Leaders from across the South African manufacturing sector gathered in Ekurhuleni late last month for the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa’s inaugural Metals and Engineering Indaba. Most agreed that the sector remained in a perilous state, but the panellists photographed – including Karpowership’s Patrick O'Driscoll, ArcelorMittal South Africa’s Paul O'Flaherty, Sphere Holdings’ Jabu Mabuza, the Democratic Alliance’s Geordin Hill-Lewis, the Department of Trade and Industry’s Garth Strachan and Business Leadership South Africa’s Bobby Godsell – all stressed the importance of greater collaboration between government and the private sector in helping to stem the deindustrialisation tide and to create the platform for a stronger manufacturing industry in future.