The ANC and Unemployment

The ANC Policy Congress made great play of its concern about the very high rate of unemployment, particularly among the youth.  Of course, we all know that this was motivated mainly by a need to grab the votes of the unemployed, who will believe that all the fine words are true.  When did a politician lie!

The facts speak clearly to the contrary.

A colleague, in discussing a job development project with the MEC for Economic Development and the Premier of the Eastern Cape Province, pointed out that the Eastern Cape suffered a very high rate of unemployment, and that the numbers of unemployed would increase considerably when the mines started cutting back due to a declining economy.  The response from the MEC warrants recording in the annals of ANC achievements.  “But the rate of unemployment is not so high!  It is only 69%!”  One could be forgiven for wondering at the attitude of the Party as expressed by a senior political official.  “Only 69%!”

The same colleague wrote a proposal to the Premier of another Province, proposing that a similar project be conducted in that Province, with the objective of creating 350 000 sustainable jobs within three years.  He was contacted within a week by the Personal Adviser to the Premier, who asked for a meeting to discuss the project.  The man’s words equally merit recording.  “This is a very interesting project, but we need to discuss the commission.”  “Commission?” queried my colleague, surprised.  “Yes, we normally ask 15% equal to R1 800 000 at that time), but you don’t need to be concerned.  That amount includes the Premier and the MEC for Economic Development!”  Needless to say, my colleague did not agree to that proposal.

When my colleague wrote to the Premier of the Eastern Cape a couple of years ago to propose that the project, which was succeeding to a level well beyond what the Government has achieved in the years since then, the Premier responded after nearly two months that she would respond fully in the near future.  Needless to say, there has been no further response since then, even though my colleague has written several further letters requesting a response.  Perhaps the problem lies not with the project, but with the failure of my colleague to offer an acceptable ‘commission’!

Now the ANC has decided that any form of corruption will be punished by the Party!  Now the ANC expresses its concern for youth unemployment!

The Association for Nepotism and Corruption rules!