The movement of South Africa from level two to level one of the lockdown will bring no substantial change to the economy.
It is just the government continuing with their political power play, says TLU SA.
“The faster government lifts the limitations and South Africans start taking responsibility for their health, the sooner the mechanisms to have the economy function again, will start up again,” says Mr Henry Geldenhuys, the president of TLU SA.
TLU SA supports the Business for Ending campaign through which various well-known economists, companies and organisations demand ending the lockdown, lifting the state of disaster and converting all regulations to voluntary suggestions.
Should a second wave of the pandemic and lockdown hit South Africa, the country cannot handle the resulting economic tidal wave and famine, because of the continued lockdown measures.
Even though the country moves to level one in terms of COVID-19, the economy, unemployment, and poverty stands at level five and is still growing in the wrong direction.
The president’s call on South Africans to work hard to get the economy up and running again is a direct contradiction of the ANC’s economic policy. This policy of confusion and uncertainty drove the country to junk status even before the onset of COVID-19. Economic growth is the result of trust because the correct financial processes are in place.
“TLU SA is still very concerned about the ANC holding on to expropriation without compensation and nationalising the Reserve Bank,” says Mr Geldenhuys. “Creating trust with investors to build the economy should take centre-stage, but is an impossible feat if the government sustains this policy.”
“The government has the chance to prove that the future of the country’s residents is a priority,” he says. “Look after the safety of all South Africans and do something to get a handle on crime.
“Let go of the sinking ideologies of socialism and communism, which always lead to poverty and failure. An economic policy based on the principle of private ownership and the free market will have positive economic results. It is now time to change the general policy.”
Verander die beleid, nie die vlak nie, sê TLU SA
Die beweging van Suid-Afrika van vlak twee na vlak een van die inperking sal geen wesenlike verskil vir die ekonomie inhou nie. Dit is bloot ‘n voortsetting van die regering se politieke magspel, meen TLU SA.
“Hoe gouer die beperkings heeltemal opgehef word, en Suid-Afrikaners self die verantwoordelikheid vir hulle gesondheid neem, hoe vinniger sal die meganismes om die ekonomie weer te laat funksioneer, aan die gang kom,” sê mnr. Henry Geldenhuys, die president van TLU SA.
TLU SA ondersteun die Business for Ending Lockdown-veldtog waarmee verskeie bekende ekonome, besighede en organisasies aandring dat die grendelstaat beëindig, die ramptoestand opgehef en alle regulasies in vrywillige aanbevelings omskep word.
Sou ‘n tweede vlaag van die pandemie en inperking Suid-Afrika tref, beskik die land nie oor die kapasiteit om die gevolglike ekonomiese vloedgolf en hongersnood te hanteer nie. Juis as ‘n gevolg van die volgehoue inperkingsmaatreëls.
Hoewel die land nou na vlak een ten opsigte van COVID-19 beweeg, staan die ekonomie, werkloosheid en armoede op vlak vyf en groei dit steeds in die verkeerde rigting.
Die president se versoek dat landsburgers nou skouer aan die wiel moet sit om die ekonomie weer aan die gang te kry, druis loodreg in teen die ANC se ekonomiese beleid. Dié beleid van verwarring en onsekerheid het die land reeds voor die aanvang van COVID-19 tot rommelstatus gedryf. Ekonomiese groei is die resultaat van vertroue omdat die korrekte ekonomiese prosesse gevolg word.
“TLU SA is steeds ernstig bekommerd oor die ANC wat vasklou aan prosesse soos onteiening sonder vergoeding en die nasionalisering van die Reserwebank,” sê mnr. Geldenhuys. “Daar moet nou vertroue by beleggers geskep word om die ekonomie op te bou, maar dit is onmoontlik indien daar met hierdie beleid volhard word.
“Die regering kan nou bewys dat die toekoms van die land se inwoners ‘n prioriteit is,” sê hy. “Sien om na die veiligheid van elke inwoner en doen iets daadwerklik om misdaad onder beheer te kry.
“Laat vaar die sinkende ideologieë van sosialisme en kommunisme wat nog nooit iets anders as armoede en mislukking tot gevolg gehad het nie. ‘n Ekonomiese beleid geskoei op die beginsel van privaat besitreg en die vryemark sal positiewe ekonomiese gevolge hê. Dit is nou die tyd om die algemene beleid te verander.”
