access public services from any location as they become connected.
Priority will be given to effective use of new technologies for public infrastructure
as we build smart public schools and
smart health facilities and
smart community policing to fight crime.
Create rules to ensure safety and enforce our constitutional values on the web especially that of women and children.
“We see a country that has embraced the benefits of technology for economic growth, social development and for more effective governance. We are producers of knowledge and drivers of technological progress.” //President Cyril Ramaphosa
A GROWING ECONOMY FOR ALL
We will build an economy in which all our people have a meaningful stake and
from which they can all benefit.
Enable workers to own stakes in the companies they work for and share in the profits
Create space for new emerging companies by ending monopolies and behaviour that stifles competition
Allocate at least 30% of government’s procurement spend to small businesses and cooperatives
Reduce the cost of data and
extend free Wi-Fi to many more sites across the country
Work with the financial sector to increase industrial and enterprise financing for small businesses, black industrialists and cooperatives
Accelerate land reform and
provide greater support for emerging commercial farmers
BROADENING OWNERSHIP IN THE ECONOMY
Broad-based ownership of the economy is one of the fundamental building blocks for transforming the economy to serve the people.
The ANC has always been in favour of a mixed economy in which there is public, private and social ownership with distinct but complementary roles,
thereby contributing towards shared prosperity.
We also believe that employees of successful companies must have a share in the profits and
should continue to benefit should they retire or leave the company.
Moreover, promoting worker ownership adds to broad-based black empowerment by distributing wealth to broader sections of our people.
We will: Introduce legislation for the extension of company ownership to a broad base of workers through an employee ownership scheme and
similar arrangements to supplement workers’ incomes and
build greater partnerships between workers and owners to build these businesses.
Social partners (government, labour and business) will put together the minimum thresholds and conditionalities to govern the establishment of worker-ownership funds, paving the way to empower millions of workers across the economy.
Provide public assistance to enable employees to purchase viable private businesses from retiring owners that wish to sell their businesses to employees either through a worker-owned co-operative enterprise.
Develop a policy framework to support the distinct and vibrant social and solidarity economy which is based on addressing social and environmental needs rather than profit maximisation.
This sector includes co-operatives, community-based enterprises, trade union based enterprises, informal enterprises and non-profit organisations.
Strengthen and consolidate existing state-owned enterprises to ensure they remain focused on their mandates to support socio-economic transformation
while improving their governance systems and containing the cost of their operations.
The ANC will extend public ownership, guided by feasibility studies, in pharmaceuticals, renewable energy and banking.
Promote and ensure compliance in the ownership of black people, youth, persons with disabilities and women through the revised broad-based black economic empowerment programme.
SUSTAINABLE AND RADICAL LAND REFORM
Land reform is about redressing historical injustices and
dispossession of the black majority.
It is also a vital opportunity to unlock growth and
promote socio-economic transformation.
Our land reform programme provides a sustainable but radical way to address the land question.
We will use our land reform programme to build productive assets for our people,
unlock agricultural productivity,
secure food security and
address the persisting reality of apartheid spatial separation.
We will: Support the amendment of section 25 of the Constitution to clearly define the conditions under which expropriation of land without compensation can take place.
This should be done in a way that promotes economic development,
agricultural production and food security.
Submit the revised Expropriation Bill to parliament to provide explicit circumstances under which land expropriation in the public interest may happen without compensation.
The Bill will ensure that laws regulating expropriation will include the principle of expropriation without compensation through just and equitable provisions set out in the Constitution.
Speed up the resolution of all outstanding land restitution claims
Work with the established agribusiness to: ensure that the sector continues to increase its contribution to export earnings;
develop greater support for emerging and small-scale farmers;
invest in agricultural research and new smart technologies to enhance the sector’s market share in global trade;
work with like minded countries to ensure just international agricultural trade regime;
develop a sustainable agriculture strategy to mitigate the impact of climate change and
identify new growth areas for production
as well as diversification to new agricultural products that will ensure food security.
Address the domination of agricultural inputs by big business and
the monopoly domination in agro-processing and food retail that keep out small players.
Consolidate all government support provided to small-scale farmers to ensure expanded production, including promotion of their co-operative activities or eco-systems through joint marketing and joint processing of their produce to ensure better impact.
Address domination of agricultural inputs by big business and
the monopoly domination in agro-processing and food retail that keeps out small players.
Ensure that no land is wasted or underutilised through enacting and implementing measures to promote urban agriculture and community food gardens
to provide national food security and reduce hunger.
Give priority to land administration, management and development of skills in land related careers such as land valuation, land surveying and town and regional planning.
Introduce measures to address high land and property costs,
which push the poor majority into the periphery and deepen racial inequalities.
Accelerate the transfer of title deeds to the rightful owners as part of the rapid land release programme that makes parcels of land available for those who want to build houses themselves.
Ensure tenure security through adequate recognition and protection of the rights of long-term occupiers, women and labour tenants in communal land tenure.
Advance women’s access to land and participation in agriculture and rural economies.
Promote sustainable use of water resources, including smart agriculture, to mitigate the impact of climate change.
“Vacant land near the centres of cities and towns must be turned into affordable housing for the poor and working class, close to shops and parks, schools and clinics, public transport and places of work.” President Cyril Ramaphosa
ADDRESS MONOPOLIES AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE ECONOMY
Central to boosting economic growth and allowing greater participation and empowerment of new entrants in the country’s economy is the need to deal with excessive economic concentration and abuse by large corporations and
the grow inhibiting structure of the economy.
We will: Ensure the competition authorities have the legal power and the financial resources to address the problem of monopolies,
excessive economic concentration and
abuse of dominance by large players that keep SMMEs and co-operatives out of the mainstream economy.
Institute measures to determine the level of ownership concentration and
to take remedial action to de-concentrate the economy.
Combat discrimination against SMMEs in the economy, including the abuse of buyer power, and unfair, excessive and predatory prices and other trading conditions that are imposed on small enterprises.
End the abuse of dominance by large vertically-integrated firms.
Ensure broad-based ownership, including worker ownership, in companies, during merger proceedings.
SMALL BUSINESS, CO-OPERATIVES AND TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE ECONOMIES
Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, socially-owned enterprises such as co-operatives and revitalisation of township and village economies are critical for economic transformation, inclusive growth and
job creation and
can help drive innovation and all forms of entrepreneurship.
These enterprises provide great potential for women, youth, military veterans and people with disabilities.
Over the years, the ANC government has developed and provided a range of financial and non-financial support measures to many of these enterprises.
We will: Scale up small business support measures, including access to funding and improved competition legislation.
We will set up incubation centres in townships and rural areas.
Facilitate access to markets for small businesses, co-operatives and township and village enterprises.
At least 30% of government procurement spend will be allocated to goods and services from these enterprises.
We will encourage the private sector to do the same.
Implement a special dispensation or set asides in the awarding of medium- and long-term contracts to small businesses, co-operatives and township and village enterprises to allow for a period for incubation and
other support to help reduce failure rates.
Increase support measures for co-operative enterprises by implementing critical elements of the newly amended Co-operatives Act, including operationalising the co-operative development agency and the training academy.
Establish a township and village economy fund to support the productive activities and
the development of industrial parks, business centres and incubation centres in these areas.
Help formalise township and village-based enterprises through an active campaign by provincial and local governments that promotes the benefits of formalisation.
Address illegal trading and selling of adulterated food and the penetration of big retail chain stores as they undermine the township and village economy and displace locally owned retail stores and related services.
To this end, we will: Expand the campaign to stop illegal trading in townships and villages,
much of which is conducted by foreign nationals,
with a view to promote and protect local ownership of grocery retail stores and other economic activities.
Support the formation of a network of community-owned retail and wholesale facilities and
effective use of township and rural-based local suppliers, including support of bulk-buying and packaging schemes by township and village retailers.
Implement the outcomes of the Retail Market Inquiry by the Competition Commission addressing the impact of big retail chain stores on township and village economies.
TRANSFORM AND DIVERSIFY THE FINANCIAL SECTOR
The ANC is committed to a programme to transform and diversify the financial sector, including state, co-operative and mutual banking.
We must do more to address the role of the financial sector in national development,
including problems of access to funding and capital for small enterprises,
housing, township and village enterprises and
infrastructure.
It calls for a new social compact in the sector with clear targets.
We will: Broaden access to affordable industrial and enterprise finance for SMMEs, black industiralists and co-operatives.
The ANC government will work with the financial sector on implementing its R100 billion commitment to support mainly black-owned enterprises over the next five years.
Amend legislation to allow qualifying state-owned enterprises, such as those involved in the enterprise development, postal services and housing finance sectors to acquire state banking licences.
Ensure that development finance institutions pay greater attention to employment creation,
empowerment,
industrial diversification and development,
small businesses and co-operatives.
Investigate the introduction of prescribed assets on financial institutions’ funds to mobilise funds within a regulatory framework for socially productive investments (including housing, infrastructure for social and economic development and township and village economy) and
job creation while considering the risk profiles of the affected entities.
Increase public funding and support the growth of the co-operative banking sector as not-for-profit financial institutions that address financial exclusion and
broaden ownership and control of banking by workers and communities.
To this end, co-operative banking legislation will be strengthened to: recognise registered “co-operative financial institutions” as co-operative banks through a tiered system approach that considers different levels of co-operative banking development,
ensure adequate protection for deposit-holders in the cooperative banking sector through the proposed Deposit Insurance Scheme,
allow the sector to access payroll deduction facilities for their members in both the public, private and social sectors,
speed up access to the national payment system to allow the sector to provide a comprehensive range of banking and related services to their members.
MACRO-ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK TO SUPPORT SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION
Our macroeconomic framework, including fiscal and monetary policies, will be aligned to support the commitments made in this Manifesto.
The ANC believes that the South African Reserve Bank must pursue a flexible monetary policy regime,
aligned with the objectives of the second phase of transition.
Without sacrificing price stability, monetary policy must take into account other objectives such as employment creation and
economic growth.
ADVANCE SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION
Our Manifesto builds on the achievements made over the last 25 years to advance social transformation.
We will continue to give priority to Education and Skills Development, as we work towards universal access in early childhood development facilities,
improving the quality of primary education and
enhancing the effort to strengthen higher education and vocational training.
We will bring the country closer to Quality Universal Health Coverage through National Health Insurance and
will improve the quality of the public health sector as the backbone for a future unified national health system.
We will ensure that Sustainable Human Settlements help transform the spatial legacy of apartheid and build a more inclusive society.
We will continue to Maintain and Expand our Social Security System to protect the vulnerable and reduce poverty.
A SKILLS REVOLUTION
By opening up the doors of learning to all,
by focusing on quality and innovation,
we will equip young South Africans for the world of tomorrow.
Prepare to make 2 years of early childhood development compulsory for all children
Appoint qualified teachers, develop their skills and enforce accountability
Replace unsafe and inadequate school buildings and sanitation facilities
Extend free higher education for the poor and ‘missing middle’
Implement a mass apprenticeship programme across the economy
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
The last 25 years have seen many achievements in education, from the creation of a single non-racial education system
to the accomplishment of almost universal enrolment in the early years of school,
as well as a substantial expansion of enrolment in higher education
to the recent growth of our first childhood development programme.
The focus has now shifted towards quality of education while improving access.
Quality education must lead to higher learner progression through institutions, and
high completion rates in schools, TVET colleges and universities.
Unlocking the energy and creativity of South Africa’s young and working people, by building their skills and capacities,
is critical to the eradication of poverty,
unemployment and
inequality.
We shall ensure that skills development is at the heart of all aspects of our plans in this Manifesto.
On Early Child Development (ECD), we will: Extend the core responsibilities of the Department of Basic Education to include the provision and monitoring of ECD.
Provide a comprehensive package of ECD services (birth registration, social assistance, parenting support and quality learning).
Standardise guidelines, norms and standards for ECD and
set the employment targets in the sector over the next five years.
Develop a plan to take care of the first 1,000 days of human life, from pregnancy until two years of age, in which the pregnant mother will get good nutrition, be encouraged to stop smoking and drinking alchohol and undertake antenatal care visits from an early stage.
The baby will have good nutrition, exclusive breast feeding, immunisation and growth monitoring.
Work to achieve universal access to two years of ECD, which would two years of compulsory quality pre-school enrolment for 4 and 5 year olds before grade 1.
Promote innovation on different models for delivering home and community-based ECD.
On Basic Education, we will: Prioritise policies and strategies targeting the achievement of quality teaching and learning outcomes
by enhancing the skills and competencies of educators, including the school management team comprising the school principal, deputy principal and subject heads.
Amend relevant legislation and policies to enforce accountability and consequence management.
Appoint adequately qualified teachers whose subject content knowledge is at required levels.
Implement the new innovative way of assessing learners through the National Integrated Assessment Framework for Grades 3, 6 and 9 as a replacement for ANA.
Amend the curriculum and provide the necessary resources to prepare learners for the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Continue to replace inappropriate school structures and sanitation facilities.
On Post School Education and Training, we will Continue to strengthen measures that will improve access to higher education
with the goal of achieving free higher education for the poor and ‘missing middle’.
Ensure that the TVET and Community College sector is adequately funded and responds to the country’s skills needs and high levels of unemployment.
This will include fostering partnerships with universities of technology and various industries for work experience for both lecturers and students.
Ensure that there are special efforts by the private sector and other partners to work with the training authorities to develop the skills needed in the workplace.
Target our skills development programmes to the unemployed, youth, low-skilled people and those in precarious forms of employment, including the self-employed.
Develop a new landscape for Skills and Education Training Authorities (SETAs) and ensure they are aligned with national priorities and our industrial plan.
This should include a mass apprenticeship programme that covers all sectors of the economy.
QUALITY HEALTH FOR ALL
We will take immediate steps to improve the state of hospitals and clinics and
work to achieve universal health coverage by 2025.
Implement a National Health Insurance to provide quality health care free at the point of use
Fill critical vacant posts in public health facilities
Significantly expand training of doctors and nurses
Absorb over 50,000 community health care workers into the public health system and double this number over the next five years
Screen an additional 2 million people for TB and
ensure that at least 90% of HIV positive people are on treatment by 2020
HEALTH
The goal of achieving universal health coverage and
overcoming our two-tier health system through the National Health Insurance (NHI) programme remains a central priority.
The NHI will be publicly funded and administered to guarantee quality health care to all South Africans and
will be free at the point of use.
All South Africans should be covered by NHI by 2025.
The tabling of the NHI Bill in parliament will be a crucial milestone for rolling out funding for universal access and implementing key elements of the NHI.
Our Plan builds on the outcomes of the 2018 Presidential Health Summit, which highlighted the state of crisis in our health system.
The Summit called for a stronger social compact among key stakeholders and
for government to address immediate challenges in the public health sector.
The partners will jointly address the challenges of human resources,
infrastructure,
financial management,
community involvement and
the health information system.
We will: Implement the next phase of the NHI programme over the next five years through legislative measures to realise universal health access and
good quality care for all.
Create a publicly administered NHI Fund.
Roll-out a quality health improvement plan in public health facilities to ensure that they meet the quality standards required for certification and accreditation for NHI.
Strengthen the public health system to deliver services covered by NHI and not outsource this responsibility.
Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy and operational plan to address the human resources requirements, including filling critical vacant posts for full implementation of universal health care.
Expand the primary health care system by absorbing over 50,000 community health workers into the public health system.
Within five years, the number of community health workers will be doubled and deployed in our villages, townships and informal settlements to serve our people.
Consolidate nursing colleges into one major nursing college with satellites in each province and
orientate their curriculum towards more practical work at the patient’s bedside.
Strengthen and expand the Mandela-Fidel Castro Programme to supplement the production of much-needed medical practitioners and other health professionals.
At the same time, local universities must be expanded with new infrastructure, equipment and personnel to increase the intake of medical students for local training.
Delegate responsibility to district and frontline health service managers in hospitals and clinics to ensure that people do not spend long hours in queues before receiving the treatment they need.
Ensure effective enforcement of health and safety regulations at the workplace.
Enhance management and leadership of the entire health sector to ensure improved service delivery.
Develop a comprehensive policy and legislative framework to mitigate the risks related to medical litigation.
Develop a streamlined, integrated information system for decision-making in support of implementation that will remove duplication at all levels.
Drive national health wellness and healthy lifestyle campaigns to reduce the burden of disease and ill health.
These will include: -  testing an additional 2 million people for TB and
initiating treatment for those with the disease,
- ensuring that by 2020, 90% of all people with HIV know their status,
90% of those who know their status and are HIV positive are put on treatment and
90% of those on antiretrovirals are virally suppressed.
Through this 90-90-90 strategy, we aim to end the epidemic.
SECURITY AND COMFORT FOR ALL
We will further improve the lives of millions of South Africans by working towards comprehensive social security,
building houses close to work opportunities,
providing affordable basic services and
building reliable public transport.
Expand access to social security benefits and
increase UIF coverage
Release state land for people to build their own homes
Develop several major projects that brings together economic nodes, housing, smart technologies and public transportation
Invest in safe, reliable and integrated public rail transport
Prioritise the provision of clean water and
decent, safe sanitation
COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY
Social security is a necessity for the social well-being of the people.
Despite major achievements made to provide adequate social security coverage since 1994, there are those who are not covered by existing programmes, affecting those who work and those unable to work.
Over the next five years, the ANC will make comprehensive social security coverage a major priority.
We will: Define a basket of social security benefits that all should access,
with the delivery of a package of services free from administrative burdens.
Address social grants exclusion errors by improving targeting (orphans, children, aged on farms, remote rural areas, disabilities).
Increase UIF coverage as currently only 5% of unemployed people benefit from this Fund.
Support child headed families through social security.
Finalise a comprehensive policy on social security that will include low-paid workers and informal traders,
as well as pregnancy and maternity benefit schemes.
HOUSING, HUMAN SETTLEMENTS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT
While we have improved the lives of millions of South Africans through provision of housing and associated basic services,
the spatial patterns of aparthied have not been addressed.
Through the National Development Plan we seek to advance a coherent programme to transform human settlements and
to ensure that the delivery of housing is used to restructure towns and cities and
strengthen the livelihood prospects of households and
overcome apartheid spatial patterns.
We will: Work closely with the private sector to develop major development projects
that brings together economic nodes, human settlements, smart technologies and public transportation that impact on spatial transformation.
These include building at least one new South Africa city of the future.
Transform the property market to promote access to urban opportunity and social integration through access to well-located, affordable housing and decent shelter,
thereby reversing urban fragmentation and highly inefficient sprawl.
Release land at the disposal of the state for site and service to afford households the opportunity to build and own their own homes.
Transform the composition and functioning of the property industry and
accelerate legislative measures to eliminate speculative behaviour, including the establishment of a Property Sector Ombudsman.
Improve the alignment of housing provision with other public investments and service provision, including schools and health facilities and transport networks,
complementing more integrated residential, industrial and commercial development.
Address the title deeds backlog, along with associated institutional and capacity gaps, to ensure that the transfer of title deeds move with higher speed.
Develop a more coherent and inclusive approach to land by developing overarching principles for spatial development.
Revise the regulations and incentives for housing and land use management.
On public transport, we will: Invest in rail infrastructure to ensure it is safe, reliable and integrated with other modes of public transport.
Rail must be the backbone of our public transport system.
Work with the taxi industry to transform the industry by supporting initiatives that will ensure it is safe, clean and provides a quality service.
Support driver training and
ensure industry players participate in the broader transportation agenda.
Modernise the public transport permits to prevent corruption
Support the roll-out of Bus Rapid Transport systems in other cities.
Invest in public transport infrastructure.
Support the integration of various modes of transport through a single ticketing system.
Ensure that freight is shifted from road to rail.
WATER AND SANITATION
Providing access to clean water for all has been the goal of the ANC since 1994 and we are proud of the progress we have made and
we will continue to expand our water infrastructure.
Sustainable use of our water resources and
making water affordable are central to achieving this goal.
While progress has been made in the provision of sanitation services, more must be done to eradicate bucket systems and pit latrines.
We will: Continue to prioritise roll-out and provision of water infrastructure to ensure availability of clean water to all South Africans.
Eradicate bucket systems and pit latrines in various parts of the country.
Review the policy on minimum free basic water to help further cushion the poor.
SAFE COMMUNITIES, SAFE LIVES
We will strengthen policing to rid our communities of all forms of crime, drugs, gangsterism and violence against women.
Ensure police are better trained to investigate and conclude cases
Increase the numbers and visibility of police men and women in communities
Implement a national plan of action that addresses the causes of gender-based violence
Equip police and courts to support survivors of gender-based violence
Target drug syndicates through the new anti-gang units
BUILD SAFER COMMUNITIES
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
Gender-based violence has reached crisis proportions.
It affects every community in our country and touches the lives of most families in one way or another.
Women are being violated and murdered in the worst manifestation of patriarchal relations.
This is not acceptable.
The ANC says the fight against gender-based violence must be intensified, and
we welcome the growing, diverse number of voices that are joining the fight against gender-based violence.
The ANC believes in a multi-sectoral approach that responds to the need to step up the fight against gender-based violence and
strengthen the broader interventions that address the causes and effects of such violence,
particularly issues of patriarchy, economic relations and changing the way of thinking about gender relations.
We will: Work with all stakeholders to take forward the outcomes of the 2018 Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence, though, among others, a national plan of action against gender-based violence.
Speed up educational programmes aimed at offering psychological and social support to vulnerable learners, and
work with young children to change social attitudes.
Call for stricter bail conditions for and harsher sentences in combating violence against women and children, particularly in cases of domestic violence and sexual offences.
Capacitate and equip the police and the court system to support survivors of gender-based violence and sexual assault.
Scale up the network of Thuthuzela Care Centres and other victim empowerment centres for a more effective response to incidents of violent sexual acts against women and children,
reduction of victimisation and
improved conviction rates and conclusion of cases.
PREVENTING CRIME
High levels of crime pose a serious threat to the freedom and dignity of South Africans, with drugs, violent crime and gangsterism wreaking havoc in our communities.
The causes of crime are rooted in unemployment,
poverty and inequality and
a comprehensive response to crime is required.
The ANC government has given national priority to crime prevention, involving all public institutions of justice and security and
promoting community mobilisation and participation.
Undocumented immigration has an adverse impact on national security.
We should ensure that that those who come to South Africa do so legally and
that the country knows what they do while they are in the country.
We will: Ensure that law enforcement officers are adequately trained to investigate cases to improve success rates.
Strengthen resourcing, joint planning and budgeting across the criminal justice system, including strengthening capacity in areas of investigations and prosecutions.
Increase police visibility in our communities by increasing the number of men and women in uniform.
Strengthen Community Policing Forums and Community Safety Forums.
Members of the communities must know their neighbours and be concerned about their lives.
Ensure the reduction of crime, especially violence against vulnerable groups.
Target drug syndicates through the implementation of the National Anti-Gang Strategy and the revised National Drug Master Plan.
Work with law enforcement agencies and various organisations to fight the abuse by young people of substances like nyaope, tik, wunga, etc.
Run national campaigns to build respect for the rule of law.
Enact and enforce legislation to compel municipalities to regulate the location of taverns and liquor retailers away from schools and religious establishments.
Take tough measures against undocumented immigrants involved in criminal activities in the country or in cross-border crimes, including those involved in illegal trading and selling adulterated food in townships and villages.
CAPABLE, HONEST GOVERNMENT
We will put an end to state capture,
restore the integrity of public institutions and tackle corruption,
while ensuring that government has the capacity, resources and people to serve citizens effectively.
Take decisive action against state capture and corruption in public institutions and state owned enterprises
Conduct lifestyle audits of public officials and
prevent public servants from doing business with the state
Make tender systems more transparent, efficient and credible
Continue work to strengthen law enforcement agencies like the Hawks, Special Investigating Unit and National Prosecuting Authority
Strengthen the oversight role of Parliament and provincial legislatures
Support local councils to improve financial management, service provision and
infrastructure building and maintenance
FIGHT CORRUPTION AND PROMOTE INTEGRITY
Corruption has negative consequences on our economy and society, impacting on the integrity of our institutions, our leaders and undermining the very moral and ethical basis of our young democracy.
Ethical and moral leadership in both the public and private sector will be critical if our collective fight against corruption is to succeed.
We are committed to consolidating our resolve to crack down on corruption and state capture involving the public and private sectors, including collusion, price-fixing, tender fraud, bribery, illicit financial flows, illegal imports and misuse of tax havens.
We will comprehensively fight corruption, combining both prevention and punishment.
We will actively promote a culture of integrity throughout the state, society and within our people’s organisation - the ANC.
We will ensure that leaders and members of the ANC and the broader movement and those entrusted with public responsibilities are uncorrupted, honest and self-disciplined with clear values who can resist moral pressures.
We will not tolerate practices that harm the public interest.
We will hold people accountable and
those who loot public resources must face the might of the law.
The ANC has given priority to maintaining and enhancing the integrity of public institutions and public representatives and
tackling corrupt practices in the private sector.
We have taken firm action to deal with the problems of corruption, state capture and the types of misconduct that have not only given rise to a public outcry
but have also impacted negatively on the economy and
society.
These actions include the establishment of the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture,
cleaning up state security agencies,
authorising hundreds of investigations by the Special Investigating Unit,
dismissing those who have abused positions of authority and
cancelling major state contracts.
All these actions represent significant progress in restoring integrity and public trust.
We will: Strengthen the criminal justice system to recover stolen public funds, including those in offshore tax havens.
Step up measures that act against private companies, financial services and agents that facilitate tax avoidance and illicit financial flows, profit shifting, illegal imports and import fraud, thereby robbing the country of tax revenue.
Ensure the speedy implementation of lifestyle audits and
broaden vetting and financial monitoring to curb corruption.
Strengthen implementation of legislation preventing public servants from conducting business with the state.
Develop systems to ensure that we build a more transparent and more open tender system as mitigation against fraud, bribery and corruption.
Build and strengthen a social compact on anti-corruption that will include initiatives that discourage those that turn blind-eye to corruption.
We are also determined to show no tolerance in the fight against corruption and misconduct within the ANC.
We have taken steps to send to parliament and legislatures the best of our public representatives who have made individual and collective pledges to serve our people with respect, integrity and humility.
STRENGTHEN GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
RENEWING A CAPABLE AND DEVELOPMENTAL STATE
We are building a capable developmental state that has improved the lives of millions of our people.
Few countries in the world have succeeded in expanding vital services such as water, sanitation, electricity, roads and housing to so many people in such a short time.
This has been achieved by national and provincial government working with local government.
However, far too many municipalities and some provinces are distressed or dysfunctional.
They lack the financial, technical or administrative capacity to meet the needs of their residents.
Integrated planning and implementation across departments and spheres government must be improved.
The social compact between government, business, labour, civil society and traditional leaders must be strengthened.
