The South African Government and organised business have agreed to urgently work together in partnership to ”remove obstacles to inclusive economic growth and job creation.”

In a joint statement, and following a meeting on 6 June, the Presidency and Business for South Africa (B4SA), say they have identified three immediate priority interventions:

• Energy
• Transport and logistics
• Crime and corruption

As part of the agreement, CEOs of South Africa’s largest companies, under the umbrella body BUSA are committing to contributing considerable skills and resources to address these key priorities.

According to the statement, the work will be directed through the Government-led National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM), National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC), and Joint Initiative to Fight Crime and Corruption (JICC), and overseen by a Joint Strategic Operations Committee.

Commenting on the partnership, President Cyril Ramaphosa said:

“This initiative will make a real and marked difference in rebuilding our economy and setting it on a path of sustained inclusive growth. It is driven by a shared determination to overcome the severe challenges we currently face and to mobilise the country’s substantial capabilities towards the achievement of that goal. We welcome this commitment from business and undertake as Government to work to ensure the success of this partnership.”

Said Adrian Gore, BUSA’s Vice President, “South Africa has significant unrealised potential and this  partnership agreement underscores business’s belief in our country and is a firm commitment to achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Business, working together with all partners, is ideally positioned to ensure a better future, by turning the fly wheel for the benefit of all.”

At the recent meeting, BUSA, B4SA and CEOs participating in the process, shared the following declaration with the President and Cabinet Ministers:

“As South African business leaders we believe in the potential of our country, are committed to building it, and have come together to address the current challenges in order to achieve sustainable inclusive economic growth. We believe that, through partnership and focused interventions, we can make a significant and positive impact on our country and create hope for all South Africans. We are committed to being a force for good.”

Martin Kingston, chair of the B4SA steering committee, says significant progress has already been in establishing the three priority workstreams to work closely with Government in implementing the urgent necessary actions.

Kingston says government and businesses has successfully demonstrated the benefits of partnership for the common good of South Africans through the COVID-19 pandemic, the vaccination programme, the recent formation of the Resource Mobilisation Fund, and many other examples.

”We have again agreed to work collaboratively, in this case with joint, fit-for-purpose teams through NECOM, NLCC, and JICC, to help drive the urgently needed economic recovery work programme. This will result in workable solutions, and we will communicate publicly on a regular basis as to the objectives and timelines to achieve meaningful progress.”

Cas Coovadia, BUSA’s CEO, says business is ideally positioned to ensure a better future, for the benefit of all South Africans.

“South African business leaders are committing to contributing considerable skills and resources and, as a matter of urgency, work through all relevant partnership structures to address our country’s priorities. Ultimately, success will lead to a significant impact on GDP growth and job creation and will re-instill confidence amongst all stakeholders.”

The following is a short list of CEOs who will be leading business’s participation in the workstreams: Fleetwood Grobler, Nolitha Fakude, Mxolisi Mgojo, Andrew Kirby, Jannie Durand, Neal Froneman and Paul Hanratty. Other CEO names will be added to the list over time.

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