‘Our people inherited poverty’ Ramaphosa hits back after calls for the scrapping of BEE
President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the government’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) and affirmative action policies.
“Poverty is what our people have inherited,” said Ramaphosa during a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly on Thursday.
Ramaphosa told MPs that that B-BBEE and affirmative action will not be scrapped and remained steadfast that it serves as a vehicle for economic opportunities for historically marginalised black South Africans.
FF Plus leader Pieter Groenewald asked Ramaphosa whether the government is considering doing away with the policy.
Groenewald believes that the policies no longer address inequality and blamed them for the dire state of the economy.
"Unless we open up the economy to all, we will never realise our economic potential. For this reason, implementation of transformation and empowerment policies will continue to unfold to create an inclusive economy,” said Ramaphosa.
Sparks flew in the National Assembly after DA leader John Steenhuisen also entered the fray.
Steenhuisen said that the BEE policy only benefits people who are politically connected, in particular to ANC cadres.
"Your government should focus on an empowerment policy that lifts people out of poverty and into an opportunity that is broad based and not race based,” said Steenhuisen.
Ramaphosa hit back – requesting evidence that the ills of apartheid no longer have a hold over black South Africans.
"I do not know many black people who have inherited wealth from their parents, and yet on the white side in this country, nearly every white person has inherited something from their parents.
"Now that already tells you the inequality that has persisted in this country, so there has been generational poverty. Poverty is what our people have inherited."
ALSO READ:
