TRC Final Report

Volume 5

Chapter 8

Subsection 10

■ BUSINESS

38 The huge and widening gap between the rich and poor is a disturbing legacy of the past, which has not been reduced by the democratic process. It is morally reprehensible, politically dangerous and economically unsound to allow this to continue. Business has a particularly significant role to play in this regard.

Restitution

39 The Commission recommends that:

CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAYS IN WHICH TO PROVIDE RESTITUTION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED FROM THE EFFECTS OF APARTHEID DISCRIMINATION, FOR EXAMPLE AS A RESULT OF RACISM, GENDER DISCRIMINATION, JOB RESERVATION, GROUP AREAS LEGISLATION, THE EFFECTS OF THE MIGRANT LABOUR SYSTEM, INFERIOR WAGES AND INADEQUATE OR NON-EXISTENT SOCIAL BENEFITS.

THE FEASIBILITY OF THE FOLLOWING AS A MEANS OF EMPOWERING THE POOR SHOULD BE CONSIDERED:

A WEALTH TAX;

A ONCE-OFF LEVY ON CORPORATE AND PRIVATE INCOME;

EACH COMPANY LISTED ON THE JOHANNESBURG STOCK EXCHANGE TO MAKE A ONCE-OFF DONATION OF 1% OF ITS MARKET CAPITALISATION;

A RETROSPECTIVE SURCHARGE ON CORPORATE PROFITS EXTENDING BACK TO A DATE TO BE SUGGESTED;

A SURCHARGE ON GOLDEN HANDSHAKES GIVEN TO SENIOR PUBLIC SERVANTS SINCE 1990;

THE SUSPENSION OF ALL TAXES ON LAND AND OTHER MATERIAL DONATIONS TO FORMERLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAYMENT OF THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT’S ‘ODIOUS DEBT’ BE CRITICALLY RECONSIDERED. INTEREST AND CAPITAL REPAYMENTS ON THIS DEBT ARE A CRIPPLING BURDEN ON THE NATIONAL FISCUS. THIS MONEY COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PURPOSES OF REPARATION AS WELL AS RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT.

THE MINISTER OF FINANCE INVESTIGATE THE VIABILITY OF THE SASRIA FUND (CONTRIBUTED TO BY BUSINESS AS A SAFEGUARD AGAINST MATERIAL LOSS DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE APARTHEID YEARS) BEING USED AS A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR REPARATION, RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT.

Land

40 The Commission recommends that:

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, TOGETHER WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENT, IN COOPERATION WITH THE LAND COMMISSION, UNDERTAKE AN AUDIT OF ALL UNUSED AND UNDERUTILISED LAND, WITH A VIEW TO MAKING THIS AVAILABLE TO LANDLESS PEOPLE. LAND APPROPRIATED OR EXPROPRIATED PRIOR TO 1994 SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED IN THE AUDITING PROCESS, WITH A VIEW TO COMPENSATING THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LAND.

Special fund

41 The Commission recommends that:

A “BUSINESS RECONCILIATION FUND” BE ESTABLISHED. THE TRUSTEES OF THIS FUND WOULD BE REQUIRED TO GENERATE RESOURCES TO BE USED, ON A TARGETED BASIS, TO INITIATE, SUPPLEMENT OR COMPLEMENT OTHER DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS. BASED ON CRITERIA RELATED TO SPECIFIC EPISODES OF PAST SUFFERING OR THE PARTICULARLY HARMFUL EFFECTS OF APARTHEID, THE FUND COULD PROVIDE NON-REPAYABLE GRANTS, LOANS AND/OR GUARANTEES TO BUSINESS-RELATED FUNDING FOR BLACK SMALL ENTREPRENEURS IN NEED OF EITHER SPECIFIC TRAINING SKILLS OR CAPITAL FOR THE LAUNCHING OF A BUSINESS. THE FUND SHOULD NOT SEEK TO REPLACE OR COMPETE WITH EXISTING SCHEMES OF A SIMILAR NATURE, BUT RATHER TO AUGMENT THEM. IT SHOULD HAVE A SMALL, EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION, HAVE A LIMITED LIFE-SPAN AND BE FUNDED FROM PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RESOURCES. FOREIGN DONORS SHOULD ALSO BE APPROACHED FOR FUNDING. BUSINESS SHOULD PROVIDE THE NECESSARY ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT SKILLS REQUIRED TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE INITIATIVE.