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Former trade,industry & competition minister Ebrahim Patel. Picture: BUSINESS DAY/FREDDY MAVUNDA
Former trade,industry & competition minister Ebrahim Patel. Picture: BUSINESS DAY/FREDDY MAVUNDA

What skill, education or experience does Parks Tau have that he can determine the correct industrial policy for SA? (“Trump’s tariffs offer pause for thought”, April 17).

I haven’t seen anything to date that convinces me — just the opposite, in fact. How much damage did Ebrahim Patel do as the previous (communist) minister of trade, industry & competition?

The ANC is determined to achieve the national democratic revolution, essentially state control of industry (which it is achieving via BEE, quotas and the Industrial Development Corporation giving money away to cadres and their supporters).

It is using tariffs to protect ANC pet projects and interests, not to make SA more competitive and export orientated.

Ian Ferguson
Via BusinessLIVE

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