Can’t build economy on ‘ag, shame’ – Trevor Manuel

BLOEMFONTEIN – Journalists who have information on corruption must report it to law enforcement agencies, Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel has said.

‘If you have any evidence of corruption, before you write about it, take the evidence to the law enforcement authority,’ he told journalists at a Progressive Business Forum breakfast in Mangaung. The forum was hosting the event on the sidelines of the ANC elective conference.’As an active citizen you have that responsibility.’Manuel explained to the business community how the national development plan (NDP) sought to find long-term solutions to South Africa’s problems.He said the redistribution of land had to be done differently. The government had to deal with land redistribution as a constitutional imperative, as 2013 would mark 100 years since the passing of 1913 Land Act.’Let’s be sensitive in dealing with it so that we ensure that the agricultural sector provides jobs and also gives people a decent standard of living.’Manuel said shouting slogans would not help. Long-term solutions would change things and restore food security provided by the agricultural sector.The development of young entrepreneurs was also crucial in growing the economy, as identified in the NDP.However, the youth had to drop the ‘entitlement attitude’.’There’s no entitlement in life. We’ve got to get over that issue of entitlement.’He said the youth had to be supported with business plans.’We’re not going to be able to build an economy on ‘ag shame’. We need to be pretty tough … I think the tougher we are on young entrepreneurs, the better the quality of entrepreneurs we will create in this country.’Manuel said in the NDP the planning commission had identified accountability as an important factor in dealing with service delivery.’When there is no water in a town, who is responsible? Is it the mayor or the minister of water affairs? We have to fix those things and know who is responsible,’ he said. – Nampa-Sapa

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