ID Policy Conference 2007
10-06-2007 The ID has met over the past two days to review, refine and consolidate our policy agenda.
Lance Greyling MP
Issued by the ID Media Office
Steven Otter – 084 233 3811
13H30, 10 June 2007
Our agenda is social democratic, but we are placing it within a modern and an African context. Ultimately the ID believes that both the market and the state are destined to fail unless they partner with people and communities.
The people are demanding partnerships with government, they want to be involved and not dictated to or left at the mercy of a rampant liberal economy.
The ID’s vision and goal, which will be driven by its policies, is putting people at the heart of our country’s political discourse and development.
Our policies are designed to stimulate and nurture people-centred development and participatory government.
Our policies and the social democratic agenda they are based on will unlock the potential of our people by inspiring their creativity and productivity. In so doing they will become productive citizens that can provide for their families and communities.
Gender was a priority throughout our discussions and we remain concerned about the high levels of violence against women and children in our society.
We recommit ourselves to the restoration of the family and the social fabric of our country.
The ID will implement these policies through its structures around the country - the strength of any policy is how effectively it can be implemented.
We will monitor and evaluate the impact of our policies continuously.
Over the long term, however, these policies will be presented to the people of South Africa as an alternative government programme.
There is clearly a policy implementation crisis in South Africa with the ANC continuously failing to deliver on its promises.
Key policy themes (these are excerpts from comprehensive policy documents):
Economics
Firstly, the state needs to urgently build its capacity to deliver, which has been seriously eroded as a result of the ANC’s Gear policy. This is now expressing itself through the public service strike, where civil servants are rightfully demanding a decent salary.
It is equally important to unlock the capacity that rests within our communities to deliver on key government programme.
Housing
The ID believes that government housing programmes are not monitored properly and do not focus sufficient energy on community participation. Implementation must be done without favouritism.
Health
The ID wants the HIV/Aids prevention campaign to be completely overhauled, because ‘two decades of prevention programmes have failed to halt the rapidly escalating infection rate.
Education
The ID wants to bridge the divides that still persist 13 years after freedom. Delegates discussed the possibility of a Child Education Grant and Universal Free Primary Education.
Policy on women
The fundamental flaw in gender and women policies is their failure to break down the stereotypes that pervade every sector of society. The ID respects all the cultures of our country, subject to the Constitution. The school curriculum should provide for a focus on gender equity.
Safety and Security
The ID believes that the Minister’s recent announcement that Community Policing Forums must be at the frontline of crime prevention is mere hollow rhetoric unless it is backed up with proper financing and provided with adequate resources as well as transparent crime statistics in their localities.
Released by Lance Greyling, the ID Policy Convenor – 083 298 8553
Steven Otter – 084 233 3811
13H30, 10 June 2007
Our agenda is social democratic, but we are placing it within a modern and an African context. Ultimately the ID believes that both the market and the state are destined to fail unless they partner with people and communities.
The people are demanding partnerships with government, they want to be involved and not dictated to or left at the mercy of a rampant liberal economy.
The ID’s vision and goal, which will be driven by its policies, is putting people at the heart of our country’s political discourse and development.
Our policies are designed to stimulate and nurture people-centred development and participatory government.
Our policies and the social democratic agenda they are based on will unlock the potential of our people by inspiring their creativity and productivity. In so doing they will become productive citizens that can provide for their families and communities.
Gender was a priority throughout our discussions and we remain concerned about the high levels of violence against women and children in our society.
We recommit ourselves to the restoration of the family and the social fabric of our country.
The ID will implement these policies through its structures around the country - the strength of any policy is how effectively it can be implemented.
We will monitor and evaluate the impact of our policies continuously.
Over the long term, however, these policies will be presented to the people of South Africa as an alternative government programme.
There is clearly a policy implementation crisis in South Africa with the ANC continuously failing to deliver on its promises.
Key policy themes (these are excerpts from comprehensive policy documents):
Economics
Firstly, the state needs to urgently build its capacity to deliver, which has been seriously eroded as a result of the ANC’s Gear policy. This is now expressing itself through the public service strike, where civil servants are rightfully demanding a decent salary.
It is equally important to unlock the capacity that rests within our communities to deliver on key government programme.
Housing
The ID believes that government housing programmes are not monitored properly and do not focus sufficient energy on community participation. Implementation must be done without favouritism.
Health
The ID wants the HIV/Aids prevention campaign to be completely overhauled, because ‘two decades of prevention programmes have failed to halt the rapidly escalating infection rate.
Education
The ID wants to bridge the divides that still persist 13 years after freedom. Delegates discussed the possibility of a Child Education Grant and Universal Free Primary Education.
Policy on women
The fundamental flaw in gender and women policies is their failure to break down the stereotypes that pervade every sector of society. The ID respects all the cultures of our country, subject to the Constitution. The school curriculum should provide for a focus on gender equity.
Safety and Security
The ID believes that the Minister’s recent announcement that Community Policing Forums must be at the frontline of crime prevention is mere hollow rhetoric unless it is backed up with proper financing and provided with adequate resources as well as transparent crime statistics in their localities.
Released by Lance Greyling, the ID Policy Convenor – 083 298 8553
