Colin Coleman, Partner MD at Goldman Sachs International and a Board Member of Business Leadership SA (BLSA), writes that last month business made its voice heard with a clear and simple message, namely ‘Business Believes in South Africa’.  

In Alexandra, BLSA launched a “Contract with South Africa” to demonstrate how business, too, wants inclusive growth and transformation, central to which is a commitment to create jobs.  Coleman says many of the nine million South Africans without work think it’s virtually impossible to get a job, and partly blame it on rife corruption.  And they think the jobs of the 16 million employed are poorly paid.  When business and Cosatu leaders met in June, they concluded that urgent action was necessary to end unemployment, poverty and inequality.  That dialogue identified a growth and transformation agenda (as outlined in article).  The meeting also highlighted the effect of corruption and “state capture”.  Coleman maintains that a new period of dynamism now hinges on the success of effectively defeating “state capture” in its entirety, with the steps as necessary outlined.  “Once this has been achieved, business can set about joining our partners in creating millions of jobs.”

• This article appeared on page 10 of Business Times of 10 September 2017
• It can also be read at BLSA online
• Read too, Cheers to SAB’s jobs bid, at The New Age

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