Johannesburg - South Africans are not badly off when compared with people living in Europe, Finance Minister
Pravin Gordhan said in an interview on Talk Radio 702 on Thursday.
"If you think we're badly off here, just look at the 26 or 27 nations in Europe - they've been sitting together for six to nine months now, knowing that in several countries, such as Ireland, Greece, Portugal and now Italy, they are facing great problems that will impact not only on Europe but the rest of the world.
"And yet nothing decisive has come from the politicians or bureaucrats in that environment."
Gordhan emphasised that those living in eurozone countries were facing austerity cuts and high unemployment. The only exception was Germany.
"Here in SA we have a lot of challenges but we have stability," the minister said.
"We need to become passionate about our country ... the good people who are in the vast majority must start showing some determination now.
"We need action on the ground ... we can't keep just keep talking about doing good things," concluded the minister.