The institutions established by the Constitution such as Parliament, the judiciary and institutions supporting democracy are discharging their duties with distinction.
Many political leaders and civil servants are hard working, honest, competent, committed and accountable.
Unfortunately, too many have been seduced by greed and succumbed to corruption and the arrogance of power and have become unresponsive and unaccountable.
Violent protests have become too frequent.
The National Development Plan sets out clear recommendations to build a capable, accountable developmental state.
On a responsive and accountable government, we will: Work to improve the way government interacts with communities by conducting regular forums or imbizos
and make effective use of new communication technologies to address community problems and
empower communities to organise themselves.
Strengthen the oversight role of Parliament and provincial legislatures.
Continue implementing measures to safeguard the independence of the judiciary.
Support and resource institutions supporting democracy.
Step up public service performance inspections and unannounced visits as part of improving the performance of public servants in putting people first.
Strengthen governance interventions in public entities and security agencies.
Implement accountability and consequence management.
On local government, we will: Ensure that local government builds and strengthens people’s power
and that residents are actively involved in decisions about their ward, zone, town or city.
Support municipalities to make more effective use of information and technology to improve their efficiency, effectiveness and impact.
Continue to improve the skills base of local government by enforcing compliance with appropriate standards for senior officials and
building capacity through deployment of district support teams consisting of engineers, planners, financial and governance experts.
Strengthen the coordination of inter-governmental relations and planning and
be more proactive in mediating and resolving problems, including between district and local municipalities.
Support municipalities to transform the spatial injustices of apartheid which relegated most South Africans to the margins of cities and towns and farming areas, leaving them without rights, without land, without assets and without opportunities.
Use the Integrated Urban Development Framework to manage rapid urbanisation and steer urban growth towards a sustainable model of compact, connected and coordinated cities and towns and
strengthen links between urban and rural areas.
Build the capacity of municipalities to promote investment
and job creation
by ensuring that they provide electricity, water and other services reliably and consistently and
are efficient in issuing permits and
effective in the enforce- ment of regulations and by-laws.
On institutions of traditional leadership, we will: Promote co-operative relations between government in all spheres and traditional authorities and its leadership, including in relation to economic development and land use management.
Investigate a special cooperative governance dispensation that will effectively manage the relationship of municipalities and traditional authorities.
Strengthen relations with institutions of traditional leadership, including working closely with Contralesa.
“The achievement of an inclusive society requires institutions that are not only credible and capable, but that are also equipped to enable and facilitate transformation. We seek a state that is both capable and developmental”.President Cyril Ramaphosa
A NATION UNITED IN DIVERSITY
We will work to unite all South Africans to overcome the divisions of the past and
build a country in which all belong and in which all feel at home.
Implement indigenous language programmes in schools and elsewhere
Introduce laws to combat hate crimes against people based on their race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation or albinism
Promote media freedom and diversity
Include the needs of people with disability in all government programmes
Celebrate all cultures during national holidays and
include all South Africans
BUILD NATIONAL UNITY AND EMBRACE OUR DIVERSITY
The ANC is a political movement dedicated to building a united and
democratic South Africa
free from all forms of racism, sexism, xenophobia and hate crime.
The struggle for non-racialism requires overcoming the legacy of inequality left by colonialism and apartheid.
It also means promoting the values of non-racialism and tackling incidents of racism.
The ANC has passed a generation of legislation to help achieve racial equality, including creating institutions to fight racism and
support democracy.
We appreciate that we are stronger in our diversity as one nation.
We have a proud history of championing the cause for gender equality,
the rights of people with disability and
the LGBTQI+ community.
We will: Fast-track the promotion and implementation of indigenous language programmes,
including finalisation of language legislation in provinces for inclusion in the school curriculum.
Finalise the proposed legislation before parliament aimed at preventing and combating hate crimes and
prosecution of persons who commit those offences.
The legislation will deal with hate crimes against persons based on their race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation or albinism.
Promote the values of non-racialism and non-sexism through the promotion of arts, culture, sports and interfaith activities.
Train teachers and public servants on how to deal with all forms of discrimination.
Organise programmes that honour and salute men and women who have earned their titles as veterans of wars of liberation.
Promote study of history in schools.
Mainstream gender equality and
the needs of people with disability into all facets of planning, budgeting, monitoring and accounting, including performance indicators and targets in government programmes.
Promote programmes that advance media freedom and diversity, with a specific focus on community media and alternative media.
Ensure national holidays are celebrated on an intercultural basis and are fully inclusive of all South Africans, black and white.
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background or religion. People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate they can be taught to love for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite”.President Nelson Mandela
SOUTH AFRICA, AFRICA AND THE WORLD
Our view of the world is based on the founding principles outlined in the Freedom Charter, a world in which there is respect for the right to national sovereignty of all nations,
the pursuit of world peace and friendship, not wars.
We remain committed to a better Africa,
free from the shackles of under-development and
the legacy of colonialism.
We will continue to advance our progressive internationalism and solidarity around the world.
We will: Enhance regional integration with increased and balanced trade in the SADC region and on the Continent
by supporting the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which will boost intra-Africa trade
and build a bigger market of over one billion people with a GDP of $2,6 trillion that will unlock industrial and infrastructure development in the region.
Work with African Union sister countries on initiatives to build an Africa we want through Agenda 2063.
Promote cross-border infrastructure, tourism and manufacturing value chains in the region and
increase the levels of South African manufacturing and value-added exports to the rest of the continent.
Promote greater peace,
security and
stability in SADC, the DRC, South Sudan and elsewhere on the continent.
Increase the voice of developing countries in the United Nations and other multilateral institutions.
Utilise South Africa’s tenure in the United National Security Council to promote global peace and
security
Dedicate resources to support our increased continental and global responsibilities.
Recommit South Africa to take forward its responsibilities in the fight against climate change, as part of the global community and in line with the Paris Agreement.
Work with other countries to ensure that there are incentives created for immigrants to stay in the borders of their own country.
Ensure that our policies of regional integration and cooperation includes resolution of immigration matters, especially undocumented immigration.
“We imagine a country that is integrally and enthusiastically part of the great African continent, as comfortable with immigrants from other countries as we are made to feel when we visit their countries to trade, to invest, to learn, to work and to settle.” President Cyril Ramaphosa
CONCLUSION
Fellow South Africans
We are under no illusions of the difficulties and obstacles we will encounter along the road to a better future for all.
Throughout this Manifesto we have emphasised that ours is a plan about you, South Africans, black and white, young and old, rural and urban.
We firmly believe that the coherent and achievable plan set out in this Manifesto is in accord with the needs and aspirations of the South African people and
the goodwill of the progressive people around the world.
You have helped us develop this Manifesto.
We must work together to effectively implement it.
Let’s Grow South Africa Together.
1.Economy
Much of South Africa’s economic problems over the past decade can be attributed to the ruling party’s gross mismanagement of the economy and state-owned enterprises (SOEs),
as well as policy uncertainty.
As a consequence, the South African economy has experienced tepid – but still negligible – economic growth rates over this period.
Under the ANC government, countless bailouts to SOEs have turned them into a major drain on the fiscus,
diverting billions of Rands that should be channelled to the poor and service delivery.
Further, the ANC government has failed to reduce the unemployment rate, the youth unemployment rate and
poverty and inequality despite it having borrowed more than R1 trillion over the past decade.
Rampant corruption and the mismanagement of the South African economy
has resulted in an increase in the cost of living for the poor and the working class.
The UDM believes that a responsible government cannot leave the fate of South Africans to market forces alone.
Nor can it sit back while the economy is underperforming; causing the quality of life of the poor and the working class to deteriorate.
As a social democratic party that works for “social reform” and “social renewal” in order to ensure inclusive growth and development,
a UDM government will adopt pro-poor economic growth policies that seek to redistribute income, eradicate poverty, reduce inequality and
ensure dignity and prosperity for all South Africans.
For instance, a UDM government will cut VAT back to 14% and increase Corporate Income Tax from 28% to 29%.
We would also restructure the SOEs portfolio of government and ensure that only the ones that are central to government’s growth and development strategy are kept.
1.1.The UDM’s proposal for an Economic Indaba
South Africa needs an inspiring and shared economic vision of where we are going in the next ten to twenty years,
where all South Africans will feel that they have a meaningful role to play in making the country an economic, social and political success.
Looking back, the Codesa negotiations only focused on political freedom and consequently economic policy formulation has been left to individual ministers to the detriment of the development of a comprehensive and coherent economic plan for South Africa.
This approach to policy formulation is not sustainable, because as soon as changes occur in government, a new administration tends to disown previously adopted policies.
To compound matters, the tri-partite alliance’s differing stances on the economy further confuses policies with the National Development Plan being the white elephant in the room.
Although we do not out of hand discard the current administration’s economic summits, the UDM strongly believes that a similar exercise as the Codesa talks needs to take place, but this time in the form of an Economic Indaba.
Piecemeal conferences and summits will not do the job; it needs a concerted effort with all stakeholders gathering under one roof to hammer out South Africa’s economic policy.
This Economic Indaba should emerge with consensus after which its decisions should directly go to parliament for ratification and implementation.
1.2.Manageable public debt and budget deficit
Government spending has over the past decade been consistently far greater than revenue
due to the ruling party’s rampant corruption and economic mismanagement,
which has led to an accumulation of public debt.
The UDM supports the concept of a manageable public debt and budget deficit, requiring fiscal discipline to ensure that government borrowing does not exceed reasonable limits,
but allowing government the leeway to invest in infrastructure development,
thereby creating jobs,
to address imbalances and inequality.
A UDM government will not use borrowed money to fund government's day-to-day operational expenses.
We believe that borrowed funds should be used for investment expenditure to ensure inter-generational fiscal equity.
We will maintain budget deficits and public deficits that are in line with international standards to avoid sovereign debt crisis.
To prevent a sovereign debt crisis, a UDM Government will introduce a Debt Management Bill within the first 100 days in office.
1.3.Investment in business confidence
24 years after uninterrupted ANC-rule, South Africa is still plagued by policy uncertainty.
It started with the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), then the Growth, Employment and Redistribution framework (GEAR), then the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA), followed by the New Growth Path (NGP), then the National Development Plan 2030 (NDP) and most recently, Radical Economic Transformation (RET).
This chopping and changing erodes investor confidence and
drive out entrepreneurship.
It certainly has not done South Africa any favours where international ratings are concerned, with agencies citing policy uncertainty as one of South Africa’s chronic ills.
The nonexistence of clear guidelines on how to deal with direct investment does our reputation as direct investment destination more harm than good.
In addition to creating an environment that is conducive for the private sector to flourish,
a UDM government will place a heavy emphasis on attracting direct investment.
The UDM proposes that business and investor confidence, as influenced by perceptions regarding government and politics be improved, amongst others, by:
Ensuring policy consistency and certainty.
Addressing energy constraints on the economy and rising energy costs.
Dealing decisively with the financial and governance challenges facing SOEs in order to restore investor confidence and
to ensure that these entities fulfil their socio-economic developmental mandates.
Addressing the skills shortages.
Taking steps to root out corruption in both the public and private sectors.
Applying a merit-based appointment system in government.
Promoting the separation of powers between the cabinet and parliament i.e. between the executive and the legislature.
Enhancing the role of parliament and its committees
as a government perceived to be under close scrutiny at all times will perform better and improve investor confidence.
1.4.Sustainable job creation
Not only is South Africa one of the most unequal societies in the world,
it also has one of the highest unemployment rates.
The primary objective must be an attempt to stem the tide of rising unemployment, with its obvious adverse consequences for social and economic stability.
Ultimately, each South African should have the opportunity to be gainfully employed in order to contribute to the economy and society,
irrespective of race, gender or class.
The unemployment crisis in South Africa has many causes that underscore the need for a comprehensive strategy.
As one solution, a UDM government will launch a massive initiative focussing on job creation through infrastructure maintenance and development.
This planned sustainable development project will be driven by government through the department of public works in coordination with all departments.
Furthermore, the UDM’s response to the challenge of unemployment encompasses:
Identifying markets for small firms through promoting domestic and foreign connections to adequately address both the supply and demand side of the economy.
Developing capacity in the areas of improved business and entrepreneurial skills.
Promoting the efficient and effective use of public resources
to serve the dual goal of small business development and
skills creation in the productive labour force.
Identifying loan and capital sources, as well as facilitating loans and investments in community businesses.
Investing in sector-based planning and implementation, including the creation of sector-specific banks to provide financial assistance to historically disadvantaged groups and individuals.
Devoting more resources to promote “buying South African” as a tool to stimulate local wealth generation and
job creation.
Another critical challenge facing South Africa is that of the poor management of immigration.
The UDM believes that legal immigrants can contribute to enterprise development and growth.
However, the incumbent government’s failure to deal with the employment of illegal immigrants for lower salaries, while millions of South Africans are locked outside the labour market, is a major cause for concern.
A UDM government will protect its citizens against unfair competition and
deal with the exploitation of illegal immigrants in the private sector.
A UDM government will handle illegal immigration in a humane and holistic manner in line with our continental and international obligations.
1.5.Enterprise development and SMMEs
The UDM believes that the creative spirit inherent in South Africans must be unleashed to create jobs.
This can be done through a policy of small business development whereby citizens become wealth creators.
A creative business spirit and capacity can be fostered by identifying and overhauling obstacles like unnecessary legislation and regulations,
creating access to capital,
establishing accessible markets for products, and
by appropriate education,
training and skills development.
In addition, a UDM government will seek out alternative and innovative financing options to assist small entrepreneurs.
These options should include the establishment of local stock exchanges, small and medium business investment corporations, community development banks, negotiations with investment and insurance funds for venture capital and the establishment of credible micro- finance institutions.
The UDM government will re-introduce government programmes that employ and train the unemployed in agricultural and community development projects and
transforming these programmes into self-sustaining, locally-owned enterprises with the opportunity to grow, accumulate assets and
create employment.
A UDM government will adopt a venture capital mind-set, providing seed money to local enterprises for which they would receive a share in the returns of the enterprise.
Local government shall be empowered to provide resources for developing appropriate infrastructure for street traders and hawkers
to support these fledgling entrepreneurs.
This will encourage their important role in the economy
as well as contribute to job creation and
enterprise development in the local economies.
One of the key areas a UDM government will unlock is the role of business in developing mentoring programmes and
establishing small-scale sub-contracting arrangements with local SMMEs.
Such programmes must provide training and financial assistance to build upon SMMEs’ existing technical and manufacturing capabilities;
improving the quality of their products and their delivery and
ultimately creating successful self-sufficient suppliers.
1.6.Land
As we all know, land ownership in South Africa has a painful history, since it played a central role in the racially divisive politics of the past.
The majority of our citizens remain landless 24 years into our democracy.
The incumbent government’s failure to deliver on the issue of land, has had a severe impact on the lives of most South Africans, depriving them economically, culturally and emotionally of opportunities to become active citizens.
When the new South Africa was ushered in, the issue of land was placed on the backburner with political freedom as item number one on the agenda.
That said, the land issue, as a tool to achieve economic emancipation should have been tackled much sooner to avoid the emotional tug-and-pull we now witness.
The National Assembly, on 27 February 2018, took a resolution on the expropriation of land without compensation and the UDM voted in favour of this resolution, after it was amended.
1 The UDM certainly did not vote for free-for-all land grabs and evictions.
Even though the constitutional review committee’s consultation process has taken its course, opinions are still poles apart in terms finding an agreed upon solution to address land question.
In this regard, the UDM has long promoted the view that the matter can only be definitively resolved at the proposed Economic Indaba, where all stakeholders can congregate to discuss the macro economy, with land at the apex of the debate.
This exercise would ensure that South Africans enter a structured debate and that they take ownership of any decisions made.
Specifically, in terms of expropriation without compensation, a UDM government will convene an Economic Indaba that should emerge with answers to, amongst others, the following questions:
Who exactly (individuals, companies and/or government) will be affected and how?
How does food security and economic stability impact implementation i.e. does it prevent expropriation in specific circumstances, and what those would be?
How will government handle rapid urbanisation and an ever-increasing need to make land available in cities and the concomitant denuding of rural communities and local economies?
How will traditional leaders and rural communities be affected?
How will entities such as the Ingonyama Trust be impacted?
What will be the effect on the land tenure system?
What would the position be on the sale of, in main, urban land to foreigners?
How will the issuing of title deeds be sped up so that entrepreneurs may use them as collateral to secure capital for start-ups?
1 http://udm.org.za/moelwc
1.7.Infrastructure development and maintenance
Infrastructure development has always been recognised as a critical factor in promoting economic growth.
It has a positive impact on the individuals, households and rural communities, in particular, in terms of quality life.
There are also a number of economic benefits that are associated with infrastructure-led growth i.e. increased income, employment, productivity improvement, income redistribution, to mention but a few.
We however need a holistic plan for the development of South Africa.
Although several infrastructure development projects have been introduced, most of the country's infrastructure is deteriorating due to insufficient or total lack of maintenance.
Such deterioration even occurs at institutions that are supposed to deliver efficient services, such as the company registrar's office, the patent office, tender offices, the Masters of the High Court and other courts.
Rapid infrastructure development and maintenance should be designed
to stimulate economic development, growth and
job creation.
In this regard, a UDM government will act as an important role player, coordinating the efforts of all spheres of government through planned sustainable development programmes.
Expenditure on such programmes could be financed from the proceeds obtained from the successful implementation of a restructuring programme and
the clever disposal of unused public works property.
In addition, the UDM with its integrated policy approach, will ensure that the work of the Presidential Infrastructure Co-ordinating Commission (PICC) is driven from grassroots level.
A comprehensive ward, municipal, district and provincial based infrastructure development plan will be devised which shall be centrally coordinated by the PICC.
A UDM government will ensure that its investment in education aligns with the infrastructure development goals to avoid this sector being dominated by foreign experts and
we will draw on the invaluable expertise that South Africans in all sectors possess.
1.7.1.Rapid urbanisation
It is estimated that more than 64% of South Africans live in urban areas, much due to the hope that people will find jobs in the cities and towns.
Once these hopefuls come into touch with the harsh reality, the job market spits them out and they are relegated to languish in townships and informal settlements.
A UDM government will put in place strategies that includes, at least, the following : Identify urban geographical areas where new communities can be established.
Determine where and how existing urban areas can be improved and expanded.
Find ways to maintain and protect existing urban infrastructure and
build new infrastructure.
Determine a new urban housing policy, including aspects such as density, availability of land for residential purposes, land tenure, property rights, etc.
Develop innovative new mass urban/rural transit systems.
Protect surrounding rural areas, such as farmland and forests, from urban sprawl.
Provide for the needs of urban populations e.g. water, power, sewerage, schools, health care and open spaces.
When town planning takes place, the location of cemeteries should be clearly defined in appropriate spaces.
1.7.2.Investment on social transport infrastructure
Our public transport system leaves much to be desired and an over-reliance, coupled with lack of maintenance of our road infrastructure, has led to its rapid decay.
A UDM government will explore the possibility of having an intercity high-speed rail put in place.
This would be possible via the refurbishment and adaptation of existing railway lines and building additional capacity where needed.
A high-speed railway system would, amongst others, have the following advantages : a)The reduction of accidents and fatalities on our roads.
b)Greater access to specialised services, e.g. courts, legislatures, hospitals and healthcare specialists, universities, etc.
c)Roads that are taxed less by heavy vehicles that damage road surfaces which in turn cost a lot of money to maintain.
d)The reduced dependence on road transport will have the spin-off of speeding up our economy, for example:
Businesses could be located anywhere and transport their goods with ease and at relatively low costs.
New business opportunities can be found in areas where it was previously deemed too remote.
Employers could offer work to people from far reaching places thus spreading wealth to rural areas.
People will not have to face a choice between pursuing their careers and moving away from their families and loved-ones.
Our lucrative tourism industry could be further unlocked, not only for international tourism, but also for local tourism.
1.8.Rural revitalisation
Rural areas in South Africa are still characterised by poverty,
joblessness and
gross inequality.
A UDM government will introduce programmes that will employ and train the unemployed in agricultural, tourism and community development projects.
These programmes shall be transformed into self-sustaining, privately owned businesses that have the potential to grow, accumulate assets and
create employment.
Adequate support will be given to rural municipalities that have a limited revenue, raising capacity and those that suffer from skills shortage.
This would help deal with past imbalances and backlogs and
create the much-needed employment opportunities in rural areas.
A UDM government will develop irrigation schemes which has been neglected despite the massive successes achieved by irrigation schemes developed by the government in the mid-twentieth century.
Currently vast quantities of water flow through the rivers of these regions, without being properly applied for agricultural or human needs.
Catchment area research and large-scale infrastructure development in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape will be initiated as a matter of urgency.
The closure of the so-called border-industries, which created jobs close to the former homelands, was a case of throwing the baby away with the bathwater.
A UDM government will reinstate tax incentives for businesses to open factories closer to where rural communities live in order to stem rapid urbanisation.
1.8.1.Traditional leaders
For millions of South Africans traditional leaders are the custodians of their culture, traditions and values.
They are authority figures, undisputed leaders and decision makers.
They are the closest form of government that many of our people know, especially in rural South Africa.
The UDM therefore acknowledges that traditional leaders play a critical role in ensuring that our people’s right to dignity is restored and protected.
To date the role of traditional leadership has been belittled and undermined, thereby threatening the one social institution that is best placed to understand and promote the needs and aspirations of rural people.
A UDM government will recognise and protect the role and institution of traditional leaders.
There are also gross disparities between how the traditional leaders of the various tribes at various levels are treated.
The UDM is of the view that the value of the perks (such as value for money vehicles) must be properly budgeted for and
of critical importance is that such perks should be standardised across the board.
2.Good governance
South Africa is constantly challenged by scandals of corruption and abuses of power that negatively impact on service delivery.
This ranges from top ranking officials to levels lower down and
even petty corruption such as bribery of government officials.
At the heart of the problem is that government and those in its ranks do not care about the money they manage on behalf of our people.
The Auditor General recently announced that almost R80 billion have been irregularly spent by government and major parastatals over the 2017/18 financial year.
Not only is this an egregious abuse of taxpayers’ monies, but it deprives those in the greatest need of the misused billions.
A UDM government will therefore enforce the Public Audit Amendment Act to the letter.
Officials who hide behind struggle credentials have looted state resources and, in many instances, “loyalty” is rewarded with protection against investigation and prosecution.
There is a clear lack of political will to implement performance and consequence management.
So-called political appointments result in the increased use of consultants, because the political appointees are incompetent and useless.
It therefore costs substantially more just to keep government services going.
To exacerbate this problem, once a directive comes from on high, those lower down the chain make use of the opportunity to pad tenders for their own benefit.
At other times they collude with consultants to have government business directed to line their own pockets.
A UDM government will therefore professionalise the civil service to reduce the reliance on consultants and
it will eradicate the culture of making political appointments.
Corruption and
maladministration are so pervasive in our state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that it is no wonder that they are flailing about and sinking deeper and deeper into trouble.
Instead of flourishing SOEs (all of which were inherited from the apartheid regime) the ruling party government has time and again used taxpayers’ monies earmarked for other projects to bail them out.
Worse still is the practice of bailing out SOEs by using Public Investment Corporation (PIC) funds, which means that the Government Employees Pension Fund is put at risk.
To further compound matters, the PIC itself is mired in allegations of corruption running into billions of rands.
At every turn, the people of South Africa bear the brunt of government’s failure to effectively run SOEs.
Therefore, untying the tangled web of corruption where SEOs are concerned, would be a one of the highest priorities of a UDM government.
Under a UDM administration all board members and officials of SOEs shall be vetted to professionalise their operations and improve on service delivery.
The rot of corruption has even affected law enforcement agencies; the very bodies which should be squeaky clean and credible, and should lead by example.
Even the State Security Agency has fallen into the trap of corruption and cannot account for an alleged R1 billion.
In addition, many senior police officials have been involved in corruption‚ fraud and money laundering.
Once those guilty of corruption have been exposed, a UDM government will ensure that there are significant consequences and not just a slap on the wrist as we have seen with the ruling party, with the former president leading this march.
Merely leaving a post cannot be the end of the road; corrupt individuals must face the full might of the law.
To ensure clean governance a UDM government will implement the following principles: A zero-tolerance for corruption and abuse of power.
Government officials and politicians must serve the people and not themselves.
Integrity, commitment and hard work are required from all in government and in the private sector.
The best quality must be ensured in all appointments, so that merit, responsibility and integrity will be guaranteed, and excellence rewarded.
Effective procedures and special courts must be established and implemented to investigate and prosecute those in the public and private sector involved in corruption.
A sense of pride in and ownership of government must be encouraged and nurtured in all South Africans
by establishing a new ethical framework of incorruptibility, accountability, transparency and impartiality in governance.
Independent anti-corruption task teams must be established in each province to determine the level of corruption and to immediately introduce recovery steps.
3.Safety, security and justice
To ensure a long-term solution to crime and violence, the UDM believes that we, the citizens of South Africa, must commit ourselves to a concerted long-term effort to reform our society, so that we do not simply address the symptoms, but also eradicate the causes of crime and violence.
The UDM will establish a civil order system, and provide it with the necessary resources and support, recognising that merely improving one asset of the system (police or correctional services or justice) is insufficient, as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
A UDM government will enhance coordination between the ministries of justice, police services, correctional services, defence and national intelligence.
The UDM therefore will establish a Crime Prevention Ministry to coordinate the work of these departments.
Specific objectives and deadlines will be set for the departments to achieve the goal of a safe society.
We will allocate more resources towards the breaking of crime syndicates and physically destroying their power bases; through such measures as forfeiture of property, crippling financial penalties, full victim compensation, and others.
The UDM recognises that communities play a major role in addressing the root causes of crime and violence.
Therefore, actively encouraging communities to participate in the eradication of crime through, for instance, the establishment of properly resourced neighbourhood watches is of great importance.
A UDM government will also reorganise the recruitment processes of the police, defence and intelligence services.
The aim of such a programme will be to allow communities to participate in keeping their environment safe and secure.
Individuals who are interested in a career in law enforcement will be trained and assigned to serve their communities, thus allowing for the monitoring of crime, the gathering of intelligence and combating lawlessness.
A UDM government will also establish a baseline information system (database) for strategic planning around crime and policing issues.
An important component of such a system will be the use of victim surveys to fill the gaps left by official crime statistics as compiled by the police.
We will also lobby SADC countries to seriously consider establishing an apparatus to respond to cross-border-crime and terrorism, as well as the gathering of intelligence.
4.Education
The future stability and prosperity of South Africa depends on the level and quality of education and skills training of all its citizens.
The current government seems to have little appreciation of the crisis developing in South Africa with respect to education and the skills shortage.
