South African Government Briefs 13 of 2012

Peace, security and development are inextricably linked.

• South Africa advocates for a long-term approach that interlinks security and development.  
• The UN and regional organisations such as the AU continue to play a crucial role in the resolution of conflicts through peace-making, peacekeeping and peace-building.
• Solutions can only be lasting when we work together with all partners on issues; we pledge to work with regional organisations such as the Economic Community of West African States, the SADC as well as the UN and the AU.
• The AU is the conduit through which to ensure a peaceful and prosperous continent along with assistance from the international community.
• South Africa strongly emphasises the importance of coordination between countries and regions in finding lasting solutions to conflicts and problems on the continent.
• By prioritising growth and prosperity when addressing development challenges, we provide people with a sense of optimism and hope.

Global development depends on the reform of institutions of global governance.

• South Africa supports the promotion of equal distribution of power and influence in the global political and economic systems.
• The UNSC should be more representative – in both its composition and  decision-making processes.
• The world is in need of a comprehensive reform of the UNSC, which involves an expanded Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories, with improved working methods.
• Keeping with the principle of equitable representation, Africa, which makes up a considerable percentage of the overall membership of the UN, must be represented in the permanent category of the UNSC.
• South Africa has made, and continues to make, a significant contribution to deepening relations and cooperation between the UNSC and the AU, and encourages cooperation with other regional organisations.
• We remain committed to strengthening continental institutions, which are critical to responding to the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment, and peace, security and stability on the continent.
• In becoming more responsive to the needs of developing nations, international organisations should be reformed in accordance with current geo-political realities.

South-South cooperation is critical in global affairs.

• South Africa will continue to build, strengthen and consolidate bilateral relations with its partners of the South to address common developmental challenges.
• Countries of the South represent the majority of developing countries in the world and must play a more visible role in global affairs.
• The countries of the South are no longer outside the world economic mainstream and account for nearly 40% of global trade.
• The advancement of South-South relations will help eradicate poverty and promote development and prosperity among countries of the South.
• The regional UN commissions play a catalytic role in promoting South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation through strengthening their technical, policy and research support for countries of their regions.
• Through bodies such as BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) and IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa), we aim to foster political solidarity and economic cooperation.

A collective effort is needed to address the global economic and financial problems.

• The sovereign debt crisis that continues to play out in Europe is a stark reminder of the importance of fiscal stability and sustainability.
• The continuing vulnerability of several larger European economies presents serious negative implications for the global economy.
• South Africa urges all economic role-players to put the interest of the global economy ahead of narrow short-term national interests.
• Europe remains South Africa’s largest trading partner and a continued weakening of economies in Europe will affect our economy directly.
• South Africa is cautiously recovering from the last major economic crisis and has undertaken to support job creation, maintain the value of the social wage and finance economic transformation as outlined in its New Growth Path (NGP), which is helping rebalance and restructure the South African economy.
• Africa is one of the fastest growing global markets and stands as a beacon of hope for the world. A forecast from the African Development Bank (AfDB) expects 4,5% growth across Africa in 2012 and 4,8% growth in 2013, with sub-Saharan Africa to grow at an even faster pace.

• Africa and other small island states are under heavy pressure from climate stress owing to, among other things, current low adaptation capacity, making them highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change.
• Unless this is effectively dealt with, climate change will have a dramatic impact on the realisation of fundamental human rights and reverse the progress that has been made so far towards achieving the MDGs.
• The poor and marginalised continue to be disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and lack of access to clean, affordable energy services.
• The MDGs recognise the need to promote gender equality and empower women to participate in all facets of economic and social life, with the aim of achieving sustainable development.
• Climate change poses a significant challenge to the achievement of sustainable development for the rural poor, especially women, who will suffer disproportionately from its impact.

