Deputy President Paul Mashatile on Thursday addressed the BizNews Conference, in the Western Cape, where he gave government assurance on investment-linked policies to business leaders in attendance.

Following the much-anticipated Budget speech on Wednesday, Mashatile said its presentation by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, in the face of a postponement and disagreements, had been a lesson in improving processes.

He said while the Government of National Unity (GNU) would not agree on everything, it was “more powerful than many people realise”.

“As I have indicated on several occasions, having a GNU Cabinet does not imply that we will agree on everything. There will be times when we do not view things the same way, but this does not spell the end of the GNU.

“Several coalition governments around the world have collapsed as a consequence of misunderstandings about the country's Budget - this is but a reflection of democracy at work,” Mashatile said.

He pointed to government’s commitment to the GNU with the establishment of the GNU Clearing House Mechanism, which he chaired, to resolve policy disagreements.

Mashatile noted that the National Development Plan’s Vision 2030 and the newly adopted Medium-Term Development Plan formed part of government’s efforts in development.

However, he said government should look beyond 2030 to 2055, which marks the Freedom Charter’s centenary.

“As a nation, we have a duty to transform South Africa and create a country in which all South Africans, regardless of race, class, or gender, may enjoy a decent quality of life and access to economic opportunities that will improve their wellbeing. One of the primary transformational interventions and policies includes the Land Expropriation Policy,” he highlighted.

The controversial policy, which the US used as reason to pull critical funding from South Africa, was vital to South Africa’s plan to correct historical injustices, he said.

He explained that the 1975 Act did not clearly define critical legal terms, did not consider socioeconomic transformation and did not establish a structured process for fair compensation.

The new Act, he said, balanced land reform with legal safeguards.

“The speculations that assert that the signing of the Expropriation Act is responsible for farm murders are not only unfounded but also irresponsible. This issue has been prevalent within farming communities in South Africa for years now, and victims of this violence ainclude both farm workers and owners to varying degrees,” Mashatile said.

He said the Rural Safety Plan was developed to address this, as it aimed to protect both farmers and the food security value chain.

“This means that rather than dismantling this approach, we must step up our efforts to implement the National Rural Safety Strategy to prevent violent crime on farms, working collaboratively with farming organisations and other vital role-players,” he added.

US RELATIONS

Mashatile also assured business leaders of government’s commitment to stabilise relations with the US, noting that it was essential to the country’s economic development goals.

He said US President Donald Trump’s decision to cut funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), was “regrettable” and created an urgent need for South Africa to strengthen its own health interventions.

“The withdrawal should serve as a wake-up call for the country to develop sustainable healthcare solutions independent of external influences. In this regard, we have been investing heavily in healthcare reform and responding to the dual epidemics of HIV/Aids and TB. The Department of Health has put measures in place to ensure that patients receiving TB and HIV treatment are not affected and do not default,” he said.

Another point of concern is the possibility that the US could block South Africa from receiving African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) benefits, which he acknowledged would devastate farmers and the agriculture sector, as it generates around $21-billion in trade with the US.

“Therefore, our position is that South Africa should maintain strong bilateral relations with the USA. Most importantly, as a country, we are committed to improving mutually beneficial trade, political, and diplomatic relations with the USA. As we look to the future, we must also consider diversifying our export markets to lessen our reliance on single trading partners and to limit the kind of perils that we face. We must, therefore, expand our trade relations with other countries, such as China, Russia, India, and European countries,” Mashatile said, while touting the need for increased intra-Africa trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area in what is already a substantial market for the sector.

He stressed the need for collaboration across all sectors.

“With courage and determination, we can build a stronger, more prosperous South Africa, ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to succeed. Our collective efforts will pave the way for a better tomorrow,” he ended.