The high levels of functional illiteracy and innumeracy, and the uncoordinated attempts at skills development constitute a great obstacle to the development of our country.
Foreign investors shy away from South Africa due to, some extent, the low levels of education and skills of its workforce.
The UDM believes that the serious occupation of teaching must not be expected to tolerate the idle, the malingerer or the educationally bankrupt.
Similarly, students and learners must adopt a culture of learning and appreciate the value of time.
Emphasis must be placed on discipline in order to promote learning and teaching.
Under a UDM government, all education institutions shall be required to promote a culture of continuous learning and
responsible citizenship.
4.1.Basic Education
The South African constitution recognises the right of every child and citizen to basic education,
However, in South Africa, there is clear dichotomy between the quality of education the haves and the have-nots receive, with quality being the prerogative of the haves and the have-lots.
It is unreasonable to think that all young people will become achievers when too many schools still suffer a lack of basic requirements like potable water, sanitation, electricity as well as adequate and accessible school accommodation.
A UDM government will prioritise the building, fixing and upgrading of school infrastructure, as well as the eradication of mud schools.
A UDM government will also make additional funding available to ensure that every school has the required learning materials and resources, and
ensure that it is delivered on time.
This will not be merely limited to textbooks, but will include the provision of libraries, laboratories, computers and other relevant technologies that serve as teaching aids.
Curriculum development that is chopped and changed each time that a new minister is appointed will cease under a UDM government.
We will establish a permanent commission on education whose primary responsibilities will be to establish and build upon basic educational policy pillars
as well as ensuring that there is stability in the curriculum to give our learners the best opportunity to succeed in their studies.
The UDM will reopen teacher training colleges and
impose national standards for teachers and
ensure that they have the resources necessary to provide the highest level of professionalism possible.
School inspectors will be brought back to deal with erratic attendance by pupils, teacher laziness and administrative issues.
Crime, especially sexual harassment and abuse at schools, will receive zero-tolerance.
Offenders will be removed from the system and punished to the full might of the law.
The UDM will establish a savings accounts system for parents of children who attend no fee schools, where the state and private sector (especially big corporations) pay a monthly fee into an account for each child’s tertiary education.
Adult basic education and training will be enhanced with emphasis on employable skills and not merely reading skills.
In this regard the private sector can play an important role by ploughing back into communities, with the knowledge that this is an investment in a better skilled workforce.
4.2.Skills training
The UDM will reopen and open new vocational training centres and out of school programmes to absorb the low-levelled and unschooled.
Government resources will be allocated to practical skills training which enhances peoples' abilities to enter the formal and informal sector.
We will also incentivise companies that provide basic vocational and technical skills training.
4.3.Higher education
The UDM supports fee-free tertiary education aimed at students from poor and working-class families.
Such an expanded programme can be justified economically as free education is a strategic economic driver,
because it is an investment by the state in the creation of a larger tax base in the long run.
However, once implemented under a UDM government, students’ progress shall be monitored and managed as an investment.
A UDM government will phase out the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NFSAS), because of, amongst others, chronic maladministration,
corruption and a jobs-for-pals leadership scheme.
In addition, the way that NSFAS is structured makes for students who are saddled with debt and,
because of our lacklustre job market, they will sit with that obligation with no hope of repaying it.
This impacts on the sustainability of NSFAS as the funds run out at mid-term and leaves students in the lurch.
A UDM government will ensure that all institutions of higher learning are geared to produce graduates that are equipped with balanced job-related and life-skills to enter the job-market and the greater society.
Many of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) have been choked by corruption and
maladministration and,
as with NSFAS, has become a playground for crooked and unscrupulous individuals.
Serious doubt has also been cast on the SETAs’ ability to manage the skills development needed for our economy to flourish.
A UDM government will seek to review the current system to ensure that the intended consequences of the Skills Development Act are realised.
5.Healthcare
The quality of healthcare infrastructure and maintenance are often below standard.
Hygiene at many clinics is at unacceptable levels and must be addressed immediately.
It remains a sad fact that many South Africans must travel huge distances to the nearest clinic or hospital.
Therefore, health infrastructure and services need to be provided closer to the poor.
A UDM government will commit itself to healthcare that is linked to other social cluster portfolios, recognising the role of social welfare, water and sanitation, basic life skills and awareness to improve the basic health of the nation.
A proper and functioning referral mechanisms must be put in place.
It is vital that patients in need of specialised care be identified early and referred quickly to institutions capable to deal with their needs.
This measure aims to prevent long queues and inadequate treatment,
or the practice of referring patients to institutions incapable of assisting them.
The UDM believes that nutritional issues and family planning must form a basic part of primary healthcare,
recognising that basic counselling and skills development in these areas will have a major impact on the general health and wellbeing of communities.
A UDM government will ensure that the department of health is part of an integrated response to alcohol and drug abuse recognising that substance abuse plays a major role in violence, death and social disruption in South Africa.
Traditional healing remains popular and should be respected,
but the UDM believes that it should be regulated.
A UDM government will investigate mechanisms to regulate and monitor this sector of healthcare provision and to ensure that exploitation does not occur.
6.Social imperatives
6.1.Role of faith-based organisations
Religious values and practices are deeply entwined in the fabric of our daily lives, which means that faith-based organisations play a very important role in providing moral leadership and guidance.
During the apartheid years, the work of faith-based organisations formed a vital part of overthrowing that discriminatory regime.
It could however be argued that, in the South Africa of today, they play a less critical part in leading our people on the path of decency, honesty and goodness.
We, as a nation, have lost our moral compass as is evidenced by the crime and corruption that have become a permanent feature of our lives.
The UDM therefore calls on all faith-based organisations to again be the voice of reason for a nation in moral dire straits.
6.2.People with disabilities
Some 4.7 million people live with disabilities in South Africa, with 8 in 10 not having employment.
This is a statistic that brings the desperate situation straight to home.
According to the South African Human Rights Commission: “…as a result of historical discrimination, persons with disabilities face disproportionately high levels of unemployment, are employed in low status jobs, or receive lower than average remuneration.”
Where people with disabilities are concerned, the UDM believes in the principle of “nothing for them, without them”.
A UDM government will therefore give a voice to South Africans living with disabilities to have a direct say in the formulation of laws, policies and regulations that apply to them.
The UDM is also of the view that more must be done to create employment opportunities for South Africans living with disabilities,
because once they can take care of themselves financially, their rights and dignity can be restored.
In line with the UDM’s entrepreneurship policy, we believe that such opportunities lie with establishing employment programmes specifically targeted at people with disabilities.
Specifically, it is objectionable that most buildings in South Africa are inaccessible to people living with disabilities and
hence they are less likely to be employed.
Often employers and planners incorrectly believe that the onus is on the other party to create a barrier-free environment.
These barriers to human talent, equality and the eradication of discrimination are wholly unacceptable.
A UDM government will ensure that public transportation is effective and user-friendly,
giving people living with disabilities access to transportation to go where they want.
A UDM government will act in accordance with the constitution and international best practice by protecting the rights of people living with disabilities.
Regarding the social discrimination against people with disabilities, the UDM will launch an information campaign to teach the nation that their fellow South Africans living with disabilities are entitled to all the rights and freedoms that are enjoyed by able bodied South Africans.
6.3.People living with albinism
No one can deny that people living with albinism are among the most marginalised groups of our society.
Their lives are considered less valuable than those who do not live with albinism and their rights are therefore trod upon without consideration.
Worse still is that their lives are placed in danger due to ignorance and the misconception that there lies mystical power in taking the life of a person living with albinism.
A UDM government will launch an information campaign teaching all South Africans that people living with albinism have equal rights and
that albinism is a medical condition, and not a curse upon a person living with it.
6.4.Women
South African women face a myriad of challenges, such as physical violence and murder perpetrated by husbands and boyfriends.
They lack access to resources, employment opportunities, advancement and academic achievement.
Other challenges they face are teenage pregnancy,
internet predation,
female single parent headed households and
the scourge of HIV/Aids.
Women in rural areas are worst affected and they are still subjected to all kinds of physical hardships such as carrying water from the rivers, using firewood for cooking and having to travel long distances to access education and medical facilities.
Under a UDM government, women will be empowered so that they may expand their economic and social participation through community-based projects and other schemes that give them greater control over their own destinies.
There is a practice in rural South Africa where women and young girls are abducted (‘ukuthwala’) and forced into marriage thus ruining their future prospects.
A UDM government will criminalise this practice.
The UDM was initially encouraged at the creation of a ministry of women, children and people with living with disabilities, but we have yet to see any results.
Under a UDM government this ministry will specifically monitor and work with all government departments to ensure that women have the same opportunities as their male counterparts in all aspects of life.
The UDM recognises the need to establish an equitable partnership between men and women and
change the prevailing social paradigm of gender
to usher in a new generation of women and men working together to create a humane world order.
6.5.Youth
Youth are the future leaders of South Africa, yet they remain side-lined from economic and other opportunities.
Young people leave school and tertiary institutions but cannot find jobs.
The UDM believes that a successful response to the challenge of youth employment means constructing a foundation for inter-generational solidarity today and
for the social and economic development of the future generations.
A UDM government shall partner with local and international companies, for example the textile and steel manufacturing industries, in a mentorship programme for the youth.
Upon completion of this mentorship programme graduates shall be capacitated to open their own concerns.
We will take pro-active and deliberate steps to ensure that our youth are employed by:
•Encouraging their voluntary involvement in civil society with government support.
•Re-introducing voluntary national service in the army and
other state institutions.
•Intensifying skills development and empowerment programmes.
Another scourge that plague our youth is the increased abuse of alcohol and drugs; recognising that many people, due to desperate circumstances have become trapped in drug addiction, prostitution and other forms of neglect and exploitation.
A UDM government will provide programmes to reintegrate these people into the economic and social mainstream.
We will also ensure that the department of health is part of an integrated response to alcohol and drug abuse.
Under a UDM government, funding will be made available for political parties represented in parliament to have leadership programmes to teach our youth, amongst others, about their country, current affairs, the constitution, patriotism, human rights, the political landscape and a culture of ownership and respect.
7.Protecting the environment
Protecting the environment and our national resources are often placed on the backburner due to the fact that the consequences of abuse are not immediately appreciable.
People find an issue such as the depletion of the ozone layer an abstract concept that does not directly affect them.
Many South Africans do not concern themselves with the environment, because of the notion that “it’s someone else’s problem” and therefore do not take responsibility for their own actions.
High levels of poverty also contribute to the damage of our environment.
For example, the need to stay warm in the winter is a primary goal for rural and township communities, whilst the negative impact of wood collection on the environment may not be understood.
To combat this, the UDM believes that it is imperative that the poor be uplifted to rescue our environment from permanent damage.
A UDM government will implement a “Marshall Plan” to save our natural heritage that shall identify, build and reward individuals, institutions and community-based organisations to rescue and conserve our environment.
The potential conflict between the imperatives of conservation and those of resource-poor communities must be defused.
Under a UDM government, conservation and socio-economic development shall be linked by allowing communities to have sustainable access to the life- supporting and income-earning potential of nature reserves and conservation areas.
The UDM believes that, through the implementation of bio-diversity programmes thousands of jobs can be created,
because we believe that it is possible to generate jobs and business opportunities whilst being environmentally responsible.
We will implement tax incentives to encourage the private sector to invest in the development of technologies for conservation and
sustainable use of bio-diversity programmes.
A UDM government will roll out an information campaign to teach the uninformed of the impacts of their actions on the environment, good and bad.
An ideal way of promoting the preservation of the environment would be to start teaching children at school to be responsible citizens.
We will also use community radio programmes to broaden knowledge and create awareness of the environment.
We will also introduce “green battalions” to counter, amongst others, soil erosion, over-grazing, deforestation and to also protecting biodiversity, especially in rural South Africa.
We will consolidate the massive number of environmental laws and regulations into one concise and effective law.
Once in power, a UDM government will be active in the enforcement of environmental law with individuals or organisations that contravene it to suffer severe penalties.
8.Electoral regime
A purely proportional representation system, like ours, makes for a situation where political parties render the electorate toothless.
Parliamentarians are not held accountable and should they not perform voters are left at the whim of party bosses.
The UDM therefore commits itself to a hybrid electoral system into which the strengths of both the proportional and constituency based electoral systems are incorporated.
A UDM government will therefore usher constituencies into the PR system which will see politicians representing geographically-defined communities.
To enhance accountability, a UDM government will change electoral laws so that voters can directly elect their president.
The UDM will also ensure that cabinet members are scrutinised by parliament’s ethics committee before they are sworn in to be certain that they are able and trustworthy leaders.
9.Coalition government
If the 2019 national and provincial elections should deliver no outright winner, as predicted by political pundits, the question of a national coalition arises.
In this regard, the UDM is of the view that a coalition government should be regulated so that the principle of serving the people is not suppressed by wanton political intimidation and playing the numbers-game that typifies the present local government dispensation.
The UDM also believes that one of the basic principles that should inform coalition government is that it represents the wishes of the voters.
Hence it is important that coalition partners iron out their relationships directly after elections and
publish their compacts so that voters clearly understand how that coalition will work
and also to have a set of standards to measure the coalition government’s performance.
10.International relations
Under a UDM administration South Africa’s foreign policy shall be subservient to the will, the aspirations and needs of the South African people
with a focus on multi-lateralism rather than unilateral decision making.
A UDM government will not ratify international conventions before they are tabled at and approved by parliament.
In the past, many such conventions ended up hurting our people instead of improving their lives – for instance, allowing countries to use South Africa as a dumping ground for goods, whilst some of those countries (e.g. America and China) have strict policies and laws that protect them against this practice.
The UDM believes that, for the development of the South African and African economies, it makes sense to gradually cease the mass export of raw materials so that jobs are created locally through homegrown processing and manufacturing.
In terms of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the UDM will promote the intensification of infrastructure development so that trade and goods may flow more freely.
A UDM government will advance the African initiatives and programmes introduced by Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki and
, in particular, efforts to ensure peace and stability on the continent.
FIX SOUTH AFRICA TO CREATE A GOOD LIFE FOR EVERYONE
Now is a GOOD time to fix South Africa.
The world and South Africa has changed significantly since 1994.
Doing ʻgovernment as usualʼ is not good enough anymore.
Our country is rapidly urbanising.
By 2050, more than 80% of South Africans will live in towns and cities.
No family will be unaffected by what happens in a town or city.
GOOD recognises that our countryʼs future lies in the development of its towns and cities.
We must fix South Africa so that our towns and cities offer a pathway to a GOOD life for everyone.
GOOD plans to create a future where towns and cities are empowered to take the lead in creating positive and real change for everyone.
That is why GOOD is proposing to turn government on its head – to empower towns and cities to build prosperous, safe and socially inclusive communities.
To bring power as close to our people as possible.
To fix old government structures that are not working,
so that we can start fixing our gross unemployment,
our declining economic growth, and
the crippling corruption thatʼs brought our country to its knees.
To fix the massive inequalities of land ownership, the slow pace of rural land reform, societal segregation and wealth distribution.
To fix the housing injustices,
lack of public-service delivery and
failing public transport system thatʼs leaving our people stranded and broke.
To fix the deteriorating education system,
digital exclusion and
the protection of privilege thatʼs impacting the development of our future leaders.
We stand up for a country that has zero tolerance for racism, gender discrimination,
corruption and
poverty.
GOOD is not afraid to tackle these issues honestly, and head on.
The GOOD party is led by GOOD people,
fighting to create a GOOD life for  every GOOD South African.
We stand for the GOOD of our people.
The GOOD of our country and
the GOOD of our planet.
And we believe that serving you, the people of South Africa, is our privilege and honour.
South Africa needs GOOD people to speak out against corruption,
against embedded unearned privilege and
against structural and socialised disadvantage that determines who succeeds and who doesnʼt.
GOOD is continuing to develop its PLAN to fix our country and will expand this offering in the months ahead.
Now is a GOOD time to fix South Africa.
Now is a GOOD time to vote for GOOD.
GOOD’S POLICY PRINCIPLES
Our GOOD future is based on four key principles:
Spatial Justice:
GOOD commits to redressing apartheid spatial planning and the unequal access to jobs, housing, land, tenure and transport that resulted from separating our society based on skin colour.
GOOD will fight to undo this legacy of racism.
Economic Justice
Governments cannot create jobs.
The role and responsibility of government is to create the conditions for economic growth,
investment,
new businesses and
new jobs.
GOOD will restore stability and confidence in government.
We will build the infrastructure and
create the policy certainty that allows South Africa to compete more effectively for the investment that leads to the creation of new businesses.
Economic growth must create jobs for those who are currently unemployed.
Training and education must develop the skills needed for the industries of the future.
Social Justice
GOOD commits to ensuring equitable treatment of all people in South Africa.
Gender bias, racial discrimination and unfair privilege must end so that South Africa can achieve real democracy and a fully united and equitable society.
We must build a united South Africa.
Our independent Chapter 9 State Institutions that support Constitutional Democracy, must play a greater role in tackling the structural inequalities in our society.
Social justice also means equitable access to quality education, and
ensure fair and equal pay for equal work.
Environmental Justice
Climate change is real and is impacting our economy, food security and the environment.
None of us can escape the consequences of rising temperatures and changing weather patterns.
It is the poor and vulnerable citizens in developing countries who are most impacted by climate change.
GOOD will tackle climate change,
uphold animal and environmental rights,
help cities to implement emissions and waste reduction plans,
ensure appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures and
accelerate national emissions reductions including the move to cheaper, renewable energy sources.
THE GOOD PLAN TO #FIXSA
FIX SPATIAL INJUSTICE
PROBLEM: ACCESS TO LAND OWNERSHIP
GOOD POSITION: PUBLIC LAND MUST BE USED FOR PUBLIC GOOD
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: The Expropriation without Compensation debate: A Section 25 Constitutional Amendment is not required:
Government already expropriates land & Sec 25 already allows for zero compensation where appropriate.
GOOD will instead implement redress and speed up restitution.
Government and SOEʼs are the custodians of thousands of parcels of land on behalf of all South Africans.
GOOD will use public land for public good – for housing, redress and growth – not for profit.
GOOD will implement a land audit in each city and province to identify large public and private land holdings, including those of SOEʼs.
Cities must have more say in how vacant land is used.
Large, underused or unused land holdings must be part of the solution.
GOOD will finalise outstanding land restitution cases within 5 years.
Cases can be accelerated using publicly owned land - all spheres of government and SOEs included.
PROBLEM: HOUSING
GOOD POSITION: WHERE PEOPLE LIVE MATTERS
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: Huge housing backlogs and delivery far from city centre.
GOOD will accelerate formal housing delivery by devolving functions to the metros.
GOOD will stop the expansive, low-income housing on the city outskirts.
This is simply fuelling urban sprawl and re-creating apartheid-era, dormitory suburbs of poverty.
GOOD will, instead, develop inclusive higher density housing to infill within the urban fabric.
GOOD will ensure that towns and cities bring people closer to jobs and jobs closer to people.
GOOD POSITION: HOW PEOPLE LIVE MATTERS
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: Growing informal settlements, many do not qualify for free BNG state housing:
GOOD will ensure towns and cities provide services to informal settlements.
GOOD will provide title deeds to residents in informal settlements so that they can have security and invest in their own homes.
GOOD will consult with informal settlement communities about the best model for title deeds for them.
PROBLEM: PUBLIC TRANSPORT
GOOD POSITION: PROVIDE PUBLIC TRANSPORT THAT BENEFITS THE PUBLIC.
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: Our roads are congested because corruption & mismanagement has collapsed rail services.
Safe, reliable trains will save commuters time & money, reduce road congestion and improve our economy because people will be able to get to work more easily and on time.
Rail is a priority.
GOOD will stop e-tolls and fix rail transport.
Transport costs, including e-tolls, punish the poor – those that were forced to live farthest away by apartheid planning.
GOOD will allow metro governments to integrate rail with local bus services for a one-system, one-ticket public transport network.
GOOD will allow minibus taxis to be integrated and be given contracts, like the scheduled bus operators, as part of a single network public transport service.
FIX ECONOMIC INJUSTICE
PROBLEM: UNEMPLOYMENT
GOOD POSITION: ATTRACT INVESTMENT TO CREATE JOBS
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: Unemployment is unacceptably high.
Our economy must be turned around within 2 to 3 years if we are to avert a complete collapse.
GOOD will create the conditions for investment so that new businesses can create new jobs.
We must: Stop corruption and cadre deployment;
Build the infrastructure that businesses need;
Provide policy certainty to investors and business sectors;
Support workers, businesses, towns and cities to ensure growth.
GOOD will focus industrial growth strategies on sectors that produce jobs for semi-skilled and unskilled young people who are currently unemployed.
PROBLEM: POVERTY
GOOD POSITION: INVEST IN PEOPLE
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: In South Africa, the face of poverty is a black woman.
Her mother was poor, she is poor, and, unless we break this cycle, her children will be poor too.
Grants are investments in our citizens, and they must be used to help break the inter-generational cycle of poverty.
Education is key to breaking the poverty cycle.
GOOD will ensure that all grant and pension increases are at least inflation-related.
•GOOD will ensure Social Grants are provided by government to alleviate extreme poverty.
GOOD will ensure that children remain in school through the use of social and child grants.
PROBLEM: TAX AND FINANCES
GOOD POSITION: INVEST IN PEOPLE
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: Expenses climbing, income reducing and junk status looming.
GOOD will make SOEs financially independent.
GOOD will reduce all government operating costs by eliminating unnecessary wasteful expenditure.
GOOD will prosecute corrupt politicians, not send them to parliament.
GOOD will stop unaffordable energy expansion plans and instead, bring more cheaper renewable energy into the grid.
FIX SOCIAL INJUSTICE
PROBLEM: SAFETY AND CRIME
GOOD POSITION: VIOLENCE MUST BE SOCIALISED OUT OF OUR SOCIETY
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: Crime is unacceptably high in our society.
GOOD will address the root causes of crime by ensuring improved, professional policing works
hand in hand with effective social services and social development.
PROBLEM: EDUCATION
GOOD POSITION: EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO PROSPERITY
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: Inadequate, unequal resources, and shortage of 20,000 qualiﬁed teachers.
GOOD will reopen teacher training colleges.
Unions must help train their members.
GOOD will promote e-learning to bring South African children into the digital economy.
Education from early childhood to early adulthood must encourage the talent and develop the skills that the market needs now, and in the future.
GOOD will ensure access to quality early-childhood and basic education that prepares school leavers to find a job, or enter further or higher education.
GOOD will encourage a culture of sports in schools again.
PROBLEM: UNITY, REDRESS AND RACISM
GOOD POSITION: WHEN WOMEN RISE, THE NATION RISES
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: At current rates, it will take more than 100 years to close the gender pay gap.
GOOD will fight for EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK
Violent homes beget a violent society.
2 out of 3 women killed in South Africa are killed by their partners.
GOOD will educate boys and men to stop violence against women in the home, and in society.
Education is key in helping girls and women escape the multi-generational poverty cycle.
GOOD will provide equitable access to education to disadvantaged girls and women through the use of incentivised social grants.
PROBLEM: UNITY, TOLERANCE AND EQUALITY
GOOD POSITION: UNDO THE STRUCTURAL INEQUALITY IN OUR SOCIETY, AND FIGHT AGAINST RACISM
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: Race, Space and Gender continues to deﬁne the opportunities for South Africans.
Most South Africans are GOOD, not racist and not intolerant.
GOOD will not allow racists to speak for us.
GOOD will dismantle the remnants of structural inequality, racism and intolerance in our society using the existing Chapter 9 institutions.
GOOD will lead the way to a GOOD South Africa where we all care for one another – united in our diversity.
Education is key in helping girls and women escape the multi-generational poverty cycle.
GOOD will provide equitable access to education to disadvantaged girls and women through the use of incentivised social grants.
GOOD POSITION: EQUITABLE ACCESS TO AN INCLUSIVE DATA AND DIGITAL NETWORK
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: Access, connection and data costs exclude many people from the internet and digital economy.
South Africa must not be left behind in the technology revolution.
GOOD will accelerate fibre rollout and reduce data costs.
GOOD will give priority access to schools and lower income neighbourhoods.
Education is key in helping girls and women escape the multi-generational poverty cycle.
GOOD will provide equitable access to education to disadvantaged girls and women through the use of incentivised social grants.
PROBLEM: HEALTHCARE
GOOD POSITION: NO BARRIERS TO BASIC HEALTHCARE
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: Primary health care focus is critical so that as many illnesses and diseases are prevented as possible.
This will alleviate pressure on state hospitals so that specialist healthcare services can focus more on emergencies and nonpreventative diseases.
GOOD supports the provision of quality basic national health care.
GOOD supports a national healthcare that can work in conjunction with private heathcare.
GOOD recognises the right of every South African to procure additional health care provision over and above the nationally provided health care.
FIX ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE
Problem: RENEWABLE ENERGY
GOOD POSITION: ENERGY SHOULD BE CHEAPER AND BETTER FOR US
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: Rising electricity costs, ballooning Eskom dept.
GOOD will split Eskom into generator and distributor so that utilities can compete to provide South Africans with power at competitive prices.
GOOD will increase renewable energy into the grid.
Wind and solar energy already offer cheaper and lower emission electricity to the country.
GOOD will allow large metropolitan areas to procure or generate their own power.
PROBLEM: CLIMATE CHANGE: MORE DROUGHTS AND HEATWAVES
GOOD POSITION: CITIES MUST LEAD THE WAY AND REDUCE IMPACTS
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: Cities cover 2% of the earth, but cause 70% of emissions.
GOOD will implement and meet international commitments to reduce emissions & ensure that local governments in towns and cities lead the way in reducing environmental impacts by:
Offering better public transport, more recycling and more compact city planning;
Helping citizens reduce their individual impacts through more efficient homes, more public transport use and education on smarter, healthier diet choices.
PROBLEM: WATER SECURITY
CHALLENGES AND SOME OF THE THINGS A GOOD GOVERNMENT WILL DO TO FIX THEM: Increasing droughts and heatwaves are placing water security at risk.
GOOD will protect key catchments, rivers and wetlands by devolving decisions and management to Catchment Management Agencies, bringing governance closer to the people.
GOOD will improve wafer security by removing thirsty invasive alien vegetation, thereby creating many rural jobs, increasing water yields, and also improving our environment.
WEBSITE: WWW.FORGOOD.ORG.ZA FACEBOOK: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/FORGOODZA
TWITTER: @FORGOODZA INSTAGRAM: FORGOODZA
OUR VISION AND PLAN FOR A BETTER SOUTH AFRICA
The vision of the NFP contained in the party’s 2011 Constitution remains unchanged.
It is: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,
to adhere to and implement the provisions thereof, and
to strengthen our democracy;
To promote, secure and motivate a society that is not only politically emancipated
but also to ensure that, through empowerment and meaningful service delivery, substantive economic emancipation is achieved; and
To embrace and defend the core values of integrity, respect, justice, solidarity and self-discipline within the Party.
Since the dawn of democracy in 1994, South Africa has matured in terms of ensuring democratic consolidation.
The country’s Constitution is considered one of the best in the world.
As a way of supporting the national Constitution, various institutions such as Chapter 9 institutions have been put in place in order to ensure that the rule of law prevails and
that all South Africans are treated with the dignity they deserve.
But while giant strides have been taken to move this country forward, there are several factors which continue to drag South Africa backwards.
These factors derive from leadership deficit in some of the government departments and various institutions,
coupled with a weak civil society which is reluctant to hold leaders accountable.
Some of these factors have external causality and are dictated by the global trends and developments.
While the latter are beyond the country’s control, they can be contained and rendered less effective if the right decisions are taken and correct policies implemented and properly monitored.
The former can be addressed by South Africans.
Among the many issues which have the propensity to derail the gains of democracy in our country are the following: corruption,
economic inequalities,
poverty (especially among the black masses who were previously excluded from development projects),
overt and covert racism,
crime and security concerns,
gender-based violence and violence against children and the elderly,
neglect of rural communities,
the slow pace of service delivery and land redistribution
as well as moral decay
which has become a nemesis to the promotion of Ubuntu philosophy on which African values are grounded.
While some of these issues need a total change of mind-set among all South Africans,
others are as a result of weaknesses in certain government institutions and
failure by some of the office-bearers to execute their responsibilities diligently and honestly.
Even where policies and laws are in place, there is evident lack of monitoring and evaluation to ensure that there is correlation between what is on paper and what happens in practice.
As a party, the NFP commits itself to filling the gaps enumerated above in order to ensure that the country performs at its full potential and that it takes the interests of South Africans seriously.
To achieve this goal, when implementing its promises the NFP will not adopt a top-down approach which does not resonate with the people on the ground.
Instead, it will work with and through the people of South Africa so that they could own the end- product and individually and collectively contribute to the actualisation of the party’s dream of a better South Africa.
The NFP believes that South Africa has enough policies and laws in place to take this country forward.
What is lacking is implementation and evaluation.
Secondly, the buy-in of South Africans has been one of the causal factors for the failure of various government departments to deliver on their assigned mandate.
The third element is that some of the country’s institutions have no teeth to bite.
As such, people do as they wish with no recourse or consequences.
The fourth reason is lack of astute leadership in certain government departments and institutions (the same applies to the private sector).
The fifth reason is inaction against those officials who do wrong.
This is due in part to cadre deployment, cronyism and nepotism, among others.
Having observed the development of events in the country as one of the opposition political parties in the country, the NFP has come to the realisation that no government would be able to address the country’s social ills and development concerns by working in isolation.
It is against this premise that the NFP has resolved to give power back to the people with government only providing the guiding and implementing role.
This is in line with collective effort which is grounded on the African Ubuntu philosophy.
South Africa is an epitome of a representative democratic system.
As such, Members of Parliament (MPs) should at all times derive their mandate from the people who are their constituencies.
We, as the NFP believe that it is through constant engagement with the electorate that leaders can come up with strategies and programmes that will speak directly to the needs of the masses of South Africa on the ground.
In this spirit, in the event that something is not achievable within a specific time period, the onus is on the political leadership to apprise the electorate so that they appreciate whatever challenges that derail government’s plans.
The NFP believes that making empty promises that are irrational and non-achievable results in intermittent service delivery protests.
What the electorate needs is transparency.
For example, there should be an explanation as to why certain goals cannot be achieved within a certain period or during a specified financial year.
This is the common logic that will inform what the NFP will do when serving this country if South Africans entrust it with the mandate to lead them to a better future.
In a nutshell, if elected to serve this country, in the next five years we as the NFP shall work with you to deliver inter alia on the following seven priority areas: 1.Economic development
and Job creation
2.Good governance and transparent leadership
3.Rural development and
accelerated land reform
4.Traditional leadership and
the revival of Ubuntu
5.Safety and security
6.Education (basic and higher education)
7.Health
Apart from these priority areas, we will also ensure that human settlement receives specific attention in order to give South Africans dignity.
In this regard, we will improve living conditions in the hostels and ensure that they are both safe and habitable.
Having assessed the situation and having interacted with hostel dwellers, we have come to the realisation that some of the hostel feuds are as a result of the conditions of the hostels
as well as lack of control measures and political influence.
These factors add to sheer criminality.
We believe that all these issues need coordinated attention and drastic action.
Related to the above is the issue of shacks and RDP houses.
The NFP believes that continuous building of RDP houses without putting control and monitoring measures in place is not sustainable.
We believe that with proper control mechanisms no individual person will own more than one RDP house or sell an RDP house and build another shack so that s/he can later apply for another RDP house.
Such lack of monitoring and control measures disadvantages those who really need RDP houses and caters for those who use this otherwise good government initiative as a form of business to make profit for themselves.
The NFP believes that this has to end.
For us to be able to achieve these goals we shall need concerted effort by both the public and private sectors.
Importantly, we shall need the support of the local communities and their leadership structures so that they could own our programmes and initiatives.
We shall refrain from being prescriptive, which leads to resentment by the intended beneficiaries and leads to unnecessary public protests.
Importantly, as a party we are mindful of and appreciate the role played by traditional leaders in South Africa.
As such, we shall work closely with these traditional leaders so that their role is recognised and appreciated.
We hold the view that traditional leaders epitomise the African way of governance which predates the modern systems of governance predicated on elected representatives.
They remain relevant and
have the ability to sustain Africa’s Ubuntu philosophy which makes Africa unique.
Moreover, we strongly believe that no rural development can succeed without the support of and approval by these leaders who are the custodians of the land on behalf of rural communities.
We are mindful of the fact that the institution of traditional leadership is sanctioned by Chapter 12 of the National Constitution.
As such, we appreciate the fact that traditional leaders cannot be ignored in the governance of this country.
Given the high volume of foreign nationals entering the country through our national borders, we shall regulate this influx so that people enter the country legally and
contribute to our economic growth through job creation and rendering of services in different sectors.
Each of them should be accounted for.
In that spirit, we shall tighten control of the country’s borders.
Furthermore, we shall improve South Africa’s international relations by engaging our counterparts from other countries across Africa and the globe.
They should know about South Africa’s policies and their premise.
We hold a strong view that all the promises contained in this Manifesto are rational, achievable and realistic.
Importantly, we unreservedly believe that the commitments made in this Manifesto have currency or relevance to the present political context.
Being a relatively new political party but with sound and visible footprints nationally, we are fully convinced that with the support from South Africans we will be able to deliver on the commitments made in this Manifesto.
It is against this backdrop that we have made this Manifesto real, practical, rational, simple and people-focused.
In the next five years, the NFP will work with the masses of South Africa to make this country great.
All that we need is the mandate from the South African electorate.
GIVING POWER BACK TO THE PEOPLE!
OUR MAIN COMMITMENTS TO THE ELECTORATE TO MOVE SOUTH AFRICA FORWARD
1.ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION
Economic development go hand-in-hand.
Prospects for job creation are significantly reduced if the country’s economy remains stagnant or if it grows at a very slow pace.
Within this context, the NFP believes that there is an urgent need to grow the country’s economy if the dream of creating more jobs for South Africans is to be realised.
To achieve this goal, the NFP shall: Coordinate processes whereby all sectors (both public and private) will join hands to boost the economy
Scrap labour brokering to ensure that companies employ people directly and ensure job security
Provide support to SMMEs, especially those owned by people with disabilities, women and the youth.
This shall be achieved by allowing them to order in bulk so that they could get goods at a cheaper price and thus maximise profit
Restructure the existing Tender System so that it could benefit people with disabilities, women and the youth as opposed to predominantly benefitting those who are politically connected
Increase the current 2% requirement for employment of people with disabilities and ensure that they are prioritised in those jobs for which they qualify
Capacitate government employees with the view to eventually discontinue consultancy, which puts a strain on the public purse
Tighten the regulation of exchange control,
expand international trade and
introduce subsidies and incentives for vulnerable key sectors such as agriculture and textile,
and industries that are under threat of imports that are subsidised in their countries of origin
Enact legislation that will ensure prioritising South African interest in the awarding of all new mining licences, and
make it mandatory for South African share-holding where such license is granted to a foreign owned company or enterprise
Formalise & regulate jobs such as car parking and guarding to protect guards from being abused by politically connected individuals and private companies
Give incentives to public and private companies that provide internships to the people with disabilities & the youth so that they could gain job experience, which most employers ask for
Introduce volunteerism at local municipal level with a stipend incentive component to serve as means of entry into the mainstream economy by developing marketable skills amongst volunteers getting experience
Accelerate the pace of rural development through the electrification of these areas and increased water supply
so that local residents could start small businesses where they live instead of flooding urban centres in search of jobs and end up living in shacks under deplorable conditions
Revive academic career guidance at high school level so that the youth could be assisted in choosing professions before they proceed to tertiary level and be able to contribute to the country’s economic development when they finish schooling/training
Address crime and corruption with the view to attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
thereby contributing to economic development and
job creation
Enforce laws geared towards ensuring implementation of employment equity and
to fight worker abuse by their employers and
ensure that monitoring takes place
Improved relations between employers & employees and
urge the former more South Africans so as to reduce unemployment rate in the country
Ensure that the Reserve Bank is entirely South African owned, with 51% owned by the state and 49% owned by the citizens of South Africa through the purchase of shares
– same with the mines and all natural resources.
Ensure that local get first preference that international companies when services are sought
Reduce import tariffs in order to incentivise both local and international companies
Wage war against fake goods which kill South Africa’s economy
Ensure that SOEs such as SAA, ESKOM and others are not privatised but reconfigured and properly staffed to ensure their efficiency
Encourage Public-Private Partnership whereby the state would own 51% of the SOEs while the South African public owns 49% through shares
Ensure that the entire administration at these SOEs is entirely independent from government
Have amnesty on those people who are on the blacklist so that they would be able to start afresh and contribute to the country’s economy
Impose stringent conditions on loan sharks who abuse/exploit the public by charging high interest and withholding their identity documents and social grant cards
Formalise and subsidise the Taxi Industry by allowing taxi owners to organise themselves into small companies under the guidance of business experts
Send mobile containers with people from SARS and other government institutions to services to people in the Taxi Industry because they do not have the time to visit those office due to the nature of their work
Allow taxi permits to be transferred to the surviving spouse after the demise of the partner so that families can continue to live as opposed to forfeiting the permit
Support taxi owners when buying taxis by transferring from government coffers half of what the taxi costs directly to the dealer so that the taxi owner could finish the instalments quicker or pay a significantly reduced monthly instalment
Change parking laws to allow taxi owners/drivers to use two parking bays to park their big taxis and
build bigger parking bays for such cars where possible
Ensure that sliding door operators in the taxi industry are properly employed with benefits
Ensure that those who do not pay child maintenance are black-listed
Create a widows and widowers’ grant to take care of those who cannot support themselves once their beloved ones have passed on but before they qualify for old-age pension
2.GOOD GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENT LEADERSHIP
The NFP shall: Ensure that all employment sectors adhere to and comply with employment policies and legislation, and that those who do not comply are prosecuted
Have zero tolerance for public representatives who abuse their positions and use them for self-enrichment
Ensure that all public representatives qualify for the positions for which they have been earmarked
Ensure that public representatives undergo life audits to check if their lifestyles correlate with their salaries so that they could lead by example
Capacitate and constantly train office-bearers to improve service delivery
Put in place a reward system for those public officials who do well in their respective portfolios and provide guidance to the private sector to do the same
Tighten legislation on corruption and fraud among public representatives and the private sector
Enforce consequent management on officials who fail to deliver on their mandate, especially in parastatals that are not performing up to the expected level or standard
Ensure that those officials who loot state resources are not only charged for these crimes but are also forced to pay back the money from their pension & allowances and are blacklisted as a warning to others
Forge close relations with civil society in general to devise strategies that could be used to ensure accountability among leaders and all office-bearers
Intensify the usage of the toll-free line where members of the public could report incidents of bad governance by public representatives and collusion by members of the public.
3.RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND ACCELERATED LAND REFORM
The NFP shall: Accelerate the pace of land reforms so that land could be speedily distributed and shared by all South Africans
Map up the way forward on how to handle commercial and residential land so that there could be no negative repercussions of the land reform process
Ensure that both men and women have equal access to land
Ensure that people who own land which they do not use give it back to government for redistribution to those who need it
Ensure that people retain ownership of property located in government-owned land
Ensure that all remaining land claims are processed expeditiously before people lose patience
Revisit the 1913 cut-off date in respect of land claims and give all South Africans [All including the Khoi-San] the opportunity to file land claims beyond this cut-off date
Draft land tenure legislation that does not discriminate in any form and
that is devoid of any ambiguity in its meaning to ensure uniform interpretation and implementation
Increase the budget for the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform so that it could be of better service to rural communities
Accelerate the pace of the electrification and water supply of rural areas so that local residents could develop themselves instead of waiting for government to come and launch development projects
Capacitate and mentor small-holder farmers to ensure that they have the requisite skills to use the land in a profitable manner, including financial management, business skills, labour relations, etc.
Invest in sustainable water supply & electrification of rural areas
to encourage local farming
Provide incentives to white farmers who capacitate and mentor black emerging farmers so that they could also stand on their own and be competitive
Invest in rural economy and development in order to ease pressure from urban centres that keep on attracting rural communities but cannot cater for their basic needs
Change rural towns into peri-urban towns
Build local markets where rural communities could sell their produce
Facilitate communication between small-holder farmers and big supermarkets (especially local supermarkets) that small farmers could be afforded the opportunity to sell their produce to big supermarkets and other institutions – both public and private.
Appoint a Minister and other officials who are knowledgeable about rural development and land issues to ensure efficiency.
4.TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP AND THE REVIVAL OF UBUNTU
The NFP shall: Accord more respect to the institution of traditional leadership and traditional leaders
Initiate a process to revisit Chapter 12 of the Constitution to remove ambiguities therein epitomised by the use of “may” on the role of traditional leaders.
For example, Section 211(2) states that a traditional authority “may function subject to any applicable legislation and custom”.
Create a forum whereby the House of Traditional Leaders has constant communication and engagement with government to discuss various issues that affect the communities they lead before they explode
Ensure that traditional leaders do not abuse their power and exercise it over their subjects in an unacceptable manner e.g. standardise imali yokukhonza
Instil good behaviour and good leadership among traditional leaders through constant workshops
Provide opportunities for traditional leaders who want to further their studies to do so, so that they could be of better service to their people
Work with traditional leaders to initiate projects that would invoke African traditional ways of doing things with the view to revive Ubuntu and respect among South Africans,
revive their traditional role in society.
Ensure that there is representation of traditional leaders in all three spheres of government so that they would know about government’s thinking at all levels
Initiate a discussion with the public to see if traditional leaders could be elected to become public representatives and the modalities around that
Facilitate speedy resolution of succession disputes in primordial families with the view to keep rural areas peaceful and keep traditional leaders focussed.
Ensure that izinduna are paid according to their levels
Recognise the Khoisan as the 1st indigenous people of SA – including their languages, cultures and heritage.
Their chiefs and king must be equally recognised in line with Traditional Leadership as enshrined in Chapter 12 of the constitution of the Republic of South Africa
Ensure that land restitution commences immediately
5.SAFETY AND SECURITY
Safety and security have a direct link with the country’s economic development.
Without these two, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is not possible.
Similarly, there can be no job creation unless employers are assured of the safety of their businesses.
Therefore, the NFP shall have a holistic approach to dealing with safety and security.
It shall: Enforce safety and security measures across the country but more importantly in the hostels, townships and such related places where crime is rife
Establish a Synergistic Coordinating Forum involving the entire government Security Cluster and members of the public whose mandate will be to discuss safety and security measures
Punish and blacklist law-enforcement officials who collude with or lend a hand in criminal activities
Establish a reward mechanisms for those law enforcement officials and personnel who execute their duties diligently and do not engage in criminal activities
Increase the salaries of the law enforcement personnel in order to prevent crime
Ensure that promotion is done objectively by considering qualifications and years of service
Ensure that safety officials have better benefits so that they could work with dedication
Recruit and train more crime intelligence officials so that criminal activities could be detected and prevented before they happen
Arm law enforcement agencies through legislation so that they could act decisively when dealing with criminal activities
Benchmark South Africa’s safety and security measures against what other agencies such as America’s FBI and Britain’s Scotland Yard do in their respective countries
Impose severe punishment on those found guilty of serious crimes such as murder, rape, armed robbery, violence against women and children, etc. where there is undisputed evidence
Impose stringent measures on bail application
Ensure that all police stations are properly resourced, but more especially those in rural areas and the townships where most criminal activities take place
Invest in technology to assist law enforcement agencies and officials to carry out their job
Ensure that those working in Community Policing Forums (CPFs) & other law enforcement agencies to be regulated are paid reasonable salaries as an incentive
Reintroduce reservists and give them a stipend
Have policing studied at high school level to produce police officers who have a passion for the job
Tighten border to eliminate undocumented foreigners and
to deal with illegal good.
control without necessarily preventing deserving foreign nationals from entering the country’s borders
Reward handsomely members of the public who come forward with information that would assist law enforcement agencies in preventing certain criminal activities before they occur as that would save more state resources than reacting to crime that has already been committed
Call a referendum on the death penalty for violent crimes such as murder, sexual crimes as well as crimes against women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
Call a referendum on a gun free society
Appoint special child commissioners in all the courts and ensure that a specialist is appointed to assist women in courts/police stations when they come to open abuse cases
Find placement of former inmates with skills so that they do not return to jail soon after having been released.
6.EDUCATION (BASIC AND HIGHER EDUCATION)
(a)Basic Education
Basic education is at the core of the entire education system.
It is at this level where a solid foundation is built.
If such a foundation is weak, higher education cannot succeed in any way.
Therefore, the NFP shall: Commission comparative studies to establish why the quality of the country’s education system is not at the level where it should be
Phase-in an increase in the minimum requirement for a pass to fifty per cent in order to bring the standard in Basic Education in line with institutions of Further and Higher Education
Work towards having one system of education in the country as opposed to the present dual system where public and private schools operate separately
Ensure that learners are taught in their home languages
Accelerate the pace of the Africanisation and decolonisation of the curriculum so that it could speak to local issues and address local challenges
Improve the basic skills of reading, writing and numeracy, especially at the elementary levels
Have a moratorium on chop-changing education policies before their impact is evaluated
Ensure that the Language Policy is clear and unambiguous
Strengthen discipline at schools and encourage a culture of teaching and learning by ensuring that all educators and learners are at school during school hours;
this will entail revisiting some of the policies and legislation that render schools dysfunctional and unruly
Develop basic education such that it is aligned to the 4th industrial revolution.
This goal shall be achieved in part by having more computers at school
Ensure that the stationary (including textbooks) is delivered to schools before the end of the previous year so that teaching and learning could begin on the first day of the next academic year
Reward schools that perform well and but prioritise and support those that are struggling, both financially and materially
Increase the remuneration of educators to reflect their qualification and Experience;
ensure that only qualified educators are employed on a permanent basis
Actively recruit fully qualified educators to rural schools and make incentives available to them over and above their normal remuneration
Improve physical security at schools, and ensure that School Governing Bodies and the local communities are involved in the selection and employment of security officers whose salaries are to be paid for by government.
Improve the quality of education, e.g. by revisiting 30% pass; ensuring that educator are fully capacitated, putting interventions in place where schools are not performing up to standard, ensuring that all schools subscribe to the “ideal” school development capacity by being involved in sports, arts, etc.
Improve scholar transport in order to cater for those learners who travel long distances and are exposed to all sorts of danger
Ensure that schools accommodate all earners living in close proximity to the school.
Have a re-look at the quintal system & ensure that no learner is disadvantaged
Integrate basic life skills such as computer literacy and road safety as well as motor vehicle driving into the basic education curriculum so that learners could have a skills qualification when they exit the system
Ensure that there is private- public interaction among schools in order to bridge the gap
Replace Life Orientation by Career Guidance in order to prepare learners for real life out there.
(b)Higher Education & Training
Higher education is the apex of the education system in any country.
It is for this reason that governments invest resources at this level.
The NFP shall: Find ways to expand and sustain fee-free higher education to accommodate all deserving students
Legislate the change of terminology from “free higher education” to “fee-free higher education” because someone has to pay for this level of education;
make people aware that it is not free in the real sense because the money has to come from somewhere (including increasing taxes and cutting the budget of other departments)
Urge the private sector to invest more in higher education, especially in those academic fields that produce the workforce needed by the private sector (this will call for Public-Private-Partnership or PPP]
Provide more funding to TVET Colleges as a way of enabling them to attract more students and produce artisans who will boost the country’s economy when they join the employment sector
Ensure that TVET Colleges speak to the skills needs of the country by improving the quality and focus so as to produce the much-needed labour force
Re-open teacher training colleges
Invest in infrastructure development so that the country’s tertiary institutions could accommodate more students and cater for them adequately once they have been admitted
Ensure that all Universities, and where appropriate also other institutions of higher or further education, provide affordable and suitable government owned and managed accommodation for students who qualify
Urge tertiary institutions to attract and retain good lecturers who value higher education, not simply because they have the requisite skills and qualifications
Ensure that tertiary institutions transform themselves through their staff profile, curriculum review, Africanisation and decolonisation processes
Encourage tertiary institutions to be research active and to contribute to knowledge production; incentivise them, especially Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs).
Use the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to assist tertiary institutions in establishing more exchange programmes with institutions from other countries to ensure student and staff exposure
Encourage the leadership at tertiary institutions to run these institutions as corporate institutions with the view to generate funds instead of relying almost entirely on government subsidies which keep on shrinking.
Ensure that government has relations with all HE institutions, not certain ones as is currently the case.
7.HEALTH
The NFP shall Reopen and expand nursing education colleges and regionally integrate them with a University in the area to ensure that key standards are maintained and that accreditation is done by the same institution
Ensure that learners are identified very early and channelled to the health profession if found to have the love for this profession as opposed to taking it just because it is a job
Ensure that all community health care workers are made permanent with full benefits so that they could work with dedication
Overhaul the current health management system by re-evaluating the conditions of work of health care practitioners and
ensure that suitable accommodation and social amenities and facilities are available for rural health care practitioners and
their families be permanent with full benefits
Intensify the campaign against communicable and non-communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, STDs, TB and diabetes and
increase health education programmes targeting these and other related diseases with emphasis on prevention
Intensify the fight against HIV and AIDS by ensuring that no health institution runs out of stock of ARVs at all healthcare institutions including those in rural areas
Make the distribution of condoms easily accessible to all communities regardless of their geographical location
Institute punitive measures against the officials at health institutions where patients are not treated well and where medical supplies run out due to failure to do stock- taking and order such medical supplies on time
Build and maintain more clinics in rural areas and
stock them with medication to prevent patients from flocking to the cities looking for medical help, with some not being able to visit such health facilities due to lack of transport fares.
In the meantime, mobile clinics should be provided and protected.
Emergency services shall be made readily available
Absorb the majority of trained healthcare professionals (especially nurses) who are idling because they cannot find jobs or end up emigrating to other first world countries in search of jobs and/or greener pastures
Facilitate the training of more health professionals locally so that they could understand local diseases – with a few being sent abroad for such training
Implement a program that will ensure that there is a mobile clinic for every ward in the country
Introduce transparent and progressive employment of Hospital CEO’s and senior staff to avoid litigation and ensure better and sustained service
Increase the salaries of health professionals in order to address the issue of brain- drain and the mushrooming of private surgeries
Implement an additional allowance incentive for medical practitioners doing rural work, which will increase with every year that such rural service is rendered
Ensure that clinical associates tare trained
Improve accommodation & safety of health personnel to make them feel comfortable and focus on the job at hand
Accelerate the pace of implementing the National Health Insurance Fund to ensure easy access to free quality primary health care in South Africa
Improve the service rendered at all health institutions
Expand well-resourced oncology units in all government hospitals to prevent and treat cancer
Promote the indigenisation and incorporation of alternative traditional medication for inclusion as part of medical solutions, and
assist suitable communities with the establishment of medicinal plant gardens as a cash crop
Urge inter-governmental relations so that departments could work jointly to serve the nation; for example, clinics need roads, water, electricity, etc.
Expand universal quality health care coverage in South Africa
Ensure that there are more nursing colleges;
more clinics operating 24 hours, and
that these are properly stocked with medication
Ensure that no patient is turned away by medical facility (clinic or hospital)
BUILDING A BETTER AND & PROSPEROUS SOUTH AFRICA
The NFP is deeply committed to building a better South Africa for all.
This will be achieved through joint effort by all South Africans.
As such, under the leadership of the NFP, the youth, the elderly, artisans, rural and urban communities as well as all governmental and non-governmental organisations will all be encouraged to lend a hand in shaping the future of this country.
In order to build a better South Africa the NFP will connect with South Africans and solicit their views on how to better implement the ideas espoused in the party’s Manifesto.
Within this context, in the next five years the NFP will: a) Invest more in infrastructure development across all sectors
This commitment is predicated on the fact that infrastructure development will create jobs and capacitate the youth in areas such as project management, financial management and engineering,
Senior engineers and other artisans will capacitate the youth and working adults
Working in properly constructed buildings will motivate workers and ensure safety
Good infrastructure will encourage foreign investment thereby boosting the country’s economy and
creating employment
Productivity will increase thus contributing towards economic growth through export trade.
(b)Encourage an active citizenry
Citizens will be dissuaded from the mentality of folding arms and waiting for government to do everything for them; they will be encouraged to be active
South Africans will be urged to think and advise government on what their needs are so that government could respond directly to those needs
Where public representatives fail to deliver on their mandate, citizens will be urged to call them to account
Public servants will be trained so that they could serve the public diligently and with confidence to avoid being booed and called to resign.
An active citizenry will not allow things to pile up and respond though protest marches.
Instead, South Africans will raise concerns at an early stage and ensure that the issues which concern them are addressed expeditiously.
(c)Preside over an efficient local government
Local government shall be given its place since it is the first point of contact between government and the people and deals with day-to-day issues/services
Appointments into positions at this level shall be done on merit instead of using party affiliation, cronyism, nepotism and such related factors to determine who gets employed
Government officials at this level shall be monitored, assessed and capacitated so that they could be more efficient
More resources shall be put at this level to ensure better service to the people
The relationship between elected representatives and traditional leaders shall be strengthened to ensure better and quick service delivery and
avoid service delivery protests which have become the order of the day.
