The Free State Province is hosting public hearings in Parys on its Local Economic Development bill today, Thursday 26 may. The Democratic Alliance strongly opposes this bill.
“If this becomes law, it will cripple the Free State’s struggling economy and turn it into an economic wasteland,” Dr Roy Jankielsohn MPL, Free State leader of the DA, said.
The hearings were scheduled to start at 10:00 in the Forum Building.
The bill seeks to restrict ownership and operation of many small businesses to SA citizens or permanent residents. These include general dealers, garment shops, spazas, hairdressers and greengrocers. It requires 30% of the goods stocked by retailers to be of local origin. Even the smallest trader would require a municipal trading licence. “Free State munici- palities already find it hard to send out correct account statements, keep their parks clean and fill potholes in streets”, according to a DA councillor. “This bill would add lots of officials, every one of them causing more red tape with long delays and higher costs. That is why we will attend the hearings and protest strongly against this bill becoming law.”
