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Johannesburg – To avoid a downgrade to junk status, South Africans should do their best to “galvanise positivity” ahead of rating agencies’ visit to the country next week, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said in Sandton on Tuesday.
He was speaking at the 2016 Sunday Times Top 100 Companies awards ceremony, where he was named business leader of the year. The event recognises the top performing companies on the JSE.
“We need to use that resilience and not forget that we are a hopeful people. We will get the best results possible even in a difficult situation,” he said. Gordhan referred to the difficulties the country is currently facing, and said surmounting them is not “impossible”.
“If we get the ingredients right, we will find ourselves on a different and better path.” Greed is one of the factors that damages society and social cohesion and promotes corruption, said Gordhan.
The solution to this is “inclusive growth” which involves all people. Partnerships between government, business and labour should have a meaningful impact on South Africa’s population of 55 million people, he said.
Business leader 2016
After receiving the award, Gordhan thanked his Deputy Minister Mcebisi Jonas and director general Lungisa Fuzile. He acknowledged the role of Telkom chair Jabu Mabuza in leading the CEO Initiative in partnering with government to “normalise South Africa” following Nenegate in December 2015.
READ: Business Leader of the Year Gordhan calls for justice over Sars unit
The aim of this partnership is to “inspire confidence” in the country, he said.
“I’m very grateful for this award, but I don’t see this as a personal thing. I think it’s a huge acknowledgement by the business community that we are in this together and that collectively we have the will to change South Africa into a better place,” he said in a pre-recorded video which was played during the award ceremony.
“As a public servant I need to make sure I do my job to the best of my ability... I am a person of optimism and hope, and we’ll stick by that as we go forward.”
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