(d)Push for more industrialisation
For any country to improve its economy it needs more industries to process goods and keep their prices at an affordable price
This will result in the reduction of the prices of finished products compared to those imported from elsewhere
Such industries will provide job opportunities to the local population and reduce unemployment
Industries shall bring Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country
South Africa will use local industries to forge relations with other countries through trade agreements and related matters.
(e)Provide support to small businesses
We will provide more support to SMMEs and co-operatives as a way of boosting the country’s economy while giving confidence to small business-owners
More training shall be provided to operating and prospective small business owners
We will formalise mentorship programmes whereby established and upcoming business owners will work closely
We will encourage schools and local municipalities to give opportunities to local small businesses to do business with them
Financial and material support shall be given to small business enterprises to enable them to survive.
(f)Invest in ICT infrastructure development
The NFP government will put more resources to the development of ICT infrastructure so that the country could move with the rest of the world on technology
In this regard, government will expand the country’s broadband access to include rural areas so that all South Africans could be brought on board
Electrification of rural areas shall be accelerated to make this ICT project realistic
Government will ensure that free Wi-fi is available to all South Africans in order to make communication faster, simpler and easier
We will ensure that public institutions such as schools, health institutions and all government facilities and institutions are linked through ICT at least by the year 2025 for ease of reference.
(g)Improve public transport
We will work towards a coordinated public transport system
We shall work towards reducing private cars from the roads by establishing a reliable public transport system and thus reduce the number of road accidents – some of which are fatal
We shall put stringent rules in place (through legislation) to punish those responsible for delays in public transport which force people to use their private transport in order to reach their destinations quicker
We shall improve our roads to allow bicycles to move freely and reduce road traffic congestion
In this regard, we shall commission studies to establish how other countries in the world have managed to have a reliable public transport system.
(h)Improve access to fresh water
We will improve water harvesting during rainy seasons to prevent more water flowing into the sea
We will build more dams, especially in rural areas where there is enough space and more slopes to allow for this to happen
Where the old infrastructure is already in place, we will replace it to increase its efficiency while putting up new infrastructure where it does not exist
Stringent legislation shall be put in place to prevent water pollution in the country by both individuals and groups or companies
We will put reward mechanisms in place to reward those who come up with innovative ideas to preserve water.
(i)Improve and expand social security
We will ensure that social security is expanded,
properly coordinated and regulated to avoid fraudulent activities
We will ensure that social security services go to deserving individuals
In this regard, we will clean-up the system and rid it of any ghost beneficiaries
We will ensure that more assistance and support is given to rural communities who find it hard to access social security services or to apply for them
Working with the Department of Home Affairs, we will ensure that departmental employees visit rural areas with mobile services to issue Identity Documents and birth certificates to those who do not have them and are therefore unable to receive social security services.
(j)Uproot corruption
We will ensure that corrupt individuals are brought to book
We will impose harsher sentences on those found guilty of corruption as a deterrent
We will put systems in place to minimise and eventually eradicate corruption at public institutions
We will act decisively against private institutions found to have been involved in corrupt activities
We will ensure that no public representative conducts business with government.
However, we will not discriminate against their relatives who want to conduct business with government provided that they did not have added advantage during the bidding process by being given inside information.
(k)Deal decisively with racism
We will show no tolerance for racial elements regardless of who the perpetrators are
If necessary, we will introduce/amend legislation to ensure that stricter sentences are imposed on those who still engage in racial remarks/activities
We will educate society (especially the youth) about the scars left by racism in South Africa to discourage them from perpetuating the same
We will introduce more programmes meant to contribute towards social cohesion and nation-building
We will urge society to report incidents of racism before they explode.
(l)Fight crime
We will capacitate all the country’s law enforcement agencies through constant training
We will use the experience of other countries to improve the country’s crime intelligence units so that crime could be prevented before it occurs
We will resource crime fighting units so that they can execute their duties properly
We will introduce stringent rules to deal with officials who collude with criminals
We will revisit the laws that make criminals see jail as more preferable than being outside – including the benefits they receive at the expense of those they offended.
(m)Improve security
We will revisit the recruitment procedure for people who are employed in the country’s intelligence services
We will ensure that the Minister and other leaders appointed into the position of Safety and Security are all people with the requisite skills and knowledge
We will ensure that the entire Security Cluster is properly coordinated and that its activities are linked through ICT
We will mobilise resources to improve border control so that only deserving foreign nationals enter the country and are accounted for
We will hold regular meetings with South Africans and make them feel that they are equally responsible to keep our country secure and urge them to report issues of security concern as they detect them
(n)Promote regional integration
Intra-Africa trade shall be given priority in order to make the SADC region economically viable and
rid itself of too much reliance on Western countries
Trade tariffs in the region shall be renegotiated to benefit all countries
Regional tourism shall be encouraged for both political and economic reasons
Negotiations for the relaxation of Visa requirements to visit each country in the region shall be entered into with the ultimate goal of removing them entirely in line with what obtains in the Scandinavian countries in Europe
Extradition treaties among all SADC countries shall be signed or renewed where they already exist so that criminals could be brought to book quicker.
(o)Accelerate the AU agenda of a united Africa
Working with other African countries, efforts shall be made to ensure that AU structures are revamped so that they could be effective
The Pan-African Parliament shall be given credibility by persuading AU member states to sign and ratify the Malabo Protocol and related agreements that would allow this institution to act decisively on various matters
A proposal shall be made to AU member states to have a structure whose responsibility shall be to ensure that all decisions made by the AU are acted upon and implemented
African countries shall be lobbied to act decisively against Presidents who refuse to vacate office when their terms end
Discussions on the possibility of a continental currency shall be reopened.
Our pledge
Through this Manifesto, as the NFP we pledge to:  Empower South Africans to be the architects of their own destiny
Give South Africans a voice on how they would like to be governed
Make the South African people agents of change
Work closely with SADC and the AU to advance Africa’s course
Work closely with the international community without compromising South Africa’s political sovereignty
Learn from the face of history in order to avoid the mistakes committed by our predecessors.
The DA’s Values
Freedom
Freedom is the hard-won right of all South Africans.
Everyone has the right to express their freedom,
mindful that their choices come with responsibilities towards others.
This includes the freedom to earn a living and accumulate wealth, live where we want, love who we want, say what we believe, develop our talents and pursue our dreams.
Freedom is the engine of progress that will drive South Africa forward.
It inspires our people to be innovative and
allows the entrepreneurial spirit to thrive.
In an environment of maximum freedom, everyone is empowered to participate in a growing economy and live a dignified life.
People cannot be free without a respectable standard of living,
which requires access to education,
healthcare and
quality basic services.
Government must free people from the chains of poverty and
the oppression of crime, giving meaning to the Bill of Rights.
Fairness
A fair society is one in which our achievements should be the result of our hard work and efforts, not our birth.
Fairness requires equal and plentiful opportunities, and
the means to make the most of them.
Equal and fair justice acknowledges the legacy of apartheid and
is committed to redress.
Fairness cannot be said to exist in a society burdened by large-scale inequality.
All South Africans deserve a level playing field where opportunities are not concentrated in the hands of the few.
A fair society is characterised by openness and an empowering abundance of opportunities, coupled with quality education, jobs, security and affordable healthcare.
A fair society cannot exist without a capable, service-oriented and clean government.
Individuals are free to flourish as fairness rejects unfair discrimination and exclusion.
Opportunity
Access to opportunity gives life and meaning to our hard-won freedoms and rights.
Dignity is strongly linked to being able to work.
This requires a growing economy and
an educated society.
The job of government is to ensure peoples’ rights to excellent education,
quality healthcare and a
functional criminal justice system.
Government must also provide social assistance for South Africans faced with circumstances beyond their control.
Poverty and hardship should rob no-one of their opportunities.
When people are deprived of their opportunity to work,
their independence and dignity is damaged.
This threatens not only them, but also the people that rely on them.
People cannot fulfil their potential without a capable state.
Government must provide access to electricity, water and sanitation, and reliable public transport.
Our leaders must never forget they are elected by the people and
must be close and accountable to them.
South Africans deserve a government they can trust and
that will responsibly spend every cent to create opportunities for all.
Diversity
South Africa is a richly diverse society.
Though our people come from different origins, worship in different ways and have different cultures and customs, we are all unique individuals.
Diversity is one of South Africa’s greatest assets.
We celebrate diversity and
recognise the right of each individual to be who they want to be, free from domination by others.
The value of diversity aligns to the preamble to the Constitution of South Africa which recognizes the injustices of our past and
affirms that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in diversity.
It is this commitment that means we will continue to take active steps to promote and advance diversity in our own ranks.
Our Vision for Government
Based on these values, the DA believes that it is the role of the state to expand the frontiers of opportunity for individuals by ensuring that it fulfils effectively the core functions of a modern state.
Apart from having the monopoly of the legitimate use of force to secure the safety of citizens,
it is the role of the state to provide an enabling environment for the private sector to be the engine of economic growth and development.
In this we are guided by our fundamental belief in:  the rule of law;
the market-based economy;
protecting and upholding individual rights and freedoms;
the importance of building a caring,
opportunity-rich South Africa;
the significance of a capable state (staffed with qualified, fit-for-purpose professionals);
as well as the moral imperative to redress the stark inequalities that remain all pervasive in South Africa, 25 years into democracy.
Our liberal democratic world view and
the related belief in the role of institutions has arguably never been more important in light of the rise of populism, nationalism and proto-fascism, both domestically and internationally.
South Africa’s viability as a functional democracy therefore not only has importance for South Africans but also for the future of the global liberal democratic order which,
since the end of World War Two, has seen unprecedented increases in global development and prosperity.
With these beliefs in mind, this manifesto sets out how we would achieve our primary objectives of Creating Economic Growth
And Jobs, Now;
Building a Caring and
Opportunity-Rich South Africa;
as well as Creating a Capable State.
Our programme of action will minimise the role of the state and
unleash the extraordinary potential of South Africans,
whilst at all times ensuring there is a safeguard for those who cannot help themselves.
Ultimately, it is our foundational belief that no South African – regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation or any other marker – should have their life chances determined by the circumstances of their birth.
In government we would work tirelessly every day to ensure all South Africans reach the richness and fullness of their limitless potential and
in so doing, build One South Africa for All.
Economic Growth and Jobs, Now
South Africa needs a plan to rescue our economy and
create more jobs.
More than 10 million South Africans are without work and
half the population lives below the poverty line.
Youth unemployment is amongst the highest in the world.
Businesses, large and small, are struggling to survive in a chaotic and uncertain business environment
leading to more and more unemployment.
This represents a profound injustice and a clear threat to socio- economic cohesion in our country.
In effect there are still two South Africas, 25 years into democracy.
One where there are the skills and resources to access economic and other opportunities, and
another South Africa where the majority of citizens find themselves excluded with no hope of accessing life-changing opportunities.
The DA’s vision of One South Africa for All is founded on the fundamental belief that there is an urgent need to remedy this manifestly unfair reality to ensure that all South Africans – regardless of their race, gender or geographical context – are able to reach their full potential and
in so doing, truly build One South Africa for All.
There are too many families in our country who do not have a single breadwinner.
These households are completely dependent on the state with little hope of achieving independence.
Every person who is able to work should be able to access employment opportunities and support themselves and their families.
But this is not our economic reality.
We believe our plan for Economic Growth and Change, Now, can put us on the right track to achieving the goal of good work for all South Africans and,
in the short-term, ensure that there is a job in every household.
Our plan for Economic Growth and Jobs, Now, contains the following core elements: Economic policy for growth, jobs and change, now. Providing policy certainty and direction for growth and jobs by: passing the Jobs Act for a job in every home; eradicating employment corruption; ensuring labour unions protect the interests of workers, not their own elites; andintroducing a Voluntary National Civilian Service year. Taking urgent measures to stabilise the economy and prevent government bankruptcy, respecting: public finances; institutional independence; andfiscal risks. Creating a new plan to realise economic justice for all South Africans, with respect to: economic justice for all; andland reform for jobs, justice and growth. Expanding access and improving higher education and training. Unleashing small business. Enabling city-led growth. Stimulating trade and investment promotion. Making industry and manufacturing work again. Transport: getting South Africans moving. Unlocking agriculture. Improving access and innovation in ICT. Cleaning house: unbundling SOE monopolies for growth. Energy: powering South Africa’s economic growth.
Economic Policy for Growth, Jobs and Change, Now
If we want to realise real socio-economic change in South Africa, we have to achieve higher and more consistent economic growth
that benefits more South Africans.
The 2018 World Bank report on Overcoming Poverty and Inequality in South Africa states that in the absence of any major shock or radical shift from the current policy stance, real GDP would grow at an annual average rate of 1.4 percent between 2018 and 2030.
This would mean that the unemployment rate would go down from 27.3% in 2017 to 26.7% in 2030.
Another decade of over 25% unemployment is a grim prospect indeed for South Africa, and
for the millions desperate for the better life they were promised.
To realistically turn our economy around and
reduce unemployment
we must place the economy on a trajectory toward realizing 3% GDP growth, at least, annually.
However, once we have unleashed the full latent potential of South Africa’s productive capacity and human capital, we will put ourselves on a growth trajectory in line with many of our regional counterparts – such as Kenya, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Botswana and Ethiopia – of economic growth between 5 and 8%.
South Africa cannot continue any longer with the majority left looking in from the outside, while the insiders enjoy all the opportunities and spoils.
It is our intention to not only be pro-poor,
but pro- all South Africans.
For an inclusive, stable economy to exist, the government cannot take sides but must be able to function as a neutral agent responsible for opening the playing field and maximising opportunities.
This manifesto details the policy choices a DA national government will take to turn the tide on stagnant growth,
grinding poverty and worsening inequality.
We can achieve change now that ensures a job in every household.
Providing Policy Certainty and Direction for Growth and Jobs
The first vital step in turning our economy around is to provide the private sector with a reason to invest in South Africa: policy certainty.
The current government has not only flip-flopped on important policy issues but has taken a hostile stance toward the private sector for years and
the result has been a business environment wracked by uncertainty and heightened risk.
We need to communicate that South Africa has a safe and stable economy where investments can grow.
There are a myriad of policy and legislation issues which must be addressed – the most important of these for jump-starting job- creating growth are listed below.
We will give complete policy certainty to business through: Guaranteed private property rights that will be upheld for everyone in our country.
The rejection of expropriation without compensation.
We believe in land reform that grows jobs,
expands ownership and
the economy, and
enables economic justice.
This does not require expropriation or state ownership
but a government capable of using existing provisions in our Constitution.
FOR CONTEXT: The ANC has pushed through an inter-related and complementary bundle of legislation: The Protection of Investment Act and the Competition Amendment Bill are part of a package that fits with the current government’s plans relating to: land expropriation without compensation (more accurately property expropriation without compensation) and nationalisation of the Reserve Bank. The Protection of Investment Act removes measures to protect foreign investors, for instance it technically allows for asset expropriation without compensation. The Act has already led to a deterioration of foreign investment and continues to do so. The Act has basically replaced the use of bilateral (multilateral) investment treaties (BIT).  The opposition to BITs is often explored in development theory, and argument to do away with these is premised on the point that thehost country does not always experience skills development or the full benefit from foreign direct investment. However, this is not a strong argument because conditions can be included which workin BITs to resolve these issues while still ensuring property rights. Scrapping BITs makes it is easier to nationalise the Reserve Bank – considering that there are foreigner-owned shares in the SARB. There are a number of issues with the Competition Amendment Bill which, among other issues, gives the president the ability to stop investments and acquisitions on the basis of National Security the definition of which is very broad and comes down to a degree of discretion. The Bill also increases red tape and bureaucracy – making business costlier.
A DA national government will address specific policy and legislation challenges holding back economic growth by: //Repealing the Protection of Investment Act and
ensuring that foreign investors have certainty that their property will be protected.
Reintroducing the use of Bilateral (multilateral) Investment Treaties (BITs)
with conditions to ensure skills development, and
industry development in South Africa.
Scrapping the national security clause in the Competition Amendment Bill which is a major cause for concern for investors.
Developing legislation that focusses the Competition Commission’s efforts on addressing market concentration and reducing barriers to entry for firms, in both the private and public sectors,
especially focusing on the biggest monopolies in the country in the form of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).
Opposing the Banks Amendment Bill (EFF PMB) which aims to allow for SOEs to register as banks under the Banks Act.
Given the disastrous track record of numerous SOEs in managing their own finances it would be foolish to extend banking licences to these entities and
would increase risk across the entire financial sector.
Opposing the SARB Amendment Bill (EFF PMB) which aims to nationalise the SARB by simply erasing any mention of shareholders form the SARB Act.
If executed as envisioned the consequences will amount to asset expropriation without compensation and
will breach some investment treaties which are still effective despite the Protection of Investment Act.
The Bill will reduce the independence of SARB and also the operations of SARB.
Protecting the SARB’s mandate as depicted in the Constitution, including the current monetary policy regime followed by SARB and the use of inflation targeting.
This will be done to create certainty related to interest rate paths and currency movements
allowing investors and businesses to have greater certainty in terms of planning.
Ensuring that our alternative to the broad-based empowerment programme sets timeframes to how often scorecards and regulations are changed.
This will make medium to long term planning easier and less costly
so that investors and businesses know what to expect over a specific period.
Overhauling the current visa regime for skilled workers to attract investment and
to ensure that South Africa imports “skills”.
Scrapping the Mining Charter in totality.
ewriting the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (the MPRDA) so that it delivers certainty to investors and
reduces the scope for decisions to be taken by officials and politicians.
Passing the Jobs Act for a job in every home
To jump-start the economic growth
needed to create more employment we need to do something radically different.
A DA national government would introduce a Jobs Act to serve as an economic stimulus shock.
The act will make special incentive offers open to foreign and domestic investors who meet a minimum employment threshold.
In other words, a DA government will make doing business as easy as possible for companies that want to invest and
create jobs in South Africa.
Our Jobs Act will provide the following for companies and individuals looking to either start new businesses or expand existing ones, and which create new jobs, including: The right to repatriate profits in the case of international investments.
This is one of the biggest barriers to attracting foreign investment that can create jobs and is a vital incentive our government will offer.
Relaxed foreign exchange controls for individuals/businesses willing to invest in the country to provide assurances that they can access their funds as needed.
Access to a specialised team of arbitrators, located in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), who will assist medium-sized businesses in terms of the International Arbitration Act, when necessary.
This will assist medium-sized businesses who may find the cost associated with arbitration prohibitive and
will unlock the growth potential of the bill for these companies.
A labour market flexibility exemption clause aimed at making the process to hire and fire employees simpler and
allowing potential employees to opt-out of the relevant sectoral minimum wage (which would have a new minimum of no less that the old age grant)
while still ensuring occupational safety and the human rights of all employees are upheld.
Labour costs are one of the biggest inputs that businesses consider when investing, and this clause has the potential to unlock hundreds of thousands of jobs.
WHERE WE GOVERNEmployment successes under the Western Cape Government: The Western Cape has SA’s lowest unemployment rate at 14% lower than the national average. Employment in the Western Cape grew by 19.8% between 2009 and 2018, well ahead of Gauteng (7.5%) and KwaZulu-Natal (5.1%).A total of 640 000 new jobs were created in the Western Cape since the start of this administration’s first term (based on Q2 2009 to Q2 2018). 50% of all new jobs in South Africa, in the past year, were created in the Western Cape (95 000 out of 188 000 between Q3 2017 and Q3 2018.)
Eradicating employment corruption
South Africa’s official unemployment rate stands at 27.5%,
rising to a staggering 37.3% if the expanded definition (which includes discouraged job-seekers) is used.
This ranks amongst the highest unemployment rates for both developing and developed nations.
The scarcity of job opportunities,
considered with the broad failure of the current government’s empowerment efforts,
perpetuates apartheid-era inequality and poverty.
The result of this is that there are now many desperate, and more often than not, young South Africans chasing fewer jobs.
The resulting opportunistic environment has given rise to corrupt and predatory phenomena such as cash- for-jobs and sex-for-jobs.
The DA believes that in order to move towards a more inclusive society, access to opportunities, particularly employment opportunities, needs to be extended more diversely and in a fairer manner, to more South Africans.
While much of our focus needs to be on growing the economy and
making more jobs available,
combatting job corruption remains a vital component to achieving the goals of fairness and opportunity.
In order to tackle employment corruption a DA national government will: Increase the transparency of the recruitment process by:
ensuring high-profile public sector jobs are properly advertised through a variety of media; and
making a hotline available to report instances of employment corruption.
Introduce legislation to protect job-seekers,
particularly women, who are vulnerable to coerced transactional sex requests.
The legislation should: codify sexual exploitation as a distinct form of corruption;
protect individuals who report incidences from self-incrimination, therefore changing the charge from bilateral to unilateral; and
increase awareness of rights that job-seekers and employees have.
Require that all candidates applying for employment in the public service complete a public service entrance exam.
Ensuring labour unions protect the interests of workers, not their own elites
A DA government will stop labour unions from damaging the economy and limiting the rights of their members by: Restoring consensus between government, the private sector and unions – recognising that all are important stakeholders in our economy.
Making it a requirement for ballots to be held before there is strike action by unions – a key initiative to ensuring all strike action stems from the democratic decision of workers.
Holding labour unions accountable for any damage to public or private property as a result of strike action.
Holding labour unions financially accountable to pay damages to individuals who have successfully brought cases of intimidation and/or assault against trade union members during strike action.
Introducing a Voluntary National Civilian Service year
Experience is one of the key requirements that many young South Africans lack when entering the workplace.
There are simply not enough internship or voluntary programmes available to provide all young secondary school graduates, who will not go on to tertiary education, with work experience which they can in turn use to enter the labour force.
The DA believes that the state can play an important role in providing these young South Africans with work experience
while also providing them with an opportunity to serve our country.
This opportunity would come in the form of a voluntary National Civilian Service year.
This will be offered to every matriculant who doesn’t qualify for tertiary education (approximately 78 443 from the class of 2016 alone).
The opportunity to provide a service to the country, or his or her community,
will be in return for a stipend and
valuable work experience.
These will be in an area of the public sector where there is a clearly defined need (such as the police force, education and healthcare).
If possible, the programme would provide a ‘springboard’ for further opportunities in the beneficiary’s chosen sector.
To begin with the programme would aim to pilot three streams: Firstly, an education stream which will be geared towards providing underserved schools with teachers’ assistants to provide services such as administration work, sports coaching, cultural initiatives and extra supervision.
Participants of this course will also partake in basic educator skills courses such as early childhood development programmes.
This stream would hopefully produce a number of successful candidates who could undergo bridging courses to study further teaching degrees and diplomas – filling a much-needed skill gap in our country.
Secondly, a healthcare stream which will be geared towards providing administrative assistants to clinics and public hospitals across the country.
Participants of this stream will be enrolled in one- year community health worker qualification programmes, ensuring they will be qualified CHW’s by the end of the programme.
Top performers would also receive bridging support and scholarships to study as qualified nurses to feed back into the skills-deprived public health service.
Thirdly, a police academy stream would see participants join newly established police academies across the nation.
They will simultaneously join members of local law enforcement on daily patrols to gain an understanding of the role in the community, whilst also receiving training to become a certified police officer.
This programme may need to run for two years before participants qualify, however new students will be enrolled each year.
WHERE WE GOVERN Western Cape Premier’s Advancement of Youth (PAY) Project: The programme provides approximately 750 matriculants with work and training in one of the 13 Western Cape government departments each year. The Programme helps matriculants to acquire the necessary skills and work experience to make them more marketable to future employers with contactable references on CVs. It makes provision for career awareness exposure to assist matriculants in making informed career choices and also provides a network to support and guide them.
Urgent Measures to Stabilise the Economy and Prevent Government Bankruptcy
South Africa’s economy faces a serious risk of collapse because of the gross mismanagement of our economy by the current government.
Our gross national debt-to-GDP ratio stands at 55.8% meaning that it would take 55% of the value of everything our country produces in a year to pay off the debt this government has racked up.
This ratio is expected to rise over the next three years reaching 58.5% by the 2021/22 financial year.
What’s more frightening, the government has also backed a lot of the debt of failing state-owned entities – with Eskom being the best example of this.
These loans, which run into the hundreds of billions are also set in foreign currency, meaning that if the Rand loses value against the currency loans are set at, the government would be liable for even more debt.
The very serious debt problem is made worse by a huge and ever-growing public-sector wage bill that is not paying for quality public servants
but is used as a network of patronage for ANC cadre deployment.
So, while out doctors, nurses, teachers and policemen and -women are vastly underpaid,
the current government has crippled our country with debt for self-enrichment.
This urgently has to stop if we are going to invest money in the things the country really needs like better safety,
education/ skills training
and health.
Currently, the public sector wage bill accounts for more than a third – 35.18% – of total government expenditure.
The DA has a plan to stabilise the economy.
These steps must be immediately actioned if we want to avoid a looming economic crisis and
get our country’s economy growing for all South Africans.
Public finances
A DA national government will make sure that our national debt does not cripple our economy by: Introducing fiscal spending rules, as envisioned in the DA’s Fiscal Responsibility Bill, to prevent the debt-to-GDP ratio continuing to spiral out of control.
The key stabilising initiative would be implementing a debt ceiling at a maximum of 60% of GDP.
Requiring the minister of Finance report to Parliament every year on compliance with the new fiscal spending rules.
Requiring that government guarantees to SOEs do not increase as a percentage of GDP.
Institutional independence
The DA will ensure the integrity of our financial institutions remain intact and that they are able to deliver balanced and sustainable economic growth, by:  Ensuring that the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) remains independent and
is able to deliver on its constitutional mandate of protecting the value of the Rand
by making sure that it stays independent and free of political control.
The SARB must not be used as an ATM to fund corruption and patronage.
Making sure that the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) is not used as tool or accessory to State Capture
by introducing better checks and balances to its management structure, enhancing transparency, and promoting good governance.
Protecting the independence of other institutions such as the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and the Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) from political tampering.
Fiscal risks
The DA will manage risk posed to the stability and growth of our economy by: Rooting out corruption at Eskom and other state-owned enterprises,
in order to more efficiently manage procurement and prevent irregular and wasteful expenditure.
Restructure Eskom as envisioned in the DA’s Independent Systems and Market Operator (ISMO) Bill, which will make Eskom more reliable and efficient
and allow more competition in the energy market.
See the SOE section for full details of how the DA will deal with the Eskom crisis.
Place SAA in business rescue to stabilize the ailing airline and
minimise the financial risk it poses to our economy and government spending.
Reject the ANC’s proposed National Health Insurance (NHI)
which is little more than the creation of another enormous state-owned entity
which is very concerning considering the current government’s dismal performance in managing SOEs and
its equally dismal performance in providing healthcare.
The NHI presents an idea that could sink South Africa financially.
