ANC policies self-destructive
THE TWO articles “SA is slamming the door on tourism” (Weekend Argus, June 27) and “Gloom driving emigration” (Cape Argus, July 6), when read in tandem, paint an extremely disturbing scenario of what is happening in South Africa.
The fact that there are almost daily protests over a multitude of issues as well as crippling strikes and threats of strikes from unions, bodes ill for South Africa’s future, particularly as it would appear that the population in general are apathetic and disinclined to involve themselves in meaningful action against a government that is methodically and relentlessly destroying the country and the nation.
There can be no denying that the policies of affirmative action and BEE have been responsible for the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs, where greed, lack of foresight, or deliberate manipulation by unions and ministers, have seen businesses close their doors or lay off workers to meet union demands for higher wages, not to mention the effect that the minimum wage law will have on the domestic market.
It would be difficult to accept that the ANC government is not aware of the damage that has been caused to the country, its economy, its image, and its citizens by its alliance partners – the SACP and Cosatu, yet, even more difficult to accept is that it is not unawareness that drives the Mad Hatter’s party.
Rather, it is an agenda driven by communist ideology that actively works against the poor and the general welfare of the nation, thereby holding in thrall all of the country’s inhabitants.
This assumption gains credence in the adop- tion of the new visa laws which are virtually killing our multibillion-rand tourism industry, as well as the spike in South Africans of all races wanting to leave the country for safe, more secure destinations – Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK and the US.
Gavin Tollman, chief executive of Trafalgar, industry leader in guided vacations – among several high positions he holds – expounds very clearly in his article why the visa regulations are destructive in every way, and most certainly do not serve their intended purpose: to curb or stop human trafficking.
To quote Tollman: “The fact is this: human trafficking and tourism have nothing to do with each other, and blocking the entry of tourists is going to do nothing to curb human trafficking.”
He gives as example the benefit India has gained from our new visa regulations: Narendra Modi, the new prime minister, has “not only walked the talk, he has sprinted it, offering e-visas within 24 hours to 150 countries globally”.
The result of this efficiency and leadership has shown an increase of 1 024 percent in the first five months of this year.
While South Africa follows its aggressive visa and immigration policies, its key markets of China and India have switched allegiance to Australia and the US, the former allowing Chinese visitors to qualify for 10-year visas.
Travellers from China to South Africa, however, dropped 53 percent in the first five months of this year, and those from India by 54 percent.
But surprise, surprise, Mauritius gained 26.6 percent from China and 24.3 percent from India.
Why is our government chasing away not only tourists, but also job opportunities and current employment in the tourism industry?
Why is our government not scrapping affirmative action, which has resulted in thousands of skilled people leaving our shores and enriching other countries that value their worth?
Why is the government deliberately sabotaging the country’s economy and the livelihoods of its citizens with its destructive policies that have brought a country that was run on oiled wheels before 1994 to a country that is on its knees and indebted to its new partner – China, which has commandeered our markets almost exclusively and left countless citizens unemployed as a result?
What the ANC government has done to the nation as a whole, is damn near a crime against humanity and is unforgivable.