Among many things performed by government, one of its key functions is to create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive.
The spin-off of having a thriving private sector is the resulting unprecedented national economic growth, low level of unemployment and elimination of abject poverty and inequity.
When these objectives are achieved the nation achieves social cohesion, better quality of life and, most critically, regains its national pride.
It is a common knowledge that developed nations have all achieved their unprecedented economic growth through the private sector.
Growth, poverty reduction and improving people’s lives require a vibrant private sector.
South Africa, as a developing nation, has recognised this as reflected in its well-publicised National Development Plan (NDP).
The world over, governments of the developing nations recognise that there are still enormous challenges in increasing inclusive growth, reducing poverty and improving people’s lives.
The private sector has a key role to play in addressing these challenges by inter alia job creation, enabling access to critical goods and basic services and by providing tax revenues.
My experience gained from both the public and private sector has revealed a disturbing trend in South Africa, namely a disorganised private sector, which is out of sync with the national development objectives.
In particular and simply stated, the private sector displays a cynical attitude, combined with an obsessive self-interest, while blaming government at all costs and bringing little to the table to move our nation forward.
On the other hand, my observations reflect that the government is becoming more and more adept with its role and aligning its policies with the continental mission of becoming an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.
This spirit by the government is reflected not only through the NDP but also through President Jacob Zuma and his executives, “walking the talk”.
The initiative known as the Presidential Business Bilateral for Inclusive Growth that the president established, has dispelled the criticism that government is standing aloof and not providing the leadership needed to achieve the necessary economic growth.
The fifth term of democratic government has shown the highest political and professional maturity of the executive.
The ministers appointed by the president undoubtedly have talent and competent knowledge of their portfolios, which continue to inspire the nation at large and leave the private sector gasping with awe!
The recent medium-term budget framework statement by Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene at his maiden speech on October 22, simply proved how the performance bar has been gradually raised, term after government term.
Nene reflected a comprehensive but in-depth understanding of the national fiscal landscape and how the economy can be jump-started to address growth, unemployment and poverty challenges.
He was brutally honest and revealing about the challenges faced by the national fiscal, tabling austerity measures and proposals to reduce the budget deficit from the current 4.1 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) to the 2.5 percent by March 2018.
The revised economic growth forecast from the 2.9 percent to a low 1.4 percent of the GDP is a worry but transparent enough for the market to see and to gain the confidence.
My wish for the private sector which is the benefactor of government spending, especially on infrastructure development projects, is that it should take responsibility of the national instruments and mechanisms to realise the national developmental goals.
This begins with an understanding that it, the private sector, is the creator of jobs and key products and the developer of services.
In this regard, unity of purpose is important and business principles directly linked with developmental objectives must inform the business strategy and its purpose of existence in South Africa and the continent.
The private sector must start seeing business framed within a prism that reflects a concerted effort to eliminate poverty, unemployment and inequity.
This will realise the much needed “inclusive growth and social cohesion” dream that our leaders strongly advocate.
The government will achieve its national development goals through a dynamic private sector, which in turn will receive its functionality and effectiveness through a skilled labour force.
No one in this critical triple helix of state, business and labour must be inward-looking for short-lived self-interest, but rather should be outward-looking towards the achievement of the national development goals.
In this context there will be no losers, no accumulation of wealth at the expense of another.
Instead fair profits and fair wages will be reaped, tax revenue will be earned and, most importantly, national pride will be firmly established in SA Inc, and our competitive developmental state mandate shall be achieved.
We all have a duty to make this country and the continent an equally better place like the most developed nations presently for future generations.
If we truly love life, let us stop thinking colour and categorising business as “established” and “emerging”, because every business begins as a start-up, it “emerges” and grows to reach established status through the zeal and commitment of its founders.
“Help is for those who start by helping themselves” according to the Sesotho idiomatic expression: Moketa ho tsoswa o e tekang.
Let us move South Africa and the continent forward, know and understand the NDP, comprehend how it is aligned to the African Agenda 2063 and ensure that your company strategy is accordingly informed by these visionary plans so it can remain relevant to the developmental objectives of our nation and continent.
It is indeed in our hands; let us move South Africa and the continent forward.
Lefadi Makibinyane is the chief executive of Consulting Engineers South Africa.
This is not the official view of CESA but that of the chief executive in his own capacity.