Instead the DA proposes Our Health Plan, which will improve healthcare in South Africa
without threatening the financial health of South Africa
– see our full plan for providing a working and quality healthcare system in the Health section.
Reducing the size of the public sector wage bill but cutting down on cadre-deployment positions
as part of a comprehensive spending review that establishes, amongst other things, the efficiency of spending, the composition of spending, and future spending priorities.
Increased spending on public sector jobs should be preserved for those positions which are currently underpaid like nurses, teachers and the police, and
not connected cronies.
A New Plan to Realise Economic Justice for All South Africans
South Africa is a deeply unequal country.
In fact, there are still two countries: a South Africa for those who are on the inside and a South Africa for those who on the outside.
Those who have access to economic and other opportunities, and those who do not.
We will not be able to truly build One South Africa for All, until such time as this inequality is eradicated.
For too many South Africans economic redress and access to opportunity are still foreign concepts.
These are the South Africans who have been left at the fringes of our economy and society.
While many enjoy freedom, there are millions of people who are still trapped by our legacy of racially exclusionary policy in grinding poverty, with no real chance of escape or a better life.
Our society is unique in many ways.
One of our most defining features is the legacy of race-based deprivation.
Apartheid used laws to push black South Africans to the periphery of our economy and society.
While the freedom to take part in elections, and other freedoms, have brought very real choice and justice for millions more,
it has not manifested in economic justice – the ability to access opportunity – for the majority of South Africans.
The failure to bring these South Africans back into the centre of our economy and society has reached a crisis point.
Our country has not faced a period of more racially divisive rhetoric and tension since the dawn of our democracy.
While much of this rhetoric stems from opportunistic political parties mobilising people on the basis of race,
it must also be recognised that it is because many millions of South Africans remain on the periphery of our society, where apartheid forced them or their parents that this rhetoric takes hold.
Racially divisive rhetoric, rooted in populism that venerates the failed nationalist policies of countries like Zimbabwe and Venezuela, takes advantage of the reality that there has been no real justice or redress for our divided past.
The reason that the DA supports a programme of race-based redress is, simply put, because it is an important part of our country’s reconciliation project and vital for justice.
Redress by definition is a project aimed at redressing a past wrong, and
once that wrong has been remedied, the need for said redress will by definition fall away.
This means that a programme of redress does need a sunset clause.
As a party that believes in liberal values and principles,
we would seek to ensure that we move to a non-racial position as soon as a successful redress programme has been implemented.
Race-based redress, that truly seeks to broadly empower Black South Africans, recognises that a particular group was disadvantaged in the past on the basis of their race and seeks to right that specific wrong.
The fact that grinding poverty still overwhelmingly affects Black South Africans
is testament to the fact that the ANC government has wholly failed to effect redress.
What is crucial to understand is that redress must not be conflated with social support.
Every state has a duty to protect its vulnerable citizens and this protection must never be provided on the basis of race or any other marker of religion, gender etc.
What is also important to note is that economic redress does not have to mean taking from one group or individual to give to another.
It is about expanding access to opportunity to all South Africans.
It must not, and should never be, reduced to a zero-sum game, where there is a fight for the scraps of a shrinking economic pie.
Rather through the aggressive expansion of access to economic opportunities, all South Africans will benefit.
We emphatically reject the approach to Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) as carried out by the ANC,
which has only served to enrich a politically connected elite and
to dampen economic growth,
at the cost of job creation.
When combined with the ANC’s plans to expropriate property without compensation,
the current government’s B-BBEE plan will only serve to make the pot of economic wealth in our country smaller and more difficult to share.
We do not need policies that disadvantage those who have in order to benefit those who do not.
We need policies that: spend tax wisely and
uplift those previously disadvantaged by race
through vastly improved service delivery; and
a programme of real empowerment that makes the pot of economic growth bigger, and
the share that all South Africans get, fairer.
Addressing racial disadvantage is particularly complex because it must go hand in hand with a responsibility to provide social protection to all South Africans – regardless of race –
as well as a responsibility to make our economy more inclusive than it was in the past.
These two priorities can and must be complementary.
This means we must take two approaches: Empowerment approaches to provide meaningful redress which eventually realises socio- economic justice.
This approach must codify specific metrics which will signify successful redress (these could include measurables in terms of broader ownership, improved education and skills outcomes, improved entrepreneurial support etc.).
As these goals are achieved the need for this approach will fall away.
Social protection measures which provide for all currently disadvantaged South Africans regardless of their, or their families’, exposure to past injustice.
Our country has a unique opportunity at this crossroads to bring the millions of marginalised South Africans back into our socio-economic fabric in a way that, learning from our past, does not force others to the periphery.
Unlike the current government and all other political parties in this country,
the DA does not seek to achieve economic justice by taking away from one person to give to another.
We want to build a bigger economy that can include everyone.
This is possible and we can and must achieve it.
The DA will achieve this through real economic inclusion initiatives and
growth-focused land reform,
bringing millions more South Africans into the economy.
Economic justice for all
The relationship between the private sector and government in South Africa has become unnecessarily strained and combative.
The private sector is the engine of our economic growth and
the only means of generating the economic growth and development
that will create the millions of jobs that South Africa so desperately needs.
Going forward, South Africa needs a new framework for cooperation between these stakeholders that leads to enhanced economic growth and
that can tackle inequality.
The current antagonism toward the private sector in South Africa is largely driven by narrow political interests with the private sector being scapegoated for the lack of meaningful economic justice by a government unwilling to take responsibility for its own failures in this regard.
In reality, the private sector can and should be brought onboard to help government and organised labour implement a partnership
to create growth that empowers many more South Africans.
The DA has a workable plan for achieving real economic empowerment for black South Africans.
This plan will achieve the aims of providing our country with much-needed and sorely missing economic redress
but also decrease the high levels of inequality and
unemployment in our country.
It is simply not true that these goals have to be achieved through punitive measures for private businesses and individuals,
rather they should be achieved in a way that actually helps businesses, by improving the skills of our labour force and through real incentives.
The current BEE system has only had the consequence of enriching a small group linked to the ruling party.
The ANC’s BEE has not delivered meaningful economic redress because, just like with the massive corruption associated with State Capture, the BEE system has been captured by a well-connected elite within the ANC.
Being overly complex and without sufficient built-in rewards,
the system has created a culture of compliance: businesses have tended to box-tick rather than meaningfully expand access to economic opportunity, in large measure because of the over emphasis on ownership above all other factors,
has led the system to be riddled with corruption and patronage.
That’s why we need to overhaul the BEE system.
It must keep sharp focus on desired outcomes,
be based on positive incentives, and
must add value to the economy by helping to create black entrepreneurs and
expanding the middle class.
Simply put, we need a BEE system that enjoys broad support from the majority of South Africans, government and the private sector.
Crucially, it must spur the expansion of access to opportunity.
This requires that it is simplified, flexible, and easily measurable on its key objectives.
Lastly, but by no means any less important, we need empowerment programmes that focus on growing the economy and
making the share of that growth more fairly accessible – not a focus on taking from one to give to another or advantaging a group or individual by disadvantaging another.
DA’s approach to broad-based empowerment:
For too long the government’s approach to empowerment has been top-down.
That is to say it has focussed energy on telling business what the end result of meaningful economic redress should look like and using punitive and confusing points systems to achieve these outcomes.
This approach was the easiest option for the current government to use because it firstly allowed for large-scale patronage networks, corruption and cronyism,
but also because it did not require the kind of good governance that would make a bottom-up approach work.
The problem with this is that there are still many overwhelming foundational challenges to economic redress that is truly broad based.
The DA believes that it is not sustainable or effective to set these objectives for business when the bottom-up approach to economic redress has been so completely neglected.
By this we mean that there has been little real improvement of the enablers that would allow those previously disadvantaged by race-based apartheid policy to compete in the economy in an equitable fashion.
A bottom-up approach needs to focus on education and skills, from a primary level to the tertiary level.
It also needs to focus on rapidly increasing employment and
equity schemes that can benefit hundreds of thousands, and not a few individuals.
It needs to nurture, train and support individuals to start their own businesses.
The DA believes that South Africa needs this focus on the bottom-up approach to economic redress and
that the private sector in South Africa is not only willing but eager to engage and contribute to meaningful change in our country.
From this logic, the DA supports a much-simplified system that measures real empowerment.
Our approach would see the current B-BBEE scorecard vastly simplified with the inclusion of timeframes for initiatives in the scorecards (to help business plan for the medium- and long-term).
Vitally, the DA’s approach will also set requirements, as part of the scorecard, to ensure that the beneficiaries of genuinely broad-based black economic empowerment are not just a politically connected elite, or individuals who are continually re-enriched.
This can be achieved through measures like means-testing for beneficiaries of equity schemes and
focussing corporate investment in education in lower income schools and/or learners from low- income households.
The new simplified scorecard would channel the efforts of the private sector into investment in the bottom-up approach by focussing broadly on the categories below: Firstly, award significant weight to Employee Share Ownership Schemes (ESOS), so that employees as a group become substantial stakeholders in the business.
This would grow black equity
while the company would benefit from the increases in productivity that ownership confers.
Secondly, recognise all spending on growing the education, skills and expertise of your workforce, be it schooling, skilling, training, bursaries, mentoring, internships or apprenticeships, whether conducted in-house or not.
Thirdly, reward companies for growing their workforce.
This would mitigate against the incentives to mechanise – ultimately, if you can’t be an entrepreneur,
the best form of real empowerment is to get your foot on the ladder of opportunity through a job.
Finally, reward companies for their development of new black entrepreneurs, whether achieved through direct mentoring of sub-contractors or suppliers, or through donations to organisations whose core competency it is to identify, incubate, finance and nurture black entrepreneurship.
Land reform for jobs, justice and growth
The current land reform programme is riddled with corruption,
the diversion of the land reform budget to elites,
lack of political will, and
lack of training and capacity
– all of which have proved serious stumbling blocks to meaningful land reform.
Crucially, land reform initiatives run by the current government have not enabled more South Africans to own their own land.
This failure has led our ruling party, so desperate to cling to power, to move to expropriate land without compensation –
a move which will violate South Africans’ rights to private property ownership.
Individual land ownership and property rights are a cornerstone of all successful liberal democracies – these rights must be protected.
South Africa requires a land policy which will ensure that beneficiaries of land reform are empowered and supported through adequate funding of such programmes,
a ruthless rooting out of corruption, and
the political will to implement.
Land reform can, and should be, a tool for economic development.
The DA believes in the importance of land reform not only because of the imperative for redress
but also because, if done in the right way, land reform can also be a powerful tool for the economic development of individuals and communities.
As with economic empowerment, land reform does not have to be carried out in a way that takes from one to give to another.
The current plans for expropriation without compensation make land reform a zero-sum game when it need not be.
A DA national government will implement land reform where all stakeholders are winners.
The Democratic Alliance believes that South Africa belongs to all who live in it and
we will continue to fight for the protection and expansion of individual property rights for all.
For reasons of justice, fairness and for the future prosperity of South Africa, we need more black South Africans to own the land they live on and
to have to access to the opportunities that property ownership provides.
This does not mean, as some purport to argue, that this would come at the expense of the rights of existing property owners.
Our land reform programme will be grounded in the following principles:
We are directly opposed to the ANC and EFF’s plan to change the Constitution to allow government to expropriate land without compensation.
This would make government the owner of all property and land, and citizens would have to rent their homes and land from government for life.
South Africa suffers from a history of black people being denied land ownership;
we do not need to change the Constitution to address this:
we need government action; and
by allowing for populist expropriation without compensation, the government will collapse the agricultural sector, and
this will hurt the hundreds of thousands of South Africans who stand to lose their jobs in this sector most.
Those who will be hurt most are already some of the most vulnerable in our country.
The belief in the right of individuals to own land without a limit on the amount of holding.
We want South Africans to own their land and property.
Secure property rights are the cornerstone of any successful economy,
any uncertainty around these rights will destabilise the SA economy,
destroy growth and
add millions to the ranks of the unemployed.
Land reform is not only about the redistribution of agricultural land but also urban land.
More people can and should live closer to, or be able to easily travel to, places where they can access opportunity.
Two thirds of South Africa’s population live in urban areas.
The DA will ensure that strategically located government-owned land is released to this end.
WHERE WE GOVERN We have prioritised urban land reform by creating titled homeowners out of nearly 100 000 housing beneficiaries. Proven our commitment to supporting emerging farmers – the Western Cape’s land reform audit found that the provincial government’s pioneering Commodity Approach, and through innovative solutions like the share equity schemes, had led to the success of 62% of all land reform farms in the Western Cape. The national government’s failure rate of land reform projects is currently standing at 92%. Support land reform processes that ensure real opportunities for beneficiaries while ensuring food security. The Western Cape has therefore increased its budget to our implementation agency, the Cape Agency for Sustainable Integrated Development in Rural Areas (Casidra), by almost 44% in order to speed up land reform across the agricultural sector.
In national government the DA will extend our successful programme of land reform by:
Prioritising land reform in the budget and
cutting back on unnecessary spending.
Working with all stakeholders, including traditional leaders and communities, to give title deeds to those who currently live on communal land.
Making sure suitable government-owned land that isn’t used will be released and divided for land reform and housing needs.
Giving title deeds to urban housing beneficiaries so that they can pass their homes on to their children.
Creating voluntary incentivised partnerships with farmers so that farmworkers can own shares in the farms they work on.
Support those land reform beneficiaries who want to farm with the skills, resources and market access they need to be successful.
Prioritise the speedy settlement of all land claims.
Let’s bring land reform that makes the people land owners, not life-long tenants.
Together we can implement land reform projects that build One South Africa for All.
Expanding Access and Improving Higher Education and Training
Post-school education trains and broadens minds,
creates and provides access to jobs and
helps our economy grow.
Expanding access to the quality education and skills training needed by our people
and our economy
is an essential step in building One South Africa for All.
There are areas of world-class excellence in our tertiary system in research, teaching and innovation.
These need to be further enhanced and preserved.
Currently, large portions of the higher education system in South Africa, are, however, broken.
Quality has been sacrificed in the pursuit of sheer numbers by the ANC,
while the general corruption that has infected our society has crept into many post-school education institutions.
Today much of the system is of average or poor quality and does not prepare our youth for an ever- changing workplace.
Failure rates at universities and particularly colleges are so high that many are left stranded after spending time and money studying.
And today, even among those who have graduated, increasing numbers struggle to access jobs.
There are many systemic challenges facing universities and colleges, including:
poor quality teaching and
out-of-date curricula;
unmanageably large classes and
too few staff to teach them;
decaying and dated infrastructure;
mismanagement of institutions;
endemic corruption;
an “all or nothing” funding approach which leaves some students who can afford to partially fund their own education unable to access the system; and
a lack of safe, affordable student accommodation.
The DA has a comprehensive plan to fix the higher education system and give students the tools they need to succeed in a modern economy.
The DA will improve student access and success by:
Providing comprehensive bursary packages to students from low-income families who could otherwise NOT afford to study.
The bursaries would not have to be repaid upon the successful completion of studies.
Bursaries to these learners would cover the comprehensive cost of study, including cover for travel, food, accommodation and learning materials; and
the bursary would modify the 10km restriction that the current programme has for transport support.
Providing the progressive roll-out of partial bursary awards for learners from families who are in the low- to middle-income bracket.
These are students who can pay for some of the costs of their education but who still struggle to pay the full cost.
The provision of financial assistance would always seek to provide support to students from a financially deprived context and would thus have to be determined by amongst other things, a means test.
Scrapping the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and channelling its funding into the creation of Khuphuka Opportunity Centres (Khuphuka meaning ‘go upwards’).
These centres would provide a wide range of services, including:
career and tertiary study advice;
assistance/training for small businesses and entrepreneurs and
access to small business start- up grants.
Young South Africans deserve the chance to work for themselves and grow their own futures; and
access to information about what job opportunities are available in local communities and elsewhere.
The DA will ensure universities are improved by:
Merging the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to form the Department of Post-School Education, Research and Innovation.
It will direct and fund research and innovation
as well as attract investment.
Attracting top researchers, lecturers and academics – including those from abroad – to improve tertiary teaching standards.
Creating a differentiated range of universities spanning the private and public sectors, with appropriate funding for each category.
The range of institutions would cater for academic/ research-based, teaching-based, technical and distance higher education.
Protecting and promoting academic freedom,
innovation and research and development.
Progressively improving funding to ensure that fee hikes are kept to an absolute minimum
while ensuring that the quality and standard of education, infrastructure, accommodation and equipment remains high.
Revamping the management and governance of some universities with the aim of stabilising these institutions,
as well as eliminating corruption.
The DA will strive for excellence in TVET colleges by:
Modernising the syllabus and staff composition of TVET colleges so that they offer 21st century training.
This will include a move towards training in areas relevant to a) the information economy, and
b) the services economy.
Differentiating colleges by form and function to reflect a variety of missions and local and regional needs.
Revamping the management and administration of colleges to eliminate corruption and
providing support to and training for their senior executives.
Ensuring that all certificates are speedily and efficiently produced and delivered to students.
Developing high-quality two-track (work and study) apprenticeship programmes.
Substantially increasing the involvement of companies in training apprentices to provide on-the-job training and internship programmes in new and existing fields.
A DA government will increase and improve skills and training providers by:
Closing or merging dysfunctional Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and
supporting those which perform well.
Encouraging SETAS to move away from offering multiple, unsustainable training programmes towards investing substantially in TVET Colleges in areas the SETAs deem appropriate.
Ensuring that all SETAs fund only fully accredited and worthwhile courses to students.
Encouraging the growth and expansion of quality private skills providers by cutting red tape and bureaucracy –
private skills providers, partnering with industry and business, can and should fill the gaps left by failing public training institutions.
Offering the private sector improved incentives, through a revamped empowerment system, to partner with SETAs to provide on-the-job training and internship programmes.
This would provide SETA-funded students with much-needed job experience to improve the likelihood of finding work after studying.
There are many South Africans over the age of 35 who have been left behind by the current government’s education programmes.
We will empower adults with skills to gain employment and take advantage of opportunities by:
Upgrading the system of Adult Education with the aim of establishing various options for the vast number of early school-leavers to achieve their matric certificates.
Moving the management of Adult Education back to the Department of Basic Education to blend it better with the schooling system and infrastructure.
Piloting a civilian service year for those over the age of 35 who have no secondary education to provide skills that can improve lives and unlock job opportunities.
Piloting a system, which would form part of the adult basic education curriculum, to provide a set number of free driving lessons to those over 35 who have not yet completed secondary education.
This would be made possible by partnering with the private sector (see the basic education offer for more information).
Unleashing Small Business
Research conducted by the Small Business Institute and the Small Business Project in June 2018 revealed that South Africa’s formal small business sector is much smaller than previously thought.
It found there are only about 250 000 formal small and medium enterprises (SMEs), firms employing less than 200 people, in South Africa.
Though they comprise 98.5% of all formal businesses, they employ only 28% of the formal workforce.
In South Africa, less than 20% of all employed people are self-employed or employers.
The norm for upper middle-income countries is 40%.
“Evidence suggests that the lower the share of self- employment, the lower the level of employment overall.”
South Africa has an abundance of world-class large firms but,
with so much of the population excluded from the economy,
their contribution to the country’s social and economic wellbeing is limited.
Achieving higher rates of economic and
employment growth in South Africa requires a more collaborative relationship between large and small businesses
leading to the creation of more small businesses, both formal and informal.
The DA will put policies that help create more small businesses at the forefront of our economic agenda for change.
Empowering more South Africans to run and own their own businesses, and
in turn employ others,
is a key step to building a society where all who can work have jobs, and
in the short- term, making sure there is a job in every household.
The DA national government would implement a six-point plan on Small Business Development:
Firstly, introduce an overtly pro-small business policy approach.
Growing the number and success rate of small businesses is the key to reducing unemployment and
increasing our labour absorption rate.
This starts with improving government and private sector advocacy of small business development.
As part of the shift to an overtly pro-small business policy outlook the DA will: Introduce a start-up visa and other incentives to encourage direct investment by foreign entrepreneurs in the South African economy and
partnership with local entrepreneurs.
This will be priority within the first 100 days of entering office.
Reinvigorate the CEO’s Initiative with the goal of injecting new energy and optimism into the business sector.
Policy uncertainty and conflicting agendas have led to growing frustration within Business Leadership SA (BLSA).
Soon after assuming office, the DA will convene a Business CODESA which will include representatives from big and small business, unions and civil society charged with identifying and agreeing on a few key policy initiatives to reignite SA’s economy.
Secondly, ease the cost of doing business by exempting small businesses from certain labour and BEE regulations.
Oppressive red tape, labour and BEE regulations are disincentives to small business.
A number of interventions are required to ease the burden on small and medium sized businesses to help them grow and
create more employment opportunities.
To ease the cost of doing business in South Africa a DA national government will: Implement our Red Tape Impact Assessment Bill (as a Section 27 Bill) under the direction of Premiers’ Offices in the Provinces.
Small businesses under R30 million turnover per annum will be exempted from all labour and BEE legislation
barring the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (e.g. allow companies to hire and fire employees for up to 6 months post-employment).
Amend Section 32 of the Labour Relations Act to reflect membership of Sector Bargaining Councils based on company representation and not number of employees.
This will improve the bargaining capability and voice of small business owners over large corporations.
Review the taxation and business registration systems for small business, administered by SARS and CIPC with the aim of reducing the time it takes for a small business to comply with the current tax requirements (a possible solution is to integrate CIPC annual returns with SARS).
Speed up the roll-out of ‘One-Stop-Shops’ for small businesses.
These centres based on the Khuphuka Opportunity Centre model will allow prospective entrepreneurs to register a company name, lodge their documentation with the Companies Commission, and register with SARS, the Department of Labour and the relevant commissioner under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act – all with a single online form and with a single registration fee.
WHERE WE GOVERNCutting red tape in the Western CapeR600 million in economic savings have been generated through our Red Tape Reduction and Ease of Doing Business strategies.
Thirdly, improving cash flow by implementing a temporary amnesty on tax penalties for small businesses and
ensuring government and big business pay suppliers within 21 days.
Cash flow is one of the biggest challenges facing any business.
This is especially true for small and medium businesses where prompt payment by customers, both government and private sector, is crucial if businesses are to survive and grow.
To improve cash flow a DA national government will: Improve cash flow challenges by investigating the feasibility of two interventions, namely: change the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) to allow for finance providers to be co-signatories on government supply contracts (this will allow the financier to collect debt directly from government departments); and
enable Treasury to become the ultimate debt factoring entity buying invoices/providing guarantees for all small businesses with a turn-over below R30 million per annum.
Introduce a temporary moratorium on VAT, PAYE and corporation/turnover tax penalties levied on businesses with annual turnover below R30 million,
while implementing a review of the tax code through the Davis Tax Committee.
Work with the SA Institute of Chartered Accountants and SA Institute of Professional Accountants to ramp up business rescue and business retention services available to small businesses.
Grants will be made available to recipients of these services to make them affordable.
Enforce government payment to suppliers with annual turnover below R50 million within 21 days, down from the current 30 days.
Impose penalties and name and shame ministers, deputy ministers and directors general for non- compliance.
We will support the Prompt Payment Code, a private sector led voluntary code of good practice for government and the private sector relating to supplier payments.
Include payment histories and age analyses in the BEE scorecard where points would be allocated for prompt payment, and
points deducted for poor payment practices.
Link government’s central supplier database to department procurement and payments systems, as well as to SARS, to enable the smooth processing of invoices and
lead to penalties for late payment of tax due by suppliers being passed on to late paying departments.
Consider establishing a Small Business Ombudsman to intervene in disputes concerning small business, and in particular, late payments.
Fourthly, provide funding and related assistance for small businesses.
Small business owners cite lack of access to funding as a major constraint to growth.
The South African funding environment is not geared to small business and
banks in particular are criticised for their unfriendly funding practices.
Government attempts to plug this “market failure” have not proved successful either.
To improve the funding available to small businesses a DA national government will: Institute a review of current Development Funding Institutions (DFIs) including: SEFA, the IDC, the National Empowerment Fund, the Jobs Fund and the NYDA, as well as regional funds such as Gauteng Enterprise Propeller and Ithala Bank with a view to assess the feasibility of creating a single Business Growth Fund offering a combination of equity, grant and debt funding.
Formalise and regulate angel investors and the venture capital sector as well
as simplify the Section 12J regulations and
formalise equity crowdfunding for start-ups and growing small businesses.
This will include offering additional tax incentives for small investors under R100 000.
Support sourcing international grant and impact bond finance for the Small Enterprise Foundation and other impact funding organisations to increase the number of beneficiaries from 160 000 to 1 million within 5 years.
Fifthly, provide targeted support for micro-entrepreneurs in the informal economy.
South Africa has a significant informal economy.
The DA’s approach to the informal economy is to recognise that it is economic activity happening organically in a country where economic activity is relatively scarce.
As such, we must ensure that we foster this sector and
support the job creation potential that it offers.
To boost growth and employment in the informal economy, DA national government will: Initiate a comprehensive survey of the informal sector that can be used by an inter-departmental task team to develop a strategy to assist informal business owners and their employees.
Develop a Code of Good Practice on engagement with informal traders to benefit these entrepreneurs and
strengthen their position in interactions with local, provincial and national government authorities.
Adjust the legal and regulatory framework to accommodate those in the informal economy who need appropriate laws, including property rights and the ability to enforce contracts.
Encourage all local governments to provide safe trading spaces for informal entrepreneurs as has been done where we govern.
Work with local government to implement a simplified application process for informal trading permits through an e-registration system that makes it easy for small entrepreneurs to register their businesses and gain access to trading sites.
Finally, focus on instilling an entrepreneurial mindset and
expanding support and incentives for youth-owned businesses and cooperatives.
South Africans should be encouraged and incentivised to start new businesses.
Starting a business is another rung on the opportunity ladder.
It is a practical expression of an individual’s ambition to convert their talents into an income-producing activity.
To boost entrepreneurship a DA national government will: Direct more resources to the Centres for Entrepreneurship which the Department of Small Business Development is piloting with some of the TVET colleges, to encourage entrepreneurship as a career choice, especially for young people pursuing trade and technical vocations.
Issue a Request for Proposal to take over the Seda offices and bring them into private ownership as Enterprise Development Hubs.
It would make sense to locate them in the Khuphuka Opportunity Centres which would replace the National Youth Development Agency (and labour centres) and would provide entrepreneurship training and advice and career counselling.
Review the DSBD’s Enterprise Incubation Fund and the DTI’s Incubation Support Programme incubators to establish their return on investment.
A similar cost-benefit exercise will be conducted on all other state-funded incubators including those supported by the Jobs Fund, and
comparisons made with surveys such as that conducted by Catalysts for Growth which examines the effectiveness of mainly private sector- funded incubators and accelerators.
