Until you fix historical injustices you won't have social cohesion‚ says KZN MEC

KZN Economic Development MEC Sihle Zikalala has called for the private sector to join the state in their drive toward radical economic transformation.

Zikalala was speaking at a social cohesion and moral regeneration summit in KwaMashu on Thursday. He took the podium to tackle the topic of inclusive economic development‚ and said that the injustices of the past had not yet been fully reversed.

"South Africa acquired democracy but this did not translate simultaneously with economic freedom. Poverty continues and is actually increasing‚ along with inequality and unemployment‚" he said.

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It was this increase‚ Zikalala said‚ which continued to impede social cohesion.

The summit follows a spate of violent unrest in the township‚ driven by anti-immigrant sentiment. Shops owned by foreign nationals were looted and torched on Monday night.

Zikalala said that there was an urgent need to achieve fundamental change in the economy.

"This is for all South Africans and will be a foundation to build a fair and just society with equitable opportunities. The privilege attached to race‚ class‚ space and gender has not been fully reversed. We want radical economic and transformed growth from the province which will see more people extricated from poverty‚" he said.

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He said that the private sector was called to "join hands" with the state in the transformation.

"The private sector can contribute 70% of opportunities to SMME's and cooperatives. We call on everyone to join hands to end the economic exclusion of previously marginalised groups‚" he said.

TMG Digital/TimesLIVE