Lerato Mbhiza
ActionSA President, Herman Mashaba, told hundreds of his supporters at his Election Manifesto on Saturday at the Ellis Park Arena, Joburg, that his party would never make promises it cannot keep.
Mashaba promised that if he is voted into power in the 29 May National General Elections he will ensure that the private sector creates 4.8 million new jobs in South Africa over the next five years and he will reduce unemployment – currently at more than 32% – to 18% by 2029.
He called on South Africans to get rid of what he termed an incompetent government.
“We cannot be celebrating people depending on R350 or R370 a month. We are sad that the success of the ActionSA government should be judged on how many people we will be able to get off the social welfare system. However, we will continue supporting those in need of social grants,” he said.
Mashaba said his party will also fix the education system by among others investing in new universities, reintroducing specialised training colleges, ensuring universal access to tertiary education funding and reintroducing the school inspector system.
“Job-killing economic policies and poor quality of education are holding us back from unlocking an employment revolution. An ActionSA government will seek an average of 5% economic growth over 5 years by supporting entrepreneurs, decreasing the cost of doing business, and reestablishing South Africa as a viable investment and business destination.
“We will invest in key industries with high potential job creation such as green energy, mining, agriculture, and emerging technologies.”
ActionSA’s Gauteng chairperson, Funzi Ngobeni, has called for law and order to be restored in the country.
The party’s Gauteng Premier candidate said Johannesburg had particularly become a paradise for criminals.
Ngobeni took a swipe at the newly-introduced crime prevention wardens in the province.
“The amaPanyaza must be at a local level and working with our local police and we must stop politicising the police. What is amaPanyaza? we don’t want amaFunzi, we want police that work the ground and work for our people.”
INSIDE POLITICS