Government needs to provide strong leadership, political and economic certainty and a return to the values of post-1994 South Africa if it is to partner with business to unlock growth opportunities in KwaZulu-Natal.

This was the strong message from businessperson and KwaZulu-Natal Growth Coalition co-chairperson Moses Tembe at the yearly KwaZulu-Natal Growth Coalition Breakfast, in Durban.

The KwaZulu-Natal Growth Coalition was set up in 2000 as a platform to foster frank and robust engagement between government and business to remove development obstacles, fast-track key projects and foster the wider economic growth of the province.

Tembe took issue with ongoing political upheaval, epitomised in the standoff between Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and the Hawks, that had impacted negatively on the country’s economy. 

“We find ourselves in the midst of a great deal of uncertainty at national level. Red lights are flashing. Business confidence has deteriorated as never before. Any responsible player who knows how South Africa functions will understand that the South African Reserve Bank and the National Treasury are the heart of the economy. 

“Issues that are likely to impact those organs of State have to be given due and proper care. Business is not saying there is anyone beyond the law. We have a problem with the lack of due care that has resulted in the annihilation of business confidence due to a lack of clarity, decisiveness and sensationalism of a delicate issue like this one,” he said.  

Explaining that the sentiments expressed were those of a “business collective” and emphasising that, in the past, business had been “an honest and willing partner, focusing on growing the economy, creating employment, advancing the social agenda of our people and securing a future for our children”, Tembe requested an urgent bosberaad to review the situation, to strategise and develop a common agenda.

“Self-confidence promotes confidence in others and so we need to find a way out of this national hiatus and to build on our strengths,” he stated.

Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Sihle Zikalala, who readily accepted the bosberaad invitation, noted that, since the creation of the Growth Coalition, both business and government had accepted that they were both critical players in economic development even though they played different but complementary roles.

He said all was not gloom and doom in KwaZulu-Natal and pointed out that another major investment project at the Dube TradePort was due to be announced in October.

In addition, a memorandum of understanding had been signed between the provincial government and China’s Guangdong province. Investment projects and “areas of cooperation” worth over $200-million had been identified.

Zikalala said one of the developments about which provincial government was most excited was the establishment of an Investment Centre in KwaZulu-Natal which would be one of only three “one-stop shops” earmarked for roll-out by the Department of Trade and Industry in the current financial year.

He commended the eThekwini municipality for the roll-out of a similar municipal-focused one-stop shop that would enhance ease of doing business in the city.

Zikalala said one of KwaZulu-Natal’s best ideas was the creation of a project brokering unit four years ago to unblock the path to the implementation of major economic development projects.

Lately, the province had experienced numerous difficulties with the rezoning of land earmarked for development from agricultural to commercial or industrial land. He said he and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu would soon meet with Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana to discuss the matter.

Tembe also called for a review of financial laws; the Labour Act, where an employee-biased labour regime made it very difficult to remove incompetent staff; visa regulations that continued to have a negative impact on international inbound visitors; the need to upscale skills competencies within municipalities through the appointment of skilled staff and good leadership; the imposition of a sugar tax drastically affecting one of the province’s primary industries and a lack of development incentives.