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Cape Town – There are signs that a new era of cooperation is starting between business, labour and government.
That is according to Enoch Godongwana, the African National Congress (ANC) NEC member and chairperson of its economic transformation committee, in this week’s edition of ANC Today.
Godongwana said up until recently this key ingredient has been missing in South Africa's economic policy.
“The recent coming together of business, labour and government to try and strengthen and sustain South Africa's ailing steel industry offers a hint of the kind of co-operation that is required,” he said.
The ANC is deeply concerned about the dangers posed by the current, unfavourable economic environment, he explained.
The timing of the ANC National General Council meeting in October provides an important opportunity for the party to review a wide range of policy interventions and where necessary strengthen and recalibrate such interventions to improve South Africa's economic performance, he said.
Focus on these questions
As such, Godongwana said ANC delegates should focus on these questions:
1.Is there broad consensus on the need to lift investment to the NDP's target of 30% of GDP, what is the state's role in this and what is the private sector's role?
2.How can business maximise localisation benefits from South Africa's ongoing public infrastructure expansion?
3.What potential exists for South African business, including black-owned businesses, to become part of global supply chains?
4.How can government and business work together to ensure the maximum success of recently-launched Special Economic Zones?
5.How can government and business align themselves more closely in developing trade and investment ties with other countries in Africa and beyond?
6.How can independent power producers be brought into base load power generation, as has been done for renewable energy?
7.What can be done to turn around the precipitous fall in mining output and mining investment?
8.What can be done to assess and unlock South Africa's significant potential as an onshore and offshore gas producer, in a manner that does not compromise the country's environment?
9.How can land reform efforts be accelerated, in such a way as to expand the output and exports of the existing commercial farming sector as well as grow the number of successful black farmers participating effectively in the agricultural economy?
10.How should telecoms competition be facilitated, with the aim of reducing broadband and telecoms prices?
11.How can South Africa secure greater positive economic linkages from its maritime position?
12.How can the ongoing growth in the tourism sector be facilitated, as this is one of South Africa's key areas of natural comparative advantage in the global economy?
13.How can business, government and labour work together to develop a coherent South African message, rather than talking at cross purposes?
What questions do you think the ANC should be asking? Tell us now.
