African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa noted that while progress has been made in empowering black people, and women, in the economy, the benefits of the progress have not been felt by all South Africans.

Ramaphosa was speaking at an ANC  National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting where he declared the party’s commitment to the implementation of broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE).

He said the NEC needed to intensify BEE measures, rather than relax them.

“We need to continue our work to refine and focus our efforts to ensure greater impact and faster realisation of the constitutional and economic imperative of empowerment and redress – a matter that is clearly set out in our Constitution,” he said.

The NEC has noted the new Preferential Procurement Regulations published by Treasury last week, in response to the Constitutional Court ruling on preferential procurement in the public sector.

Ramaphosa highlighted that these regulations now comply with Section 217 of the Constitution in that they empower organs of State to develop and implement preferential procurement policies when contracting for goods and services.

“Contrary to some statements made in the public arena, these new regulations do not diminish our commitment to preferential procurement as a mechanism for economic transformation,” he asserted.

The NEC has affirmed the ANC’s position that BBBEE remains one of its key policy instruments.

Ramaphosa said through the NEC Economic Transformation Committee, the party would monitor progress in the implementation of the policy and continue to engage with stakeholders, especially black business and professionals.

PEOPLE’S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL NEEDS

Ramaphosa said like many countries across the world, South Africans were feeling the economic aftershocks of the Covid-19 pandemic, extreme weather events as a result of climate change and the effects of Russia-Ukraine conflict.

This, he said, was having a severe impact particularly on the life circumstances of the 40% of South Africans living in poverty.

“These families and communities are struggling to afford the costs of education, transport, food and other basic needs. We have noted government’s interventions to mitigate the impact of these developments,” he added.

These interventions include the extension of the Social Relief of Distress Grant until March 2024, the temporary relief on fuel prices, the continuation of the VAT zero-rating of key food items, and the consolidation of the country’s social security and protection system, with social grants reaching around 18-million South Africans.

Ramaphosa explained that the meeting had reaffirmed that the NEC would continue resolutely to implement its programme to tackle the triple fault lines of poverty, unemployment and inequality.

“This means that we will intensify our work to transform the economy and create jobs through the implementation of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. We are committed to maintain and, to the extent possible, expand social security to protect the vulnerable and reduce poverty. This must form part of our efforts to build a comprehensive social security system,” he said.

Ramaphosa highlighted that the fight against poverty and the rising cost of living required the provision of affordable quality basic services including water, sanitation and electricity, and public transport.

He said skills development and education, through universal access to early childhood development, improving the quality of basic education and strengthening higher education and vocational training would continue to be prioritised.

“We will continue to move towards universal health coverage through the National Health Insurance, and focus on improving the public health system as the backbone of a future unified health system. We will continue to pursue land reform involving accelerated land redistribution and increased support for agricultural production,” he said.