E Molewa: National Council of Provinces

31 March 2006

In the early decades of the 20th century the country of Cuba like many
developing countries faced a stark choice of deciding on a form of government
and an economic system that could either benefit the general population or
prioritise the interests of the international investors. Cuba chose the route
of sharing whatever resources they had equally among its own population rather
than a system designed to benefit a few individuals.

I would like to say a few words about the importance not only of growing the
economy but also the historical imperative for us South Africans to share the
wealth and benefits of that economic among all our people.

While we may not have a stark choice to make like Cuba did I believe South
Africa nevertheless has enough resources, enough wealth to be shared so that
even those that continue to reside in the second economy are able to share in
the growth of the country.

I believe that South Africa is currently riding a wave of unprecedented
economic growth whose legacy must surely be the broad benefits it must bring to
the population of the country. We have an important obligation not to squander
this opportunity but spread the wealth among the poor people of our country. We
can never over emphasise the importance of sharing in the growth of our economy
and our country.

We believe that the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South
Africa (AsgiSA) is a perfect model to address shortcomings in our economy so
that we share the growth among the people. AsgiSA enjoins both the private and
public sectors to share the responsibility of growing the economy to address
the challenges of poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment in our
country.

It is therefore very clear that there is a considerable role for everyone of
us to play in both growing the economy and widening the net of benefit so that
the growth takes us all forward as a nation not just benefiting big business
for example.

It is also up to us to blend programmes carefully with AsgiSA so that we are
able to reach the target of shared growth and development. AsgiSA is not a pie
in the sky nor a fixed formula from national government but it is those very
critical programmes of our provincial and local government that are geared
towards achieving a speedy tangible growth that is able to be felt by the
common people of our country.

AsgiSA is therefore far from just being a magic wand that would erase all
poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment at a stroke but it is the success of
all those programmes we have identified as having the potential to achieve the
kind of growth we desire so that the entire population is able to share in the
fruits of the same tree.

I must therefore say in conclusion that unlike Cuba of the 20th century,
South Africa has infinitely more possibilities and enough wealth and resources
to be shared among the citizens.

Cuba may not today be the richest country in the world but it remains among
very few countries in the world whose populations are well educated with a
sound health and social security systems. We may want to learn from Cuba as we
strive to grow our own economy, fight poverty, unemployment and
underdevelopment.

We believe that in AsgiSA we have a model that makes possible our target of
halving unemployment by 2014 while achieving the economic growth rate of six
percent at the same time. The success or failure of AsgiSA therefore rests with
all of us. Nonetheless, we are most convinced of the success and we have no
doubt that the programmes we have put in place will usher us in an era not only
of hope but of felt, tangible growth shared by all sectors of our society.

We are very heartened that this sitting of National Council of Provinces
(NCOP) has been dedicated to addressing this important call on all of us to
increasingly consider ways of sharing the wealth of the nation, the growth of
our economy among all our citizens.

In this regard success is our only other option failure is not. I thank the
House once again for the opportunity say a few words about the importance of
shared and accelerated growth for our country South Africa in this 21st
century.

I thank you.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
31 March 2006