Siyabonga Sesant
The Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber has welcomed government’s pledge to prioritise public-private partnerships to increase investment and save jobs.
CEO Denise van Huyssteen was speaking at the Boadwalk Convention Centre in Gqeberha on Tuesday following an event hosted by Volkswagen Group South Africa where the keynote speaker was deputy finance minister, Dr David Masondo.
Dr Masondo unpacked the 2022 Medium-Term budget to the local business community.
He said government is engaged in structural reforms at both Transnet and Eskom to reduce or eliminate red tape when it comes to private sector involvement.
Van Huyssteen said the deputy minister’s speech hit all of the right notes.
“We welcome the approach towards public-private partnerships, particularly with regards to Transnet and the opportunities around rail and ports as well. And also, what we’re doing as a chamber in terms of establishing geographic clusters where we are addressing issues of common interest.
“That’s where we want government to partner with us to fix these issues to get the city working again,” said Van Huyssteen.
“There’s a realisation now and transparency about what the issues are,” she added.
“Government clearly has a lot they need to do in terms of dealing with the issues of corruption and so on, but the mind-set seems to be positive. From a business perspective we are very committed to get things working.”
Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Retief Odendaal was in attendance at Tuesday's event.
He said Dr Masondo had given the business community of Nelson Mandela Bay a key overview of national government's macro-plan in respect of the economy.
"Key to this is a capable state and the ability, of especially local government, to deliver basic services to our communities," said Odendaal.
"The minister re-affirmed his commitment that National Treasury will continue to support our city through strengthening relations."
