DA releases its draft ‘alternative’ economic justice policy document

THE DA yesterday released its draft economic justice policy document ahead of its policy conference in April.

The document comes in the wake of the organisational review panel report which looked at the party’s policies. The draft policy, now discussed by party structures, will be approved at the conference to be held in Gauteng on April 4-5.

Speaking at a media briefing in Cape Town yesterday, the party’s interim federal chairperson Ivan Meyer said last week’s federal council meeting was briefed about the process and methodology for the conference.

“In our journey towards the policy conference, we have approved values and principles framework.

“Today, we released the economic justice policy,” Meyer said. “We are in the process of drafting other urgent policies as part of the local government election. The federal council has been given the mandate of methodology to determine other burning issues which we will certainly discuss.”

DA head of policy Gwen Ngwenya said the country was an economically unjust society.

She also said the draft policy followed an approach which was based on need as opposed to race.

“One’s race does not change regardless of how empowered you become. Black economic empowerment has enabled people to benefit on the basis of their race, who do not need assistance at the expense of those who do,” Ngwenya said. “This policy will ensure that the disadvantaged benefit from redress.”

Meyer said they believed most people in South Africa were economically excluded as a result of wrong policies.

“Today, we offer an alternative economic justice policy that will bring economic inclusion,” Meyer said.

According to Ngwenya, the draft policy was a response to the increasing economic exclusion experienced by the majority of South Africans.

“Economic exclusion is rooted in a past of colonial and apartheid oppression, but years of poor governance and corruption have stifled our ability to overcome that past.”