Jake Morris makes good points regarding protection/import substitution and tariff protection policies (“Import substitution works for other countries, but somehow not for SA,” January 9).
However, unlike Thailand, our problems are ideologically driven socioeconomic policies that are out of sync with economically successful countries.
I cannot recall any SA legislation (in at least the last 10 years) that actively seeks to boost business. Most, if not all, business legislation and policies have been a direct impediment to business growth. Examples include BEE, the Mining Charter, the national minimum wage, affirmative action, employment equity — now soon to become racial quotas.
We cannot even begin to talk about complex issues such as import substitution until we get the basic business principles correct. This will not happen until less than 50% of the voting population votes for the ANC/EFF/MK party bloc.
We are still some way from there, unfortunately.
Ian Ferguson
Via BusinessLIVE
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