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 strategy document on 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.
Black Economic Empowerment 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 don't 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.