• The “Durban Agreement” breathes new vigour into the global fight against climate change, after several years of slow progress. The agreement signifies a move to concrete actions over the long term in building a framework for a binding agreement.
• The Rio+20 conference was a critical milestone, especially on key elements that included an agreement on the need to establish a Sustainable Development Council on General Assembly level as well as to upgrade the UN Environment Programme to become the authoritative voice on environmental governance, to promote coordination of the environment leg of sustainable development.
• We call for the adoption of a ratifiable second Commitment Period under the Kyoto Protocol and its immediate implementation at the beginning of 2013.
• Developing countries have demonstrated their commitment to playing their part in the global fight against climate change and have presented actions that express significant ambition to reduce emissions.
• Developed countries must rise to their historical responsibilities and take the lead by undertaking robust and ambitious mitigation commitments consistent with science, and in accordance with the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
• South Africa will implement nationally appropriate mitigation actions, which will result in the reduction of emissions by 34% in 2020 and by 42% in 2025.

• The paramount question of mobilisation of requisite resources by the developing countries to achieve the MDGs cannot be overemphasised.
• South Africa is one of the few African countries with adequate data for purposes of reporting on the achievement of the MDGs.
• This report will provide a measuring tool for government to assess the impact of various policies and programmes on the country and its citizens.
• The MDGs complement the development approach already adopted by the South African Government as it is embedded in our constitutional provision that emphasises the value of respect for human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and basic freedom.
• South Africa has endeavoured to improve the lives of the people living in poverty. Between 2002 and 2008, considerable progress was achieved in the provision of social security grants; access to water and sanitation; and the provision of electricity, especially to the historically marginalised groups.
• Most South African children (ages seven to 13) are receiving primary education and South Africa continues to make significant advances in achieving universal access to primary education.

• Developments in the Arab world will have a bearing on the future of the broader Arab-Israeli conflict.
• The importance of the Middle East in the global economy cannot be over-emphasised, especially in the context of the current global financial crisis.
• South Africa supports a two-State solution, with Palestine and Israel existing side-by-side in peace within internationally recognised borders (based on 4 June 1967 borders), with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine.
• South Africa identifies with the plight of the people of Palestine. South Africa’s history of apartheid has given us a deeper understanding of oppression and the wounds it leaves behind.
• South Africa supports the application of Palestine for membership of the UN.
• The right to self-determination and decolonisation as enshrined in the UN Charter and UN resolutions allow oppressed people to determine their own political destinies in accordance with international law.

Improving institutional and human infrastructure is vital for reliable civil registration and vital statistics in Africa.

• Civil registration is about building good governance, and a modern and accountable public administration.
• Civil registration involves interactions between individuals, households and different institutions, especially the organs of government at various levels. Everyone benefits from reliable information.
• Countries are tightening their security systems through national identity-registration systems.
• Civil registration is a valuable source of population dynamics, basic demographic and social indicators including MDGs indicators.
• Appropriate institutional and human infrastructure and operational procedures need to be established for capturing all vital diverse events.

We are working together since the first Conference of African Ministers responsible for Civil Registration to build a better Africa and a better world.

• Civil registration and vital statistics are now recognised by Africa as being key to the development agenda.
• There is an overwhelming response from partners who support the implementation of the Africa Programme on Accelerated Improvement for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (APAI-CRVS).
• The Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Secretariat is functioning at the African Centre for Statistics to support implementation and coordination.
• Awareness has been created on the importance of civil registration and vital statistics for sustainable development.
• Conceptual and operational frameworks and technical and methodological materials were developed.
• Experts have addressed some of the fundamental bottlenecks that came in the way of improvement of systems in the region.

A key aim is to create  a consolidated policy and implementation agenda for a better Africa.

• The APAI-CRVS emerged from the need to bring together various initiatives on the continent into a common and consolidated policy and advocacy framework.
• The overall objective is to provide management and programmatic guidance to reform and improve civil registration and vital statistics.
• The APAI-CRVS recognises the socio-economic and political diversities of African countries and thus the need for a more decentralised approach that promotes and enhances indigenous knowledge and creativity in resolving problems and challenges in order to improve civil registration and vital statistics systems.

There can be no sustainable development without reliable information on the identities, civil status and welfare of our people.

