FFP fights for minority rights
They come from different political parties but they all have one thing in common -- they believe they can run South Africa better than the ANC. Reporters THULANI GQIRANA and ROCHELLE DE KOCK look at what COPE, Agang and the Freedom Front Plus had to offer.
THE Freedom Front Plus launched its manifesto in Pretoria on Saturday, focusing on fighting for the rights of minority groups in South Africa.
HEALTH
The FF Plus condemns what it says is an overregulated medical scheme industry, which ultimately affects individuals because it leads to tax increases on medicines and medical procedures.
It has promised: To campaign for a national partnership between private and public medical services in which room is left for both to function free from unnecessary restrictions in the interests of a healthier population; and says Public health infrastructure should first be upgraded before any form of National Health Insurance scheme can be considered; and That the HIV/Aids pandemic can be only be stopped through a comprehensive social reorientation and not medical interventions alone.
EDUCATION
The party believes that education in the country is a “catastrophe” because the ANC has “made a battlefield of schools” and is teaching children that poorly equipped schools should rather be burnt down than built up.
The FF Plus believes: Quality education in the mother tongue of pupils is non-negotiable; Trade unions with “destructive traditions” should be brought under control; and A culture of hard work, rising standards and honesty should be instilled, from the presidency to schools.
JOBS
The FF Plus is of the opinion that no government can create jobs on a sustainable basis. Its plan to combat unemployment, especially youth unemployment, is: The [youth] subsidy should not be subjected to affirmative action and black economic empowerment measures because unemployment reaches across racial barriers; There must be a balance between the funds awarded to the youth subsidy and the money allocated for bursaries and training; The youth subsidy should make provision for the promotion of service training; and Firing older, more experienced workers must be actively prevented.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Although the party is silent on how it plans to promote economic development, it will campaign for: The development of independent, local economies; The application of growth and development rather than racial targets as empowerment methods; and Special economic zones should be exempt from affirmative action, empowerment and labour legislation