WHERE WE GOVERNCity of Cape Town Business Support ProjectThe City has committed to facilitating business support for around 500 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) per year up until 2022. This support includes guidance on regulation compliance, help to remove business-related bottlenecks, ongoing advice and skills development. It is delivered directly and in partnership with support organisations and various business incubators. In 2017/18, the City facilitated enterprise and supplier development for 588 SMEs in partnership with Smart Procurement Western Cape, the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda), the South African Renewable Energy Business Incubator (SAREBI) and Province’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism. In addition, through the SME one-stop shop service and monitoring system, which includes a red tape notification system to resolve blockages and delays in administration processes, the City efficiently responded to 1 129 enquiries from SMEs and entrepreneurs.
Enabling City-led Growth
In developing and developed nations, cities typically account for the largest proportion of GDP production.
As an economy develops and shifts toward secondary and tertiary activities, job-seekers begin to move to urban areas in hope of finding employment.
Local migration is not a new phenomenon in South Africa, with cities in Gauteng and Cape Town experiencing high levels of urban migration over the past decade.
A recent Allianz report predicts that Johannesburg will join the ranks of the worlds’ megacities by 2030, with a projected 10 million citizens calling it home.
Allianz’s research goes on to show that “global GDP is much more dependent upon the largest megacities than it is on the world’s 200 sovereign nations.”
This holds true due to the overwhelming GDP contribution of certain cities within a nation, and South Africa is no exception, as “Johannesburg and Pretoria represent in excess of 35% of the country’s GDP.”
A city-led growth strategy must be driven by an integrated urban framework that considers housing,
healthcare services,
transportation networks, water and electricity, and so forth.
These components of integrated urban design cannot be designed in silos.
It must also be remembered that a focus on urban-led growth cannot mean the abandonment of our rural economies.
A DA national government will ensure that all spheres of government work together so that the local economic development plans of local governments dovetail with provincial and national growth strategies in a way which revitalises rural economies (such as providing enhanced market access for agricultural products and encouraging agri-processing close to primary agriculture production areas along important trade corridors).
The Democratic Alliance has outlined its core principles which guide city-led growth in the places where we govern, and these can be summarised as follows: infrastructure-led growth;
zero tolerance for corruption;
fair access to opportunities;
policy certainty and
fiscal responsibility;
reducing regulation and red tape;
speeding up ease of doing business;
investing in transport;
investment facilitation, including the introduction of incentives;
private sector collaboration;
investment in ICT;
training and educational support through apprenticeships; and
tackling the legacy of apartheid spatial planning.
WHERE WE GOVERNThe City of Johannesburg’s drive to reinvigorate the Inner CityInner City regeneration is well underway in the City of Johannesburg with the R2 billion investment by the Divercity Urban Property Fund into the reimaging of the 30-storey ABSA Towers main building and iconic Jewel City. This redevelopment will transform the area into a vibrant hub with thousandsof affordably-priced residential rental apartments, several cafes and restaurants, retailers, child care facilities, a public park, and integrated public transport facilities. With the ABSA Tower and Jewel City projects, as well as the 400 million Rands worth of residential accommodation under development in Maboneng, Divercity alone will deliver 2500 apartments in total. Cape Town the top opportunity cityCape Town was recognised as the top opportunity city in Africa in the 2018 Cities of Opportunity report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The report also ranked Cape Town sixth out of all middle- income country cities rated – behind Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, Shanghai and Mexico City. PwC used independent data to benchmark Cape Town against 31 of the world’s leading cities across 66 indicators of urban success. Globally, Cape Town ranked 24th.
Stimulating Trade and Investment Promotion
The global economy is facing a perfect storm with generally low levels of growth and
rising trade protectionism between major players like America and China,
as well as the uncertainty over the future of Brexit.
As these major players retreat behind trade walls it is more important than ever that South Africa, increasingly the economic hub of Africa, promote and liberalise trade in our region, on the continent and globally.
However, we will act in a manner which shields local manufactures and service industries where there is a clear violation of WTO rules such as below cost-production dumping in South Africa.
One such example is the sugar cane industry.
There are a number of areas where government can aim its focus in a bid to lower the cost of trade and
improve the ease of trade in and out of South Africa to drive growth
and job creation.
Currently, South Africa’s overall poor infrastructure maintenance is a major impediment, contributing to high costs, both in terms of regional and global trade.
Road and rail infrastructure are particularly poor and
the lack of reliable electricity, or its rationing, negatively impacts manufacturing significantly.
The current government has focussed on investments (like subsidies and other protections) which pick certain sectors as economic winners.
If we want to create an economy that all firms can succeed in, and where it is easy for individuals to start new businesses and succeed, we must focus on fixing the overall business environment –
investing in the infrastructure that lowers the cost of business for all sectors will provide sectors like manufacturing with the ability to be more competitive globally.
South Africa’s Business Confidence Index has shown that confidence in South Africa is at an all-time low despite an initial phase of ‘Ramaphoria’ early last year.
One key challenge for local businesses is expensive inputs driven by high import tariffs.
Local manufacturers struggle to compete internationally because of protectionist tariffs which make basic manufacturing inputs, like steel, more expensive.
The result is that the end product of local manufacturing is more expensive than global competitors which makes exporting these products near impossible.
The only way to address this is to slowly liberalise tariff structures for imports (starting with sectors where we are unlikely to be competitive i.e primary steel production).
This, whilst being mindful that without a sound plan to reskill labour currently hired in protected sectors,
as well as targeted initiatives and incentives to help affected firms adapt and evolve,
liberalisation will have a negative impact on jobs in the short- to medium-term.
We cannot be blind to the human cost involved when even one family loses a bread winner.
Our plan to liberalise tariffs will not leave behind any employee, in any sector.
If these initiatives and incentives for firms to adapt are put in place,
with a programme of phased trade liberalisation,
we will be able to unlock South Africa’s true trade potential and
create hundreds of thousands of new jobs
while ensuring those who are already employed are upskilled and able to work in a globally competitive economy.
Finally, South Africa needs trade diplomats, not diplomatic tourists.
Under a DA government the days of ambassadors being involved in scandals, travelling first-class, receiving lavish consulate upgrades and using diplomatic posts as a means to buy political favour will be over.
Under our leadership all diplomatic missions will become powerful trading houses in those respective countries and will
primarily focus on attracting investment and
promoting our country and its goods and services.
We will incentivise these trading houses to seek out new investment for South Africa.
To ensure that trade becomes a significant driver of job-creating growth in South Africa, a DA national government will... Make trade cheaper and easier by: Auditing key basic infrastructure (such as roads, railways and air-freight facilities) with the aim of identifying the most serious maintenance backlogs holding back regional and international trade.
Rolling out targeted and prioritised refurbishment and maintenance programmes to unlock these blockages
while also driving an across-the-board programme of maintenance and infrastructure investment.
Targeted infrastructure programmes will focus on trade corridors (like the Maputo Development Corridor).
Reviewing all of South Africa’s air connectivity and aviation routes (both commercial and freight) with a view to add more flights to and from airports in South Africa.
Championing the unlocking of an ‘open skies’ agreement in Africa to truly maximise intra-Africa trade connectivity and tourism.
Lowering airport charges from ACSA and the air traffic control.
Decentralising ports and harbour management to metros or provincial governments
that are fiscally sound and well-managed and have a proven capability.
Working to reduce port tariffs and container charges to globally competitive rates through efficiency gains from improved metro or provincial level governance.
Determining efficiency targets for our ports with respect to off and on loading of containers to come into line with international competitors.
Investing in infrastructural links between South Africa and our trading partners in Africa (including revamping strategic border posts to rapidly increase the turnaround time for the transportation of goods through customs etc.).
Gradually and sustainably reducing input costs like electricity and water (see SOE and Basic Services section).
Expediting imports and exports by reducing the number of documents and procedures required by replacing the current system with a simplified system that requires only three documents: (i) a bill of landing;
(ii)customs declaration; and
(iii)a packing list (for exporters) or terminal handling receipts (for importers).
Promoting tourism to South Africa by: Strengthening tourism coordination structures on a provincial, national and local level to ensure destination marketing is enhanced and cost effective.
Ensuring that South African diplomats are equipped to promote tourism to South Africa in the countries where they operate.
Ensuring the ability to apply online and receive e-visas before travel and
scrapping the unabridged birth certificate requirement
in order to unlock the job creation potential that tourism holds.
Driving air access projects to increase tourism numbers through more direct routes to South Africa.
Further promote investment by: Ensuring sound institutional capacity and funding of trade promotion entities such as the Western Cape’s Wesgro through outcome-oriented service level agreements.
Making Invest SA a standalone entity to promote significantly higher rates of trade and investment in the country.
Rationalising the number of foreign missions South Africa has, with a view of cutting those which have little significance in terms of promoting trade or any other significant national interest.
Head hunting experienced business people to serve their country as trade ambassadors to our strategic trade partners.
Making all ambassadorships subject to annual performance management agreements (managed by the Presidency) focussed on trade achievables.
Ambassadors who are not increasing trade and investment for South Africa will be replaced.
Trade liberalisation and helping firms adapt and evolve: The case for the steel industry
Steel is an example of an industry which is unlikely to have a market without import tariffs.
While these tariffs protect the jobs in that sector,
they also have the impact of making manufacturing more expensive for all industries which use steel as an input.
This not only makes consumer goods more expensive
but dampens growth in industries like construction, which are labour intensive.
The DA believes that it is possible to liberalise tariffs, slowly,
in a way that will not lead to job losses.
Key to this is the reskilling of workers in that sector
paired with assisting firms to adapt to higher value add production.
The aim would be to move our steel industry’s skill set – and the industry itself - from primary to secondary steel production, moving production up the value chain.
As a first step, we would focus on investment treaties with steel producing countries that include skills sharing and skills exchange programmes to upskill our workers.
International partnerships should include the USA, India, China and Japan.
These partnerships should look at attracting foreign investment which can, in effect, allow our local firms to build an upstream value chain.
Upskilling could also be supported through creating a stream in the national civilian service focusing on steel fabrication and related artisanal skills;
offering bursaries to workers from firms currently engaged in primary fabrication for courses at artisanal colleges with a focus on secondary steel fabrication;
ensuring that the relevant SETA meets regularly with industry to make sure the most relevant skills training is available and that, where necessary, the curriculum is adjusted.
Firms should also be supported to adapt through focused Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) incentives on steel that would offer tax breaks and export credits similar to the current Automotive Investment Scheme which has created value chains in the vehicle sector.
This could be linked to the Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
WHERE WE GOVERNDrakenstein Municipality attracting investmentIn July 2018, the municipality signed an agreement with Wesgro – Cape Town and the Western Cape’s official Tourism, Trade and Investment promotion agency – tasking it with promoting film, media and gaming opportunities. This agreement will give the Municipality the opportunity to display its natural scenic beauty, age-old winelands and friendly, diverse community. The Municipality’s location (in proximity to Cape Town) as well as its unique history and natural beauty will make it a distinctive film destination. Additionally, a Development and Investment Forum (DIF) help desk has been opened in the Municipality. The DIF was established to improve good service delivery and to rollout the red carpet to developers and investors. It operates as a one-stop shop to coordinate, fast track and speed up development and investment applications. More than R2 billion worth of developments/investments have been approved by the Drakenstein Council since the DIF became operational.
Improve regional and international trading by:
Reviewing current trade agreements especially with respect to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) duty free regime for exports to South Africa,
to eliminate point of origin fraud, and
the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), where South Africa carries the unfair burden of administrating the system at a big cost in return for dealing revenue.
Enhancing and expanding South Africa’s existing trade deals and
negotiate more bi-lateral agreements.
Making it easier for skilled foreign nationals to get work or business visas.
Partnering with regional states to invest in medium to long-term large-scale infrastructure investment to create links between trading partners.
Establishing a SADC-wide free trade union and
gradually expanding the SACU to include all SADC countries – subject to a review of the feasibility.
Repealing the Protection of Investment Act and
ensuring that foreign investors have certainty that their property will be protected.
Holding a railway indaba to discuss the future prospects and plans for rail in South Africa, specifically looking at narrow-gauge versus broad gauge lines.
Beginning the implementation of public-private partnerships in the management of the industrial rail network
with the aim of unlocking areas earmarked for manufacturing in the SEZs.
Ring fencing already budgeted money for specific infrastructure improvements in rail.
Making Industry and Manufacturing Work Again
Higher digit growth in South Africa is also constrained by an often uncertain and difficult investment environment.
Policy focus must be on increasing the ease of doing business in South Africa,
in particular for small- and medium-sized enterprise.
A DA national government will provide incentives and the right business environment for labour absorptive businesses to grow and create more jobs by: Lowering corporation taxes for manufacturers to 15%, conditional on re-investment in capacity that expands production in a manner which absorbs labour, skills training and Corporate Social Investment (CSI).
The criteria to qualify for this tax cut would be spelled out in our Jobs Act.
Ensuring that manufacturing has access to cheap and reliable power suppliers in order to lower the cost of manufacturing.
This would include bulk and long-term deals with heavy industries.
This would be achieved through the break-up of the energy sector with the DA’s ISMO Bill.
Allowing well-functioning metros to apply to enter into agreements with electricity generators directly, giving them scope to choose who supplies them with electricity and
reduce the risk of load shedding – this would decrease the downtime that industry in major cities faces.
Creating a new national manufacturing innovation and export task team to pursue new markets and
step up innovation and
productivity in SA.
This entity would operate on a similar mandate and vision as Wesgro for the Western Cape, which has had phenomenal success in attracting investment into SA and promoting exporting companies abroad.
Immediately passing the Red Tape Impact Assessment Bill, aimed at assessing legislation in order to reduce the regulatory burden it places on small business.
Red tape removal will unlock numerous opportunities for new manufacturers to move into the market by making it easier to do business.
Introduce Sector Specific Manufacturing Incentives (SSMIs) as a way to incentivise investment in manufacturing in labour absorptive sectors (such as agro-processing)
where there is also a clear business case for successful growth.
Incentives would be based on the ability to improve production efficiencies, lowering of manufacturing costs and
ability to create new jobs –
incentive programmes will focus on assisting existing firms to become competitive and adaptive and
encourage new firms to open in sectors where there is comparative or competitive advantage.
Review all current incentive programmes to make sure there are no administrative blockages and that they are efficient and effective in creating value.
In this, the DA would advocate unfreezing the budget for the Manufacturing Enhancement Programme.
Making it easier for foreign skilled workers to attain visas into South Africa and
offering focused DTI incentives, coupled with skill visas and skill transfers.
This will require visiting the current regulations on visas and
raising the strategic importance of visas linked to scarce skills.
Transport: Getting South Africans Moving
The DA believes that the extent to which people are able to use the opportunities available to them depends significantly on how freely and affordably they move.
Apartheid left South Africa with a fragmented spatial framework that leaves many people still disconnected from opportunity.
Our urban landscapes are the physical embodiment of how South Africa still has insiders and outsiders.
For far too long, most people in our country have suffered the inconvenience, irritation and cost of a wholly inadequate public transport system.
Added to this are the very serious risks that commuters face from unsafe modes of transport
and criminality.
Businesses also face significant challenges because of poor transport infrastructure.
Delays because of these issues can add prohibitive costs that can mean the difference between creating jobs or losing them.
It must be easier for businesses to make use of transport infrastructure to sell goods and services if we want to grow our economy.
South Africans deserve better, safer, and quicker access to opportunities like healthcare, education and training; sports and recreation; and, vitally, job opportunities.
The Democratic Alliance will ensure that the investments and processes are put in place to deliver a transport system which is safe, reliable and affordable.
Our plan for transport will help South Africans find work and get to it on time.
It will help scholars get to schools, colleges and universities.
It will also serve as a vital means of connecting previously segregated areas –
making our urban landscape more diverse and
inclusive.
As an overarching initiative, the DA will develop a National Transport and Urban Work Access Strategy based on the principles of integration, accessibility, responsiveness, safety, and sustainability.
A DA government will ensure all transport infrastructure investment is based on increasing trade,
investment,
job creation and
sustainable geographic access to jobs
through well-planned spatial transformation.
Road infrastructure and safety will be at the core of a DA government’s priorities in terms of transport.
South Africa’s road network is deteriorating because of inadequate funding and rising costs of construction and maintenance.
The state has increasingly relied on private concessions to deal with this backlog,
making it too expensive for many to use our roads.
To sustainably and affordably upgrade and maintain existing road infrastructure a DA national government will: Amend the Road Maintenance Fund using a hybrid funding model which will enable South Africa to eliminate the massive maintenance backlog over our first term in office.
Ensure that where toll road concessions are considered, the impact on urban commuter routes will be minimal.
Immediately begin the process of scrapping the defunct e-Tolls system.
Urgently upgrade the degraded provincial roads systems to at least the standard the DA is implementing in the Western Cape.
Upgrade tar roads in rural areas (notably those linked to tourism and agriculture) as a matter of urgency.
To improve road safety and public transport a DA national government will: Recruit, train and accredit more metro traffic officers, as done in the DA-led cities, to ensure optimum visible policing on all our roads.
Design and develop a punitive and objective demerit system that will reflect electronically on driver’s licenses (whilst preventing corruption amongst traffic police and drivers alike).
Introduce a massive road safety drive, modelled on the successful initiative in the Western Cape, in order to reduce our accident rate by 80% over five years.
Make speed control devices for heavy-duty and public passenger vehicles mandatory.
Withdraw and redraft the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offenses (AARTO) Amendment Bill, retaining the principle of administrative not criminal justice (and accounting for practical experience as well as outside expertise).
Work closely with taxi associations and
ensure taxi violence is prevented through clear negotiations and research,
as well as institutional support from government and civil society.
Develop an Integrated Public Transport Plan for the country which will emphasise mechanisms to include the taxi industry in government’s plans to integrate other modes of public transport.
The taxi industry is a vital part of public transport and must be part of any permanent public transport system.
To turn around our collapsed rail system a DA national government will: Stop the institutional collapse at the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) by improving leadership and the complete “institutional breakdown” at the entity.
Take decisive action against all corruption at the entity and
address the lack of action against those found in the public protector’s “Derailed” report.
Implement an emergency safety plan that includes a dedicated police service in the form of railway police to take over security operations:
to order an urgent update as to the progress made in upgrading the current signal system so that no manual signal is used‚ to therefore avoid unnecessary incidents of crashes and derailments; and
ensure that PRASA cede control of Metrorail services and the allocated budget to metro councils to ensure an efficient and safe integrated transportation system is delivered to commuters.
WHERE WE GOVERNThe call to devolve Metro RailA DA national government will look to devolve the operation of train services in well-functioning metros, such as the City of Cape Town. The devolution of the rail function and infrastructure to local authorities will be similar to the MyCiTi model where the City owns the perway, the stations and the rolling stock but where the BRT service itself is run by vehicle operating companies. These operators are contracted to and must meet service standards or face penalties or even cancellation of contracts. This model also allows for integrated transport services with a one ticketing system which allows commuters to choose between using bus or rail services, or both, with the same ticket. We call this our Vision of One: One transport authority  One transport network  One transport planOne ticket  One timetable  One brand
Aviation and Airports
The mismanaged SAA monopoly is massively costly both directly to the fiscus
as well as directly and indirectly to the national economy.
Transport policy must focus on attracting more investment and
expanding international routes into our country.
A DA national government will:
Immediately place SAA under business rescue.
Once stabilised, privatise the three state-owned airlines, namely SAA, Mango and SA Express.
Legislation will be amended to allow greater foreign ownership in SAA, in line with international trends (following British Airways, Qantas, Aer Lingus, Air New Zealand, Kenya Airways and others).
Consider subsidising particular strategic routes but the subsidy will be paid only after an open and competitive bidding process.
Liberalise air services to and from South Africa, with charter flights encouraged to satisfy peak demands within an ‘open skies’ policy.
We will ensure more flights to South Africa and more destinations available for South African travellers and business people.
Airports
South African airports are the front desk to tourism and the international investor.
A DA national government will ensure: Passenger service levels at our airports are increased dramatically and
improvements made to passport and immigration control.
As demand dictates, a new freight or passenger/freight airport is constructed in Gauteng to alleviate congestion.
The Airports Company of South Africa is encouraged to embark on a programme of selling off state shares
to ensure its improvement in certain key areas of operation while becoming more service oriented.
To encourage investment and economic growth via maritime transport and ports, a DA government will:
Privatise, lease or concession port operations in order to encourage lower costs and a higher level of service.
Resuscitate, with limited capital expenditure, existing dry docks and ship building yards at some of our ports to re-establish them as an affordable destination for repairs and construction and
thus create many more jobs.
Unlocking Agriculture
Agriculture is vital sector in the South African economy.
It is an important employer and is one of the best sectors in terms of the number of jobs created through new investment.
A thriving agriculture sector is also vital to ensure South Africa’s food security.
South Africa has great potential for economic growth in this sector and
can add even more jobs through the development of the adjacent agro-processing sector.
However, the sector is facing challenges that actively inhibit current operations.
Chief among these are: policy uncertainty (especially around the right to private land ownership and expropriation without compensation);
severe challenges in terms of rural safety; and
crumbling infrastructure and
the related challenges of climate change.
Beyond addressing these roadblocks that are currently holding the agricultural sector back, there are also a number of initiatives that could see significant job-creating growth in the sector and up the value chain.
These initiatives include unlocking the potential of the agro-processing sector and
unlocking market access, both domestically and internationally.
To address the challenges holding the agricultural sector back, a DA national government will provide policy certainty by: Immediately rejecting expropriation without compensation and ensuring the rights of all South Africans to private property ownership.
Fast-tracking the land claims process to ensure each and every claim is finalised.
A DA national government will also tackle crime in rural areas.
In addition to the comprehensive plan to address rural safety challenges covered in the Safety section, the following will also be done by a DA national government: Keep separate statistics on specific rural crime categories, including attacks and murders on farms and stock theft at station level, in order to identify the rural areas facing the most significant challenges and under-resourcing.
This will allow for the deployment of resources to those farming areas and rural communities worst affected by crime.
Work with all livestock buyers, auctioneers, feedlots and abattoirs to ensure that they confirm livestock ownership or refuse to buy unmarked animals.
Strengthen border security in the relevant provinces, with a specific focus on combatting cross- border crime, crime syndicates and undocumented migration.
The DA government will prioritise the safety of farming communities as workers and farmers have a right to be protected from violent attacks.
Our citizens in rural communities should not live in fear while their leaders turn a blind eye to farm attacks.
Rural safety is critically important to food security,
job security, and
sustainable agricultural growth.
Improve the quality of vital infrastructure and ensure rural and farming communities can adapt to the challenges of climate change by: Compiling a detailed resilience plan to respond to the most urgent impacts of climate change
with a view to minimise the shocks and stressors experienced by the agricultural sector and rural communities.
Investing in water infrastructure, including large dams and bulk water reticulation,
in line with our climate change resilience plan,
to ensure that those communities suffering from protracted drought have the resources they need to continue agricultural production.
Working with beneficiaries of land reform programmes and share equity schemes to ensure that they have adequate access to financing and support for ‘on-farm’ infrastructure such as dipping tanks, fencing and silos.
Improving rural communication infrastructure (broadband and cellular/4G connectivity) to
enhance the ability of farmers to carry out business activities.
Investing in targeted road, rail and port infrastructure to transport agricultural produce for local and international markets.
Transport infrastructure must also make it easier and less costly to access local fresh produce markets.
See the Transport and Trade and Industry sections for more detail on these plans.
To further help the agricultural sector grow and create more jobs, a DA national government will: Work with local and provincial governments to plan and facilitate private sector investment in agro-processing plants – located along key corridors – with the aim of adding further value to agricultural production and
to create jobs.
The Western Cape Government has successfully pioneered such a project with the a Halaal Food processing plant in Cape Town.
Partner with provincial and local governments to improve market access for small-scale farmers and land reform beneficiaries.
This will in part be achieved by creating an environment in which the private sector, in particular supermarkets and cooperatives, become key players in driving South African market access
as well as assisting with compliance with international health and safety standards to optimise agricultural production for export.
Improve the curriculum of agricultural training colleges so that they provide world-class education
which can assist farmers to compete in the global economy.
Partner with different spheres of government to make technology available to farmers which can boost agricultural output and business efficiency.
Fund research and development, in partnership with higher education institutions, to drive innovation in the agriculture sector
that can boost job-creating economic growth.
Ensure the effective protection of indigenous products in international markets.
South Africa produces a number of unique products and there is substantial value to be added by ensuring the protection of these (Rooibos is an excellent example of where this has been successful).
Improving Access and Innovation in ICT
The global economy is rapidly evolving into a data-driven era.
Every aspect of human social, political and economic activity is becoming rooted in information generated by the online activities of people and machines.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is seen as an economic growth multiplier,
particularly because it facilitates knowledge exchanges, including effective functioning of regional and multi-national value chains that include goods and services.
ICT is the nervous system that enables international commerce to function efficiently and
reliably enables governments to offer online interaction with citizens,
facilitates knowledge and cultural exchanges between communities and nations, and
gives access to a world of opportunities.
For all South Africans to benefit from this dynamic, ever-changing world, ICT must be supported and governed by flexible policies and laws that synchronise with international jurisdictions,
champion human rights of Internet access and use
and protect people’s information and property in a trusted and secure networked world.
To harness the full benefits of ICT a DA national government will pursue policies and initiatives which... Firstly, Facilitate ICT’s contribution to economic growth and job creation by: Establishing one ICT department responsible for developing research-based policies and
formulating legislation that gives long-term certainty for a dynamic and flexible converged telecommunication ecosystem.
Legislating, through an amendment to the Constitution,
the Chapter Nine independence of the sector regulator to ensure independence from political, commercial and government influence.
Assuring investors of the constitutional protection of their investment and intellectual property in terms of owning and operating ICT facilities, such as networks and data centres.
Requiring networking companies to contribute to financing, and in kind, the infrastructure build and maintenance of operational networks to marginalised communities, and
well as to community- owned, not-for-profit, networks.
These networking companies will be given tax relief for as long as they assure the operability for a pre-determined period of these connections to the nationwide broadband network.
Reviewing the failed Broadcasting Digital Migration policy to promptly switch off the analogue broadcasting signal to make the airwaves available for mobile broadband and
usher in more choice of broadcasters and better-quality programming.
Giving qualifying poor South Africans, in danger of being isolated by digital broadcasting, a voucher to use as part payment at selected retailers for their choice of digital device.
Abolishing Import tariffs on entry-level smart personal devices,
meeting the technical standards prescribed by the regulator to enable mass access to the Internet.
