Vula ‘to correct KZN economy’
Buying power to help SMMEs
PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma has launched Operation Vula as Kwa Z u l u - N a t a l ’ s ground-breaking policy programme aimed at addressing the skewed economic makeup of the province through the empowerment of the previously disenfranchised.
Zuma’s office described Operation Vula and its subsidiary, known as the Radical Agrarian Socio- Economic Transformation (Raset) programme, as “critical milestones in government’s on-going campaign to bring about meaningful and tangible economic freedom which has profound positive implications on the lives of people”.
It said the programme would localise the economy by, initially, exploiting the government’s buying power to buy from SMMEs and co-operatives, adding that it would target specific societal groupings, such as black people, women, the youth and people with disabilities, in the province.
The Presidency said the programme would also further seek to align and co-ordinate enterprises regionally and sectorial, and assist targeted enterprises with skilling, funding and markets.
It said through Raset, KZN would improve the participation by small-scale farmers from historically underprivileged communities in the lucrative food production value chain.
Foresight
The statement said the deliverables of the two programmes were co-ordinated within the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs and led by MEC Sihle Zikalala.
Zuma commended the KZN government for having the foresight and the courage to introduce a programme which would alter the face of the province’s economic landscape in favour of those who were previously excluded from the wealth of the nation.
KZN Premier, Willies Mchunu, described Operation Vula and Raset as not only being about addressing economic inequality but also building a national democratic society characterised by equality, unity and prosperity for all.
“With us guaranteeing market, we are convinced that black and African farmers, in particular, will have enough incentive to enter this sector. We are confident these programmes will assist us to deal with inequalities.”
Zikalala commended the support his team had received from the provincial executive council and the private sector when conceptualising Operation Vula and Raset.
“We are heartened by the fact that groups like Massmart; the Spar group; Tsogo Sun and as well as the Hilton Hotel Group, to mention but a few, have committed themselves to supporting the Raset programme by sourcing their food products from emerging black farmers under the auspices of Raset.”
He said Operation Vula had many pillars, including furniture manufacturing, bakeries, clothing and textiles, as well as mining, which would be launched in the near future.