Phosa: Economic inequality is the most significant outstanding transformation issue

09 June 2016 - 14:12 By Neo Goba

African National Congress (ANC) veteran and former national treasurer Mathews Phosa said the country should work hard towards restoring faith in the country's economy. “Therefore all of us… in the spirit of the Constitution should‚ we can and must make it work.“However‚ for economic transformation to take hold in South Africa‚ we must most importantly change our focus into teaching each other with dignity and concentrate in furthering the process of achieving economic equality‚” said Phosa.Phosa was a guest speaker on day two of the Vison 2030 Summit at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park on Thursday.He said the nation should work on building a culture of nonracialism."South Africa is a hugely unequal society when it comes to economic prosperity. It remains the most significant outstanding issue on our agenda of liberation and political and economic transformation. It is‚ however‚ something that we must change as a nation‚ across all political‚ racial and economic divides‚” he added.Although he acknowledged past racial stereotypes‚ Phosa said perceptions and preconceived ideas about each other still persist. He said this was perpetuated by a lack of mutual respect in general.Phosa is known to be an outspoken politician who played an important role in the struggle against apartheid.Earlier this week‚ he said that Nkandla is a product of “a culture of immunity and impunity” that has taken hold of South Africa.Speaking during a radio interview‚ Phosa said that a lot has changed since the ANC came to power back in 1994."There is a lot of corruption. It has become systemic in municipal government‚ provincial government and national government. Corruption is systemic."And what do we do? Instead of hitting the corruption at the heart‚ we protect one another. We introduce a culture of immunity and impunity. And it’s wrong for the ANC to do that‚" he said.President Jacob Zuma was found to be in contravention of his oath of office and the Constitution of the republic‚ yet Parliament had failed in its duty to act against him.Also present at the summit was Minister in the Presidency and chairperson of the National Planning Commission Jeff Radebe. Other prominent speakers included Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba and commissioner of the South African Revenue Service Tom Moyane. – TMG Digital/TMG Local Government..

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