By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Azanian People’s Organisation (Azapo) has vowed to revive the local sphere of government if given an opportunity to govern South Africa after the May 29 polls.
The black consciousness movement party launched its manifesto in Bekkersdal, west of Johannesburg.
Azapo President Nelvis Qekema says they will abolish the provincial governments when they take over the government.
He says this will ensure the effectiveness of the local government as the centre of service delivery.
“We are different because we are the children of Steve Biko and that’s the reason that we say we believe as Azapo that this country is over-governed and governed by ten governments and ten presidents and that’s the central government and provincial governments.”
Azapo has also vowed to nationalise the Reserve Bank and expand its mandate to create jobs. Qekema, has decried the fact that after 30 years, black people are still the face of poverty.
“Azapo is saying 5 million black people are living in mekhukhu. Mekhukhu, shacks are a crime against black people. Azapo will render them unlawful – no mkhukhu in Azania. A black person is not a mkhukhu, we are not shacks. Shacks are not equal to our humanity and dignity as a people. We will outlaw shacks and mekhukhu and we shall establish the National State Housing Company not building housing through tenders it will not happen in our Azania.”
Unlike most central banks in the world, South Africa’s is privately owned. The ANC resolved in 2017 to move it into full state ownership, but has yet to implement the decision.
The SARB is one of a handful of global central banks owned by investors — including individuals, commercial banks and pension funds — though its shareholders have no say over monetary policy or the appointment of its governors and Monetary Policy Committee.
The Reserve Bank implements its inflation-targeting mandate in the interest of balanced and sustainable growth, in line with the constitution, and has repeatedly said the obstacles to bolstering output fall outside the scope of monetary policy.
Despite supporting a borderless African continent, Azapo says for now everyone coming into the country must be thoroughly processed. This is part of what it intends to do when given an opportunity to govern South Africa after the elections.
The party says when people are entering the country illegally, some of them resort to crime and it is often difficult for the authorities to trace them. Qekema says the processing of people will also help to govern in planning.
“As Azapo we want boundaryless Africa, but Azapo knows that will not happen tomorrow. Today we must make sure that nobody gets into our country without being documented because when you are not documented you are going to kill our people and we shall not be able to trace you and we will not be able to plan as government because we are going to plan for ten people who are documented and the clinic is used by 100 people and it collapses. If you are coming to this country you go to Refugee centres and you shall be processed there and then we will decide where you go from there.”