Pravin Gordhan-Our response to the economic crisis

Politicsweb - DOCUMENTS - Our response to the economic crisis - Pravin Gordhan

Just a few extracts that echo what moladi has been advocating for many years. Unfortunately no action to date, but then again, maybe tomorrow?

The underlying message - Medium Term Budget Policy Statement 2009Medium Term Budget Policy Statement 2009: - CHANGE

"The recession requires us to make substantial changes to our fiscal projections and plans.
It means that we have to achieve more, with less. We cannot spend money on wasteful extravagances and golf-days, we cannot tolerate unnecessary bureaucratic structures, and we must achieve greater value for money in contracting for goods and services.

The present crisis demands of us to extend our investment in job creation, and to embed it fully in our rural development strategy, social services and local infrastructure programmes.
The crisis calls for a new blend of skills development and renewal of schools and colleges - as Chief Albert Luthuli often emphasised, there is nothing more important than education in building national consciousness and pride, and in meeting the needs of the people and our economy. The crisis challenges us to construct a new deal for our young people, new opportunities for school-leavers, a new partnership between workseekers and employers, and responsible leadership in public service.
Restoring growth and improving financial regulation are the immediate challenges. In addition, Cabinet will ask questions about our longer-term development path:
What kinds of investment will contribute to more rapid poverty reduction, and to a more balanced distribution of income and opportunity?
How should we adapt to changing global trade opportunities, the realignment of east-west and north-south relations and the extraordinary dynamics of product innovation and technology change?
How should we reform our economic regulatory framework - in banking, social security, financial services, health care, agriculture and food security?
How do we address future energy, water and transport needs? How do we reduce our carbon emissions? How do we share the cost burden of these and other investments?

I cannot detail all the changes, but let me share with the House some of the main changes: