DEAR Editor,-
Last week, at a business breakfast hosted by the KZN Growth Coalition, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu lamented the lack of social cohesion in the province, making a passionate plea for businesses to join government in fighting the scourge.
While this may be a noble call it must always be borne in mind that business has its chief focus on profitability and that in order to obtain this, government needs to create a conducive environment, with clear policies implemented through political stability.
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It is clear the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal cannot offer such an environment, particularly when – at the very same event – the province’s MEC for Economic Development, Sihle Zikalala threatened business leaders that government would continue its programme of radical economic transformation, while throwing about slogans such as ‘white monopoly capital’ and driving the narrative of expropriation of land without compensation.
This narrative does not in any way encourage business to invest in our province. If the Growth Coalition event was, in fact, an honest appeal to ‘get all hands on deck’, why then was it necessary for ANC National Treasurer, Zweli Mkhize to make a contribution at this event?
Effective business will not operate in a playing field filled with mines and the possibility of being ambushed by corruption, nepotism and state capture.
If the ANC were sincere about addressing social economic disparities through business investment then it would address these critical issues. Instead, it has become an organisation intent on saving its own skin through the protection of corrupt comrades and the victimisation of those who have chosen to speak out.
FRANCOIS RODGERS, MPL
Leader of the DA in the KZN Legislature
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