DA petitions IMF over relief fund ‘discrimination’
Updated | By JacarandaFM News
Democratic Alliance (DA) interim leader John Steenhuisen has written a petition to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) asking it to oppose the use of BBBEE as a requirement for COVID-19 relief funds.
This comes after trade union Solidarity and lobby group AfriForum also approached the Constitutional Court requesting it to urgently hear their appeal against a recent high court ruling.
The High Court in Pretoria upheld Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane’s position that firms should comply with broad-based black economic empowerment rules to benefit from the millions put aside for struggling businesses.
DA petitions IMF over relie... by Sine Madolo on Scribd
"As the majority of these relief funds come from a loan obtained from the IMF, I implore this international body to censure the South African government and instruct it to stop using IMF monies in a way that discriminates along racial lines and exacerbates racial tension in South Africa.
"The ANC government’s choice to use this funding to only support BBEEE compliant companies, at a time of national economic crisis, is unconscionable.
Steenhuisen adds: "The virus does not discriminate on the basis of race, and it is indefensible that government should do so when deciding who is deserving of their help and who is not.”
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He point out that the race of the owner of the business has no bearing on the race of the employees.
"White-owned businesses have black employees, who in turn support families.
"By deliberately denying these businesses critical government relief, it is not just the owner of the business, but indeed these families who will suffer should the business fail."
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