Brown, at the Disability Annual General Meeting (AGM), Western Cape
Network
28 March 2006
During this year's opening of the national Parliament, President Thabo Mbeki
eloquently analysed the state of our nation. He outlined the challenges that
faced our democracy when freedom was achieved in 1994, he spelt out what we as
a country have done to overcome these challenges.
Most importantly, the President has informed us that our nation had entered
an 'age of hope'. Hope that the challenges impeding the creation of work and
the eradication of poverty will be overcome. Hope that the stumbling blocks
that before 1994 prevented black and women/female South Africans from engaging
in commerce or careers of their choice have been removed.
Hope that we have established a democracy that respects the rule of law and
accords equal rights to every South African. And most crucially that disabled
South Africans are no longer confined to the fringes of society, eking out a
living through the acquisition of social grants.
We have a democracy that encourages and protects the rights of persons with
disabilities. For the first time in the history of our country we have passed
laws that promote the inclusion of historically disadvantaged individuals into
the economic life of our democracy. These include people with disabilities.
This is especially important for a province like the Western Cape which has a
higher economic growth rate of 2,9%. This growth rate is higher than the
average national rate. This therefore means that there are economic benefits to
be reaped from the Western Cape.
However, our experience has shown that those who have historically been
disadvantaged are not feeling the benefits of this higher growth rate. The
benefits of growth are not at all reaching the poor, who by and large are
African and Coloured, women, youth and disabled, rural and township
residents.
The reality for the disabled is defined by the fact that:
* The 2001 Census found that only 19% of disabled people between the ages of 15
- 65 were employed. This compared to 34% of the non-disabled population in this
age group being employed.
* The Census also found that 30% of disabled people had no education, while 13%
of the non-disabled population fell into this category.
To deal with the challenges posed by this scenario, we are going to have to
embark on bold initiatives. The Department of Trade and Industry's (dti)
strategy document on Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) notes that, apartheid
systematically and purposefully restricted the majority of South Africans from
meaningful participation in the economy. What is important to note is that
disabled people make up a sizeable portion of this majority that was denied
access to these opportunities.
The document further notes "the impact of this systematic disempowerment not
only resulted in a landless black majority with restricted access to skills
development" but also deliberately prohibited many of these people from
generating self-employment and entrepreneurship.
BEE is the policy adopted by government to deal with this systematic
exclusion of historically disadvantaged people from owning economic power in
South Africa. The Western Cape has the country's second largest economy, yet
ownership of this economy is still largely in white hands. BEE therefore has
more relevance in our efforts to restructure ownership of the economy of our
province.
Unless we do this, the Western Cape will not fulfil its promise. If we do
not promote economic empowerment, we will not be:
[a] A destination of first choice for investors,
[b] A productive economy,
[c] A society with economic opportunities for all, or
[d] A society that promotes the values of social equity, fairness and human
dignity.
BEE allows us the opportunity to correct the wrongs of the past, so that all
our people can share in the wealth of our province. The challenge facing us is
to include all racial and social groups in the economy so that we can proudly
proclaim that the Western Cape is truly A Home for All. Islands of prosperity
among a sea of poverty and disempowerment can only lead to social upheaval. It
therefore is in the interests of all in our province to be embraced by BEE.
You may very well be asking yourselves the question that if we are as
serious as we say we are, about ensuring everyone benefits from the economy,
what are we as government doing to entrench a culture of empowerment that
benefits all, including the disabled.
The answer to this important question is that the government has adopted a
Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act that encourages the growth of
BEE. We, for instance, have recommended that all provincial departments should
allocate 40% to 50% of their tenders to BEE companies, especially those with
roots in the Western Cape.
We are encouraging the involvement of BEE companies in new opportunities
like the oil and gas sector, tourism, the call-centre business and many other
sectors that show promise of sustained growth. We have also established a BEE
office within the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. This office
will be a source of information and advice on all matters related to BEE. The
office has over the last couple of months embarked on an advocacy campaign
informing the public of its existence. Organisations like yours must use and
lobby this office.
We will soon be establishing a provincial BEE Advisory Council. The council
will advise the Premier and government of the Western Cape on all matters
pertaining to BEE, including sectoral charters, the enforcement and monitoring
of BEE in the Province. On this it is important for organisations representing
disabled people to start lobbying us. You must start positioning yourselves on
empowerment issues affecting this important sector of our society.
I hope these measures indicate to all that we are serious and committed to
implementing BEE in the Western Cape. We want to increase the number of
historically disadvantaged people that own, manage and control the levers of
economic power. If we do not recognise that disabled people are a pivotal part
of BEE, we will have failed in our endeavours to break the scourge of poverty
and hopelessness that held sway in our country before 1994.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism,
Western Cape Provincial Government
28 March 2006
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government (http://www.capegateway.gov.za/)