Reviewing the 2014 South Africa Connect broadband plan to identify and prioritise ‘quick wins’ to gain the inclusion of digitally marginalised communities to communication networks and
to ensure all government facilities – such as post offices and clinics - are equipped to offer capped free Wi-Fi or Internet café-type facilities for the public.
Secondly, make it easier and cheaper to access the Internet by: Motivating that the regulator assigns spectrum via a competitive market process in the best interests of driving affordable, user-driven Internet access demand and in so doing,
ensure the stability and expansion of technology (like 5G) going forward
as well as serving to unlock latent investment potential.
Giving a policy directive to the regulator to determine the most effective way for all network licence holders to separate their wholesale and retail offers to stimulate competition in wholesale network provision and drive down prices.
Limiting import tariffs on some imported ICASA-compliant mobile electronic equipment, such as personal devices
to make them more affordable and drive accessibility to the Internet.
Encouraging private sector and government to recruit scarce skills from wherever they can be found in the world with a view to knowledge exchange and mentorship of local ICT developers, analysts and engineers.
Thirdly, ensure secure citizen-centric legislative and Internet governance by: Developing a strategy to address both the economic and non-economic dimensions of the collection, storage and use of data of all users of devices and networks whether they be individuals, governments or companies.
Escalating the implementation of the Protection of Personal Information Act and
properly resource it with funds and skilled personnel at the office of the Information regulator.
Identifying, registering and regulating data brokers to ensure collection of data for surveillance and commercial purposes is strictly governed.
Ensuring that access to the Internet is protected as a basic right, in line with the United Nations Human Rights Commission’s resolution that the rights citizens enjoy offline, such as access to information, are also applicable online.
Empowering citizen rights groups and NGOs to be the initiators of policies that identify and govern Internet access and usage.
Fourthly, build a robust, easily accessible and secure government ICT operation by:
Ensuring all spheres of government invest in interactive online services to enable businesses and citizens to deal with governments promptly and efficiently, when applying for and renewing licences etc.
Working with ICT service providers to ensure the efficient planning and building of ICT infrastructure essential to efficient and inclusive service delivery,
economic investment and growth and
creating an attractive environment for citizens to work and play in.
Ensuring roads and electricity supply to rural areas where marginalised communities need communications infrastructure.
Finally, establish a Presidential Advisory Body which: Regularly reports to the Presidency, on, inter alia, international and local ICT developments, research and application of technology and its impact on society, work, service delivery, international relations, global economic protocols, cyber security, education, multi-national dominance of the sector and market-competitive issues.
Cleaning House: Unbundling SOE Monopolies for Growth
State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in South Africa are characterised by mismanagement,
corruption,
poor procurement,
poor organisational strategy and
a poor governance culture.
The result of this is a breakdown of delivery in key service areas like power production and rail transport – vital economic drivers and services for everyday life.
But the risk that these enterprises pose to our economy, and indeed our country, is bigger than failed service delivery.
Nothing is a better illustration of the current government’s ability to make a bad situation worse than the never-ending sagas of SOEs like Eskom and SAA which are so bankrupt, and
their governance so poorly degraded,
that the status quo of their current management threatens to crash our entire economy.
They have lumbered from crisis to crisis for more than a decade, accumulating hundreds of billions in debt (much of it government-backed) with absolutely nothing to show for it.
Indeed, the debt that Eskom, in particular, owes is so enormous that the ANC have openly admitted that they plan to loot public and private pensions to pay it off through their ill-conceived ‘prescribed assets’ investment scheme.
What is worse is that some of this debt has been secured in foreign currencies, meaning if the Rand devalues and we are unable to pay off the debt we face debt defaults which could cause a currency collapse.
This would lead to the kind of rampant inflation,
food shortages and
massive job losses that plagues our neighbour, Zimbabwe.
Stabilising the delivery of services currently mandated to SOEs like PRASA and Eskom is an absolute necessity to get our economy back on track and
provide citizens with the services they need.
Failure to stabilise their volatile finances will be a death knell to our economy.
It is vital to inject competition into the market for many of these goods and services as many SOEs have complete monopolies over their respective markets.
South Africans must have access to more choice and
our economy needs to have reliable basic service provision.
The DA is the only party that can fix the mess at our SOEs.
The current government cannot take the action needed because they have used these enterprises as vehicles of corruption and patronage with the enterprises facing increasing political interference in the awarding of tenders and contracts.
The ANC will not bite the hand that feeds it, even if the consequences are devastating for South Africans.
See the Transport section for a full description of the DA’s plan to deal with SAA. To deal with the crisis at Eskom, a DA national government will: Implement our plan for the entity which was introduced in our Independent System and Market Operator (ISMO) Bill. Market Operator (ISMO) Bill. End Eskom’s monopoly by breaking it up into electricity generation and transmission entities. This will be done by establishing an independent body owned by the state tasked with buying electricity from electricity generators. The operator will function as a wholesaler of electricity that sells electricity to distributors and customers at a wholesale tariff. Allow metropolitan municipalities with a proven history of good financial governance and electricity reticulation management to trade with electricity generators directly, buying electricity straight from the source. In the spirit of accountability, the processes involved with such procurement will be required to be transparent, and any agreement concludedwill be required to be the result of a competitive bidding process. Licensing the right to generate power (above a certain threshold) and using the proceeds to service Eskom’s debt. Breaking up the failing entity will not make its debt disappear. In order to service Eskom’s remaining debt and ensure the maintenance of the grid going forward licensing fees from IPPs will be crucial. Licencing fees would not be prohibitive and would only be charged for as long as it took to eliminate the fiscal risk posed by Eskom’s debt.
To address the crisis facing SOEs a DA national government will... Firstly, implement a programme of full and partial privatisation by: Analysing all SOEs with the aim of identifying those which should undergo full or partial privatisation by bringing in private equity partners and disinvesting from non-core SOEs urgently.
This will bring in vital cash injections, skills, systems and expertise to turn-around a number of SOEs,
while ridding the fiscus of the burden of the worst performers.
State-owned companies that perform tasks that can be more effectively delivered by the private sector can and must be privatised.
Introducing an independent board to manage the sales of SOEs to prevent oligarchs (a small group who control the industry) from forming.
Share options for employees can be offered to get buy-in for privatisation from workers.
Secondly, de-politicise the boards of SOEs by: Appointing board members first and foremost for their business knowledge and expertise, and not on their political connections.
Introducing the mandatory vetting of board members for political connections and conflicting business interests.
Carrying out lifestyle audits once a year to ensure that board members do not become captured during their tenure.
Ensuring appointments are made with a clear mandate to instil stability, confidence and vital skills required on the boards of SOEs.
Creating a Director’s Academy with the primary objective of providing the directors of SOEs with world-class knowledge and management skills.
Implementing a Code of Good Practice for SOEs, developed to govern board members.
Thirdly, instil a focus on becoming competitive by: Ensuring management and financial decisions at SOEs are guided by financial considerations and sustainability and not by ideological considerations.
Giving SOEs transparent and clear mandates that set financial objectives and sustainability as the primary goals.
Selecting and monitoring Key Performance Indicators (KPI) as part of the creation of a monitoring and linked performance-based culture.
Clearly defining profit and non-profit objectives for SOEs which match industry standards and best practices for financial targets such as: returns on equity (e.g. 13%), interest coverage (e.g. 2:1), and minimum debt-to-equity ratios (e.g. 1:1).
Selling off, franchising, outsourcing or terminating non-core activities and assets.
Pursuing an operational campaign focusing on improved technical capabilities and
a more effective working culture with excellence at its core.
Fourthly, ensure good governance based on transparency by: Overhauling procurement within SOEs to make these processes more transparent in order to minimise the opportunity for corruption.
Communicating regularly (at least monthly) on progress achieved with regard to KPIs, and social and financial objectives to maintain public support and buy-in.
Making performance agreements with executives publicly available and holding executives accountable.
Making the tender awarding process for tenders over a certain value open to the public at the adjudication stage to avoid cases of political interference.
Implementing an online portal system for viewing these tenders.
Strengthening procurement oversight at SOEs through implementing regulations that would create an internal procurement oversight committee, consisting of selected internal auditors that would report to the board directly every fortnight.
Including regulations which require procurement officers be vetted extensively for conflicts of interest on an annual basis by a procurement committee.
Finally, streamline government oversight by: Disposing of the defunct and ineffective Department of Public Enterprises and
moving the management of SOEs under their rightful departments.
In the case of Transnet, government should return it entirely to the Department of Transport;
Eskom should move to the Department of Energy;
SAFCOL should move to the Department of Agriculture;
and Denel should go to the Department of Defence.
This would improve the lines of accountability and communication and
also align the SOEs with the efforts of their rightful sector and portfolio.
Energy: Powering South Africa’s Economic Growth
A consistent and reliable supply of electricity and energy is vital
to reigniting job-creating economic growth in South Africa.
At present, South Africa is unable to produce the energy needed to sustain current levels of economic activity,
let alone enable the growth needed to create the millions of jobs required to tackle poverty and inequality.
Eskom’s monopoly on electricity generation, if not addressed, will cripple our economy.
The DA has a full plan to deal with the crisis at Eskom.
These measures will provide significant short-term alleviation.
The current government’s plans and programmes will not be able to stabilise energy production or
stimulate rapid economic growth.
This is in large part due to the incorrect composition of energy production and energy sources in South Africa (for instance a heavy reliance on coal limits energy production when there are coal shortages or when corrupt tenders lead to the incorrect type of coal being bought).
The current government has also been relatively slow to increase the renewable energy mix.
The latest draft IRP plan in 2018 will see no increase in the use of nuclear energy up until the year 2030.
The DA has no principled objection to the use of nuclear power when executed safely and as part of an appropriate energy mix.
However, the current government’s plans for nuclear to date have been hobbled by serious allegations of corruption and
would completely bankrupt our economy.
In addition, the relatively slow lead time required to bring nuclear online means that South Africa will have to wait a decade, at best, to benefit from a new nuclear programme.
Nuclear must be considered only as part of this wider basket of solutions. If after 2030, a nuclear build programme is adopted it must be done through an independent and expert nuclear producer – not through a process marred by corruption and patronage – at a fixed rate. This will mean that any cost overruns and delays are absorbed and shouldered by the producer, not the taxpayer. It will also increase transparency and accountability through the process.
While there is no quick-fix solution to the electricity crisis, there are a number of policy decisions which can and should be taken immediately.
Failing to take these decisions will cripple our economy even further and
hurt the poor and disadvantaged in our country the most.
Increasing diversification
We must immediately increase the diversity of energy production in South Africa.
A DA national government will: Support all viable renewable options including wind power, where applicable; and
concentrated solar power and PV solar power projects in our deserts and
built above the water surface of selected dams.
Explore safe and sustainable gas fracking in certain areas of the country
which will also boost the economy and
create jobs in fracking and downstream industries.
Allow for offshore oil drilling to be conducted, where it is safe to do so and subject to stringent safety measures.
Make all oil and gas exploration and extraction operations subject to independent and accredited environmental impact assessment reports.
Fund CSIR research and development into sustainable battery use for mass electricity storage.
Ensure that planning related to transmission infrastructure is a core component of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).
Opening up the Industry
The Eskom monopoly on electricity generation and distribution has been crippling our economy for years.
It is vital that we open up the market and
allow the private sector to invest and inject efficiency into the system.
The first step in this regard will be the long overdue passing of the Independent Systems and Market Operator (ISMO) Bill.
The DA has revived this bill, with amendments, as a Private Members Bill, to be introduced back to Parliament.
This is discussed in more detail in the section on Eskom covered under our plan for SOEs.
A DA national government will pass the amended version of the ISMO Bill allowing for: Eskom to be split into a generating entity that can be slowly privatised and
a state entity that will manage, own and operate the grid and its transmission.
The expansion and updating of the grid, which will allow more Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to connect and begin contributing to generating capacity.
This is one of the biggest pitfalls to the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) – new projects have been unable to connect to the grid in certain places.
The initiation of immediate pre-emptive maintenance programmes on the existing transmission grid.
These should aim to prevent the kind of plant failures which have so disastrously affected generating plants.
Electricity Generation and Supply Governance
Governance at Eskom must urgently be turned around to ensure that Eskom provides a detailed report on backlogged maintenance at all power plants
as well as instituting international best practice measures in a number of areas.
This must be done with the aim to give an accurate depiction of the electricity crisis to the public for the sake of transparency and
to motivate power saving practices in households and businesses.
Management bonuses and salaries, at every level, should be linked to the achievement of tangible key performance indicators (KPIs).
This allows the portfolio oversight committee, government and the public in general an opportunity to become more involved in holding the utility to account during on-site visits, with regard to current maintenance.
Furthermore, government must impress upon Eskom the necessity of making reports on plant failures available to the public as a means of providing further accountability.
The DA will further call for the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) to have some kind of mediating and/or explanatory role in the release of this information.
This involvement on the part of NERSA is key, given the lack of trust the public has in Eskom.
Under a DA government, the municipal debt burden owed to Eskom will be tackled head-on.
With over R13 billion owed, an inter-departmental task team will need to be formed to incorporate CoGTA and Energy.
A review of all pay-back terms and agreements will be conducted.
WHERE WE GOVERNThe City of Cape Town, improved energy securityA DA national government will allow well- functioning metros, such as the City of Cape Town (CoCT), to choose who supplies them with energy. This will allow metros to purchase electricity from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and even to build small, city-owned renewable-energy generation plants, where feasible. The CoCT has led the way in energy management, with the installation of rooftop PV systems on City buildings, retrofitting traffic and streetlights with LED lamps, and installing smart electricity meters.
Building a Caring, Opportunity-rich South Africa
For too long South Africans have been left at the mercy of an uncaring and dysfunctional state.
This has seen too many South Africans killed through negligence, inaction or worse.
Under a DA government the state will provide quality basic services,
provide social assistance to those who need it,
build a healthcare system that meets the needs of citizens,
provide access to life-changing educational opportunities for all South Africans, and
eliminate the scourge of gender-based inequalities.
Our plan for building a caring,
opportunity-rich South Africa contains the following core elements:
Expanding access to quality basic services for all by: expanding access to housing to create a home for all South Africans; andexpanding access to water, sanitation and electricity. Building a caring social assistance system. Creating a health system that works. Basic education: creating an opportunity ladder for all South Africans. Eliminating gender-based inequalities.
Expanding Access to Quality Basic Services for All
Expanding access to housing: A home for all South Africans
Millions of South Africans continue to live in appalling conditions with no safe place to call home.
South Africa currently does not have adequate housing to meet the needs of our citizens and
many are left to live in informal settings where there is little, but often no, access to basic services like water and sanitation.
Far from being one nation for all South Africans, our history has meant our society was first divided by race and
then by a policy of building free-standing top-structures far away from economic activities and opportunities following apartheid spatial planning.
There is no single solution that will eradicate the housing backlog,
but what is essential is a basket of solutions which can address the issue and
give South Africans more choice and a better quality of life when it comes to finding a place to call home.
The reality of years of government corruption and waste is that the resources to give every family a house do not exist.
Government can no longer follow the narrow strategy as outlined initially by the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) and then Breaking New Ground (BNG) programmes for addressing the housing backlog as these have patently failed.
Firstly, because many South Africans still do not have houses,
but also because this approach has not worked to create integrated cities and towns.
New approaches that achieve the following aims are needed: Giving more South Africans safe and dignified living spaces.
Creating more diverse and
inclusive cities and towns.
Bringing more people closer to economic and educational activities.
Densifying existing towns and cities to avoid urban sprawl.
Providing more options that allow South Africans greater choice when it comes to housing.
To do this, the DA national government will: Give recipients of RDP and BNG houses ownership of the land they live on by giving them title deeds.
Too many people live in homes that they have not been given title to and this must be rectified.
Create a single national housing database which each province and local government will have to cross-reference to prevent beneficiaries from benefitting more than once,
to prevent corrupt queue jumping, and
to ensure that beneficiaries meet all the requirements for housing assistance i.e. South African citizenship and the right income level.
Launch a national housing audit to verify the current ownership of RDP and BNG houses to identify where houses have been allocated through corruption or
have been sold illegally.
Continued Informal Settlement Upgrades
As many resources as possible will be put toward providing all qualifying South African households on the national list with their choice of housing solution
but it is also important to recognise that informal settlements and informality will remain a challenge over the coming years.
Because of this, the DA will continue to make resources available to ensure that basic services and
upgrades are rolled out for those who live in informal areas.
This means that while those who qualify for one of the housing solutions below wait on the fair housing list, they will not go without access to water, sanitation, electricity or refuse removal.
For more information see the offer for improved basic services.
New housing solutions
To provide people with quality housing and more choice we will give people who earn less than R15 000 a month three broad options to get housing.
This will be achieved by making as many of the opportunities listed below as possible available each year, within the constraints of the human settlements budget, and subject to the new list process:
Option 1: BNG-type housing
Those South African households who earn less than R4000 per month can opt to remain on their local or provincial housing list for an RDP/BNG type home (important to remember: local lists will be cross-referenced with the national list to ensure that beneficiaries only benefit once and that housing opportunities occur fairly).
As more people take advantage of the multitude of housing options available the list for housing will decrease.
Option 2: Sign up for the Home Voucher Scheme
Those South African households who earn below R15 000 a month will qualify for a housing voucher.
Households earning less than R4000 a month will qualify for a voucher of between R130 000 and R150 000.
Households earning above R4000 and below R10 000 will qualify for 60% of the full voucher amount.
While households that earn above R10 000 and below R15 000 will qualify for 40% of the full voucher amount (this income tier are more able to access GAP initiatives meaning they will already receive a part subsidy).
The vouchers can be used as follows:
Build your own home on a government-provided service site (already connected to water and electricity).
These vouchers will be worth R130 000 and
the serviced sites will also receive other services like area/neighbourhood cleaning and refuse removal.
Use a R150 000 voucher paid directly to the bank or financer as a deposit towards buying an already-existing house.
Use a R150 000 voucher paid directly to the bank or financer as a deposit towards buying land to build your own home (with the option to have part paid out for a building voucher too).
Use a R150 000 voucher paid directly to the bank or financer as a deposit towards building or upgrading a structure on land you already own.
Option 3: Choose to live in the city (inner city)
The above solutions work well for those who want to live in new growing urban neighbourhoods,
but limit those who seek to live closer to central business districts where there are more opportunities.
A DA national government will work hard to ensure that there are many more options for low and middle- income households to live in our cities.
These options will include: Increased social housing units (low-rent units) in mixed income developments.
Increased rent-to-buy units in mixed income developments where beneficiaries will pay in rent but towards eventual ownership of their homes.
More affordable units to be sold on the housing market, made available by leveraging bulk rights to ensure developers add at least 25% additional low-cost units when they develop new or existing buildings (this will mean more housing options available to those people who qualify for the housing voucher but want to buy housing in our inner cities).
WHERE WE GOVERNInner City housing in the City of Johannesburg84 properties have been released by Council to the private sector for development through public- private partnerships to deliver an estimated 4000 units for student accommodation, small business premises and even more affordable accommodation for some of our poorest residents. Between 80 and 100 buildings will be released this year from the 500 properties that have been identified as ‘bad’ buildings for which expropriation processes have been initiated. The rejuvenation of these buildings can truly change Johannesburg’s skyline. This process has culminated in the awarding of Vannin Court and Beaconsfield Court, and vacant land at 82 Gwigwi Mrwebi Street, Newtown, to EGC Properties and Johannesburg Housing Company. The developers have committed a proposed total investment of just over R204 million. Both Hillbrow properties and their associated buildings earmarked for refurbishment are expected to be completed in the next twelve months, availing 384 units for the residents of Johannesburg. Western Cape Government housing opportunitiesSince 2009, we have completed 212 967 housing projects. 105 500 housing projects are due for completion in the Western Cape by 2022.
To significantly reduce the costs of buying a first home, a DA national government would: Work on eliminating transfer duties on all first-time home purchases less than R1,75 million in value.
Transfer duties can be considered a regressive tax for South Africans when purchasing assets.
To create more broad-based wealth more people need to own more property.
Home owners are already subjected to a number of taxes through rates, utilities and in sectional titles, levies.
Revise the transfer duty brackets with the aim of making home ownership more affordable and within the reach of more South Africans.
The new brackets would be: 0 - 1 500 000: No transfer duty
1 500 001 - 2 500 000: 2% of value
2 500 001 - 5 000 000: 3% of value
5 000 001 - 10 000 000: 5% of value
10 000 01 and above: 10% of value
Work with banks to include in the bond the value of the bond registration costs and bank initiation fees, if the customer so chooses, and only for first-time home purchases.
Engage the Law Society to drastically reduce conveyancing fees for first-time home purchasers to a flat fee of R5000 only,
with this lower cost to be cross-subsidised by small increases in costs on homes above R1.5 million and repeat-home buyers.
The above proposals would save tens of thousands in terms of the cost of buying a first property, making it much easier for first-time buyers to enter the housing market.
We want every South African to be an asset owner,
to be able to build long-term generational wealth, and
to break the cycle of inter- generational poverty.
While other parties propose to seize people’s hard-earned assets, we want to make it easier for more people to become asset owners.
For the vast majority of people, a home and a pension represent the greatest portion of their life savings.
But in South Africa, hundreds of thousands of people cannot buy their first home because the costs are prohibitive.
Banks require deposits (usually 10% of the purchase price), and the upfront fees and taxes are frankly extortionate.
They are far in excess of the costs involved in buying any other asset.
It is entirely consistent with our aims and values to try to help young people get on to the property ownership ladder.
In addition, the biggest beneficiaries of such a policy would be young black professionals, who are for reasons well known, still largely excluded from so much economic opportunity, and in most cases will not have the family support necessary to buy a first home.
Youth job-seeker rental subsidy
Finally, we cannot forget our country’s youth, specifically those aged between 20 and 25, who have just qualified from tertiary education and are looking to build their careers and lives by moving to cities and towns to look for jobs.
It can be difficult for these young people to find good accommodation at a reasonable price and
this can often lead to living in unsafe and informal housing.
The DA will pilot a special youth job-seeker rental subsidy voucher for these young South Africans.
This rental voucher subsidy will be aimed at graduates whose skills are in demand in cities, but do not have the means to access the city.
The voucher would be capped at one year and
will only be valid for a period of two months after the beneficiary gains employment.
This will enable young people access to a variety of housing options, given that landlords are willing to sign up for the voucher programme.
Therefore, graduates will not have to wait to get spaces in social housing initiatives for which they often do not qualify.
Expanding access to water, sanitation and electricity
People who live in informal settlements in South Africa are disproportionately affected by socio- economic problems such as ill health,
violence and
unemployment.
This is unsurprising when considering the social determinants of health in relation to the reality of living conditions in the majority of informal settlements in the country.
The lack of basic services – such as water, sanitation and electricity – leads to higher prevalence rates for disease, sickness and disasters such as shack fires and flooding which are particularly prevalent due to a lack of planning and design of settlements.
Despite informal settlements being part of our country’s urban landscape for decades, the current government has made very little progress in terms of improving basic services to these communities.
Informal settlements are here to stay for the foreseeable future.
Large-scale rural urban migration and the backlog from years of neglect will mean even the best human settlements policy implemented soundly will take a number of years to significantly reduce the population of these settlements.
In order to reduce the burdens of poverty, which people living in informal areas suffer,
it is vital to provide more immediate solutions which raise their standard of living and
enables all individuals to enjoy basic human and
constitutional rights.
While sustainable improvement requires more than just in-situ upgrading (for instance job creation, economic growth, improvement in access to education),
it is an important step towards achieving fairness and
an important step in building One South Africa for All.
WHERE WE GOVERNWestern Cape Government (WCG) service delivery82% of the WCG 2018 Budget was spent on the delivery of services to the poor. Nelson Mandela Bay: Rapid Service Delivery Gains Under DA GovernmentBefore the Coalition of Corruption took over governance in Nelson Mandela Bay, the DA-led administration had provided 100% of houses in both formal and informal neighbourhoods with access to a basic water supply. 12 000 residents in informal settlements received running water and sanitation for the first time. More than half of the bucket toilets we inherited were eradicated, and we managed to connect 95% of all households to municipal sanitation.
To improve the quality of access to basic services, a DA national government will: Continue to support the roll-out of incremental in-situ upgrading (which will provide water, sanitation, electricity, waste removal and also proper area planning) of well-located informal settlements with the aim of formalising these areas over time.
This will be done by: Utilising reblocking methodology to re-design informal settlements so that dwellings are organised using spatial planning best practice.
This methodology can provide significant safety and
service improvements by, for example, creating space for roads wide enough to allow emergency and waste vehicles to properly service the settlement.
Creating a new hybrid grant that will be used to upgrade informal settlements.
The grant will be funded through reassessing the Urban Settlement Development Grant (USDG), Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) and equitable share and channelling funds into the new grant to address issues which these two grants do not adequately cover (such as data collection and the re-blocking processes).
This grant will ultimately aim to cover all the costs of turning an informal settlement into a well-planned and fully serviced neighbourhood over time.
Initiating a programme of data collection which will seek to audit all of our country’s informal settlements, gathering a myriad of data including: the number of households living in informal settlements, information on the household heads, community structure and leadership, interaction methods with the government, and detailed information on the land the settlement is situated on.
Developing an informal settlement index similar to India’s “slum index”, which ranks informal settlements on both qualitative and quantitative data.
This index would provide a greater range of measurable effects by making it easier to assess the starting points of projects,
the effect of projects on the living conditions of people living in informality and
the changes in community dynamics.
WHERE WE GOVERNBasic services in the City of Cape TownAccording to the National Department of Water and Sanitation Masterplan (March 2018), the current access to sanitation services is around 80% nationally. The report however states that ‘delivery is uneven and, in some municipalities, only 50% of residents have access to adequate sanitation facilities.’ The City of Cape Town has achieved almost 100% access to adequate sanitation in existing informal settlements despite rapid urbanisation. National Government statistics, as communicated recently by the Financial and Fiscal Commission, indicate that Cape Town provides the highest percentage of full-flush toilets and weekly refuse removal in the country. Around 93.8% of households in the city, including informal settlement households, have access to a flush toilet, the highest level in the country; and 87.8% of households receive weekly refuse removal services. The City of Cape Town meets and exceeds national benchmarks for service provision and has developed its own service standards for basic service provision which sets far more enhanced/higher service ratios within informal settlements than the current national service standards. On the upgrading of informal settlements as well as the installation of taps and toilets, and the repairs, maintenance and servicing of toilets and the City’s unique janitorial programme, more than R1.8 billion is earmarked in the medium term. The City also pioneered a janitorial service to clean the toilets in informal settlements. This programme has seen the creation of thousands of job opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). These janitors also monitor infrastructure and inform the depots of where maintenance is required. Last year (2017/2018 financial year) over 90% of the budget for the informal settlements and backyarder department was spent.