• Civil registration is the conventional information source in generating individual information that guides the implementation of healthcare services.
• Birth registration enables access to public and private services.
• Birth registration ensures government planning for the provision of welfare and social services.
• In South Africa, it is an offense not to register your child at birth.
• The Department of Home Affairs registers births, marriages, divorces and deaths.

Government has prioritised entrepreneurship and the advancement of SMMEs as the catalyst to achieving economic growth and development.

• Government has prioritised entrepreneurship and the advancement of SMMEs as the catalyst to achieving economic growth and development.
• Due to its labour-absorptive capacity, the SMME sector is also able to address other socio-economic conditions such as employment and poverty.
• The Department of Trade and Industry, with the assistance of other government departments and institutions, takes the lead in implementing SMME-related policies and strategies, ensuring that the sector is provided with adequate financial and non-financial assistance to facilitate its long-term prosperity and that of the country as a whole.
• The congress will explore the impact of the current global economy and possibly seek ways in which small businesses respond to depressed economic conditions of various participating countries.
• The congress will expose SMMEs to business opportunities in South Africa and the world.
• In addition, the congress will host an exhibition where SMMEs and other organisations can showcase and market their products and services.

Government is committed to growing the economy through, among others, the development of  SMMEs.

• Government has set up, among other institutions, the Seda as key driver of SMME support in South Africa.
• A new government agency to fund small businesses was launched in Cape Town on 23 April 2012.
• The Sefa focuses on small-scale manufacturing, agro-processing, services in infrastructure development, mining services, the green economy and tourism.
• The Sefa is wholly a subsidiary of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), resulting from a merger of Khula Enterprise Finance, the South African Micro-Finance Apex Fund and the IDC small-business lending book.
• This merger was identified by the New Growth Path as an action that would expand government’s support to small businesses.
• Government has established the Jobs Fund, worth R9 billion, for employment creation. It was launched by the Minister of Finance on 7 June 2011. The fund is expected to benefit SMMEs, especially in depressed sectors, to stimulate growth and employment.
• The Women’s Empowerment Fund, managed by the IDC, has been established to assist businesses with a minimum shareholding by women of at least 50% (shareholding between 25% and 50% will be considered on revised terms).
• The Technology Venture Capital Fund was established and is managed by the IDC to fund innovative ideas that require prototype and intellectual property registrations.

We will continue to create a policy environment that promotes development of SMMEs.

• the National Small Enterprise Act, 1996 (Act 102 of 1996)
• the National Small Business Amendment Act, 2004 (Act 29 of 2004)
• the Integrated Strategy on the Promotion of Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprises of 2005

The ISBC is held in South Africa during Heritage and Tourism Month, highlighting the importance of domestic and business tourism in the economy.

• The ISBC would not be complete without the warmth and hospitality of South Africa and her people, vibrant African entertainment and an opportunity for delegates to explore our beautiful cities, country and continent.
• Entrepreneurs are encouraged to invest in the tourism sector, which is one of the important sectors of our economy.
• Government has taken measurers to support and ensure the sustainability of the tourism industry.
• The recent tourism statistics highlight the important contribution of business tourism to the growth of this jewel industry.

• Tax rebates and regulations: the current tax concessions for the SMMEs sector are welcomed and should continuously be encouraged. Red-tape reduction and turnaround in support structures need to be addressed. This needs urgent government attention.
• Capacity-building:  education, training and skills development in entrepreneurship and financial management are necessary for SMME development.
• Programmes that encourage business incubation and hand-holding support are encouraged.
• Incentives: tax holidays and incentives that promote private sector contribution to SMME development are important.
• Marketing: there is a need for the development of demand-side measures to promote goods and services of SMMEs.
• Finance: stimulation of other financing mechanisms such as venture capital, bridging finance, equity finance, and angel investments networks and related technical support measures are needed to increase a pool of SMME funding and access to credit.
• Technology: it is necessary to identify and invest in technologies that can assist in increasing efficiency of SMMEs.
• Recognition of the sector and advocacy: strengthening the voice of small business through the development and skilling of local business chambers and associations will go a long way in the implementation of such organisations as an extension of the SMME support network.