The fundamental challenge in South Africa today is transforming the current economic growth path and overcoming the dual economy, SA Communist party secretary-general Blade Nzimande said on Friday.
Addressing the opening of the National African Federated Chambers of Commerce (Nafcoc) conference at Sun City in North West, he said his party saw the country’s democracy as that of a society where democratic bloc forces had political power — albeit incomplete and contested — while the economic muscle remained with the white capitalist class.
Nzimande said for the country to decisive advances in consolidating its democracy, there has to fundamental economic transformation in favour of the overwhelming majority of black people.
”Unless we create jobs and a sustainable momentum towards poverty eradication, our progress as a country will be severely retarded,” he said.
”That is the challenge of us all, and this should be the fundamental point of departure and the main content of black economic empowerment”.
The two-day conference was also addressed by government ministers and prominent businessmen.
Earlier on Friday, Public Enterprises Minister Jeff Radebe said internal squabbles which threatened the Nafcoc leadership seemed to have settled.
”Despite the challenges of the recent past where threats of splintering compromised unity talks with facets of black business, Nafcoc appears to have weathered these storms and has prevailed even while many, misguided, moved to pronounced its death,” the minister said.
Nafcoc has, for almost six years, been divided over whether to merge with the SA Chamber of Business.
Radebe said Nafcoc was showing signs of life and vision.
”Everything points to its ability to extend its effectiveness to greater levels,” he said.
”This renewal had taken form through a number of initiative, not least of which include the formation of Nafcoc empowerment clubs and road shows”.
While Radebe praised Nafcoc, the organisation’s president Patrice Motsepe avoided shedding light on whether he had immediate plans of leaving the black business body. ”I have been told not to dare air my sentiments on this issue again”.
Motsepe, elected president of Nafcoc last year, said in his inaugural speech that he did not intend completing his entire term of office, and would look for a successor.
He mentioned on the ”poor status” of Nafcoc branches in some provinces.
”A recent national road show we embarked upon recently, showed that some branches were ineffective and had not held meetings in the last five years but people come to attend annual gatherings,” he said. ‒ Sapa