Adopted Policies
Up one levelHere you will find the Policies as adopted by the National Conference held at the University Of The Western Cape July 8th & 9th 2007.
ID SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY
VISION STATEMENT Poverty eradication is one of the greatest challenges that South Africa is faced with today. The great divide in our society which apartheid created has not closed, but widened significantly over the last ten years. Although our country has achieved democratic rule, the divisions created by the apartheid dispensation are still harshly felt today.
GENDER POLICY
VISION STATEMENT Introduction The Constitution of South Africa, as stated in the Bill of rights, stipulates that: (1) Equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms. To promote the achievement of equality, legislative and other measures designed to protect or advance persons, or categories of persons, disadvantaged by unfair discrimination may be taken. (2) The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including…gender, sex, pregnancy… (3) Everyone has the inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected
POLICY ON HUMAN SECURITY: Bridging the Divides by Building Safer Communities
VISION STATEMENT The Independent Democrats has adopted the policy framework of human security as we support the notion that security is more than just about the safety of an individual or a country. Human security sees democracy, human rights, sustainable development, social equity and the elimination of poverty all as essential elements of security. By adopting this term as our framework the ID is recognizing that true human security can only be achieved through realizing all of the rights contained within our constitution. On the more narrow definition of security we also believe that a cluster approach needs to be adopted whereby the different organs of justice, comprising the department of safety and security, justice and correctional services need to coordinate their efforts at making South Africa a safer country for us all.
EDUCATION POLICY - Bridging the Divides through Education
VISION STATEMENT The ID’s vision for education is one where well resourced schools are at the centre of all communities, and are responsive to the broad educational needs of both children and adults. Within our educational system, all children are given the necessary skills and opportunity to identify and thrive in their chosen life path. The terrible educational divides of the past are bridged with no one being forced to receive a sub-standard education. Our educational system is also rooted in the needs of all our people as well as the broader economy. The ID’s vision is to place education at the centre of South Africa’s transformation agenda, equipping our citizens with the skills and values to respond to all of our enormous socio-economic challenges.
HOUSING POLICY - Bridging the Divides by Building Sustainable Communities
INTRODUCTION: The Constitution of South Africa, as stated in the Bill of Rights, stipulates that: (1) Everyone has the right to have access to adequate housing. (2) The state must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realization of this right. (3) No one may be evicted from their home, or have their home demolished, without an order of court made after considering all the relevant circumstances. No legislation may permit arbitrary evictions. Other legislative milestones include the Housing White Paper that was published in 1994, the financial accord of Botshabelo in 1995, the Housing Act of 1997, and the Housing Code that was produced in 2000. The department has also adopted the mission “To establish and facilitate a sustainable process that provides equitable access to adequate housing for all within the context of affordability of housing and services and access to social amenities and economic opportunities” (NDoH, 2004:9).
HEALTH POLICY
INTRODUCTION South Africa is one of the most unequal countries, where it has the second most unequal measured distribution of income in the world. This inequality can also clearly be seen in South Africans’ access to social services, which has a very strong correlation to the former Apartheid-regime that promoted inequality and inequity through its policies that distributed economic and social resources according to race. It is due to this historical phenomenon that the first democratic government was faced with serious challenges within the health sector to ensure equal access to health services for all. This was to be done by reducing poverty and redressing the disparities in the distribution of income and social services. .
ECONOMIC POLICY
VISION STATEMENT - Bridging the Divides and Growing an Economy that Delivers to all our People The ID has a progressive economic vision for South Africa that envisages an economy that is both growing and serving the needs of all the people. It is a vision where the enormous socio-economic divides of the past are bridged and absolute poverty is no longer a reality for millions of our people. The economy we strive to create is one where everyone is able to find employment and earn a living wage. It is also an economy that provides sufficient support and care for the most vulnerable in our society. The dynamic power of the market is encouraged, but the State plays a pivotal role in ensuring that economic growth is directed towards achieving shared societal objectives. Our economic vision is an inclusive one, where primary emphasis is placed on human development and all South Africans are given the opportunity to participate and prosper through a well functioning education system and proper skills transfer.
COMMUNICATION POLICY - Bridging the Digital Divide
Vision Statement The Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Sector of the South African economy plays a vital, if not critical role, in the development of this country and its people. Not only does it allow for all South Africans to have access to various forms of communications, such as television, radio, telephony services, and the Internet but the ICT sector has the potential to become the major economic driver in the country, thereby alleviating and reducing poverty. Government has acknowledged this in policies such as the White Paper on Telecommunications and the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (ASGISA). In addition, by adopting novel independent Democrat approaches, true transformation of historical imbalances and empowerment can be achieved. Thus the vision of the independent Democrats is to fully realise South Africa’s potential in the field of electronic communications, thereby: * achieving the South African constitutional requirements of equality and freedom of expression by providing to all affordable, high quality communication services * stimulating growth in the sector and associated markets; the ICT sector becomes an economic driver of the South African economy * attracting new investment; and * creating new employment opportunities.
ID SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY
VISION STATEMENT Poverty eradication is one of the greatest challenges that South Africa is faced with today. The great divide in our society which apartheid created has not closed, but widened significantly over the last ten years. Although our country has achieved democratic rule, the divisions created by the apartheid dispensation are still harshly felt today.
Arts and Culture Policy
The ID recognizes that there is a crisis of confidence in the arts and culture sector. The very sector whose inspiration and vision of a better society did so much both at home and abroad to foster the ideals of a non-racist democratic society, and to raise awareness of the injustices perpetrated under apartheid.
Environmental Policy
The ID firmly uphold the belief that the environment is an integral part of all of our lives by providing the resources necessary for sustainable livelihoods.
