DA intensifies fight against B-BBEE as economic outlook deteriorates
Speaking during a media briefing in Johannesburg, DA leader John Steenhuisen said the party will use its influence in the Government of National Unity (GNU) to fight for the amendment of the three laws.
'We are targeting these three roadblocks that are holding our economy back,' he said.
The Witness reports that the DA is challenging EE and the Expropriation Act in court.
While the United States government is imposing the 30% tariffs on South African goods entering that country, citing other reasons for the high tariffs, there was speculation that President Donald Trump's government was in part punishing SA for the three pieces of legislation, which Trump had labelled 'bad policies'.
The three policies and other issues of national interest were expected to feature prominently in the upcoming National Dialogue, which will be discussing SA's challenges and proposing solutions.
However, Steenhuisen said there was no need for further discussions on the challenges holding back the country.
'We have been talking for far too long about what is wrong, now is the time to act. We know what the problems are in South Africa.
'The government wants to spend millions of rands on a National Dialogue while the country is bleeding,' he said.
The DA, Steenhuisen said, has a plan to 'turbocharge the economy' by, amongst other things, the eradication of crime and corruption.
The second largest GNU party after the ANC, Steenhuisen's organisation has, since the formation of the GNU in June last year, been at loggerheads with the ANC over government policies and the Budget.
At the beginning of the year, the ANC had difficulties in having Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's Budget passed by Parliament after the DA had voted against the Fiscal Framework.
To dilute the DA's influence within the GNU, the ANC has embarked on a process to bring in more political parties to the 10-member coalition.
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Next Stay Close ✕ As a result, Steenhuisen put forward what he called an inclusive alternative to the current framework of transformation, which he said is based on need rather than race, and which unlocks opportunity for all South Africans. He said the party's proposal will ensure affordable and reliable energy to power the economy, save the country's network industries from collapse, ensure the government's spending for growth, while also addressing the corruption and service delivery challenges in municipalities, and arresting the crime epidemic. "Unlike the National Dialogue, which will cost R700 million, the DA's plan is free. The fact that others are now withdrawing from the National Dialogue shows what it is: an illegitimate talk shop. These reforms will create an environment that encourages growth and lifts people out of poverty. The DA will fight for these reforms in Cabinet, Parliament, and all spheres of government," he said. 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