Note to Editors: This speech will be delivered by Shaun August MP, during the debate on the 2021 State of the Nation Address in Parliament Cape Town today. It is embargoed until delivery.
Speech by Shaun August MP
GOOD welcomes TERF extension, but the provision of a permanent Basic Income Grant is necessary
16 February 2021
Honourable Chairperson
The President’s State of the Nation Address was delivered to the people of South Africa under extraordinary circumstances and in extraordinary times.
South Africa is confronted by many challenges that are working to undermine our progress.
We will not succeed in beating these challenges and building an equitable country, with a growing economy, unless we at least:
- Manage the Covid-19 pandemic and roll out an effective vaccination programme;
- Stabilise our supply of electricity and end loadshedding;
- Radically improve our basic education system;
- Introduce a permanent basic income grant; and
- Eliminate the scourge of violence against women and girls.
On the management of the Covid-19 pandemic we welcome the announcement by the President that we will immediately shift the phase 1 vaccinations to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine while the Astra Zeneca vaccine is studied further.
The pandemic is unprecedented and there is no manual to guide us. We commend the quick and flexible decision-making – always informed by science and not political pressure.
The announcements about future vaccine purchases are encouraging but we urge the President to share the full roll out plan with us as soon as his government is able to do so. It is important for business and community confidence that a detailed plan is known.
We have little hope of emerging out of this pandemic ready to grow our economy, and create jobs, if we do not stabilise the supply of electricity.
Extra electricity capacity is readily available, and from clean and renewable sources, and we need a very clear and unambiguous commitment to procuring it fast and feeding it into the grid.
We welcome the President’s announcements about procurement of additional generation capacity from IPPs but we were looking for a much greater sense of urgency and a much clearer commitment to timeframes.
We welcome the commitment to a just transition to clean and renewable energy sources.
We will not turn our economy around, and create jobs, until we overhaul our basic education system.
We must radically improve our education system so that young school leavers are equipped to participate in a 21st century economy.
Honourable Chairperson,
When an economy cannot provide jobs, and relegates millions of people to a life without access to any income, then the country has a duty to provide support.
No person should be expected to live day-to-day, month-to-month and years on end without access to any income whatsoever.
We welcome the extension of the TERS grant until mid-March 2021 but this is insufficient.
We have no choice but to make provision for a permanent basic income grant.
The President has previously hinted at introducing a Basic Income Grant and we hope to hear the Minister of Finance include this in the nation’s budget.
Gender Based Violence remains high on our agenda and the President has addressed us on this extensively.
Sadly law enforcement action is only reaction.
We need to change some norms in country.
Its starts in every home in our country.
It continues in every workplace where the norm of equal pay for equal work means a woman’s worth is not less simply because of her gender.
I thank you.