JOHANNESBURG:
Regardless of political differences, all South Africans must work together to make the country prosperous, President Jacob Zuma said yesterday.
“Let me remind you that South Africa is open for business. We may be going through a rough period economically, like most economies in the world, but we will survive if we work together,” he said at an SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry conference in Midrand.
“As various political parties and business organisations... we may differ on methods; we need to be careful of the methods we use as we push political and economic objectives.
“Let us disagree on issues, but ensure that South Africa does not suffer in the process. We all have a duty to make our beautiful country succeed.”
“We can’t fight like we live in different countries, and therefore be the people who seem to be running the country down.”
Zuma also spoke about the implementation of Operation Phakisa, an initiative aimed at fast-tracking the priorities outlined in the National Development Plan.
The first phase of the operation included “unlocking the economic potential of the country’s ocean economy”.
“I think for the first time we are deliberately going to exploit the ocean, which we have never done before,” Zuma said.
He then related a story of being in Cape Town, and wanting to take a boat trip to Durban. He was told at the time there was no trip between the two cities.
“Operation Phakisa is unlocking that so that my wish to have a boat from Cape Town to Durban will be fulfilled.”
Zuma said the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Act, which he signed into law in January, provided for the establishment of a BBBEE commission which would help monitor empowerment.
Sekunjalo Group chairman Dr Iqbal Survé, who also spoke at the conference, said business competitors, including those in the media, must work together to build South Africa and the continent instead of trying to destroy each other
“You know, when I led the consortium to buy Independent Media... the four media houses that control media in this country were untransformed, there was no change since democracy in 1994,” he said. “Then came this young, well not young any more, medical doctor, an upstart, to buy one of the big media houses.
“The ruthlessness in which the competition came for me, with no foundation whatsoever, shows that they didn’t understand the essence of what it takes to build a new South African society and to build a new business future for our country.”
Survé said exclusivity also needed to be worked on.
“I was in a meeting last night... where it was discussed a new news syndication for Africa,” he said.
“I went into the meeting and said this is my view, this is my vision, let’s be completely transparent and open. And all the other media houses there said: ‘Oh my God, this guy is really naive, he is telling us everything.’”
Survé said there was no use in having secrets.
“If you believe the future of our country and business is in working together with small business, big business, medium business, government and the private sector, and you genuinely believe that, you must be transparent and walk the talk,” he said.
“As South Africans we like to complain, we like to gossip and like to do all these things because they keep us busy at the braai. But at the end of the day we must be very careful we don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.” – Sapa