Big business has urged the South African government to be bolder about economic growth at a meeting of the two parties held at Tuynhuys in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Among business leaders who attended the meeting were David Brink, co-chairperson of the Business Trust, Laurie Dippenaar of Sanlam, Anglo American’s Tony Trahar, Patrice Motsepe, Bobby Godsell and Saki Macozoma.
Minister of Trade and Industry Mandisi Mpahlwa told journalists after the meeting — noting that President Thabo Mbeki could not be present, as he was held up with intense talks with parties from Côte d’Ivoire — that business told the government about the need “for a much more bolder approach to achieve higher economic growth”.
There was a proposal from business to develop a high-level task team to examine the work of identified sectoral education and training authorities to promote growth, the minister reported. Business is also concerned with turning around further education and training colleges to promote skills.
“Part of the presentation of business was the presentation of a study on call centres and the need for us to move aggressively in this area,” he said.
The Business Trust has been identified as a vehicle with which to work in enhancing the economic potential of the country, he said.
Working in a partnership — of business and the government — Africa will be highlighted “as a place to do business”, said the minister.
Brink told journalists that “business outsourcing” is a particular opportunity. Referring to call centres, he said that the country has to “move really fast in building this business”.
Asked what is meant by a bolder approach by the government, Brink said: “If one looks at the government programme of action and the sorts of things that business is advocating and the international advisory council … what is meant [is that] government has done so well over the last 10 years that a platform has been built that gives far more options.
“All the fiscal restraint and the conservative way of managing the economy and keeping inflation in place [means] there are ways of increasing opportunities for investment. This small example of call centres is one where we can grab an opportunity for investment.
“We have advocated for some time that we need to see more outside investment. It is heartening that capital investment to GDP [gross domestic product] had gone up to 17%. We would like to see it increase further.
“When one sees more of the programmes in the pipeline I would not be surprised if we get there in the not too distant future.” — I-Net Bridge