Durban - The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal says thugs who use the concept of “empowerment” to unlawfully get work should be isolated, and made to face the law as they tarnish the government's efforts of ensuring inclusive participation in the economy.
ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo made the comment during a media briefing on Tuesday.
He said they were fully behind efforts to empower budding entrepreneurs, and believed that big business could assist emerging companies by availing a portion of the work when they had won major contracts, but they did not condone violence.
The ANC’s comments come amid concerns in some quarters about the emergence of business forums that interrupt projects in some areas, often demanding that they be awarded some of the work.
Such interruptions have been reported in many parts of the country, drawing widespread condemnation in the process.
Mtolo expressed the ruling party’s belief that greater participation in the province’s economy was possible.
“As the provincial executive committee (PEC) we have spent a considerable amount of time reflecting on opportunities presented by the development of socio-economic infrastructure. The PEC has taken a decision to ensure that there is direct focus on entrepreneurship development, which is important to the economic and social development of KwaZulu-Natal as we rebuild our province. The ANC government in KZN has been mandated to ensure that emerging entrepreneurs are assisted to enter the entire value chain of the built industry,” said Mtolo.
He said that the ANC wanted entrepreneurs to be job creators so the unemployment in the province could be tackled.
Mtolo pointed out that provincial chairperson Siboniso Duma, in his capacity as MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, had been given the green light to move with speed to assist emerging entrepreneurs, but stressed that the process should not be disrupted by individuals that operated outside the legal framework.
Now watch: