Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa stressed on Friday that government was deeply aware of the “disquiet” within society about the current divisions within government, which had created an impression of a State “at war against itself”.

Addressing the twenty-first summit of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) in Ekurhuleni, Ramaphosa made a forceful appeal for “stabilisation” within government, as well as a greater consciousness among leaders of the impact their pubic pronouncements could have on the country’s growth and development.

“As government we are aware of the concerns of our social partners and of the South African public as a whole about recent events in the State, where the State has appeared to be at war against itself. We are aware that this has caused a lot of disquiet and we have called upon all within the State machinery, if not to call a ceasefire, to at least act in a way that does not disturb the stability our people hope for,” he said.

Without making specific reference to either Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan or the Hawks, which recently attempted to summon the Minister to make a warning statement relating to its controversial probe of an investigative unit within the South African Revenue Service, Ramaphosa stressed that “where wrong has been committed, no-one is above the law”.

“[However], as we execute our rule of law, we must ensure that we do it in a way that ensures stability in the body politic of our country. We must not create the impression that our actions are influenced by any considerations other than the advancement of the interests of the people of South Africa. Because if we create such impressions, those impressions become perceptions and they become reality.”

The Deputy President gave the commitment that government was addressing the “issue of stability, the issue that our actions are directed at the continuation of the stability of governance in South Africa”.

He acknowledged that it was unfair for government to call on its social partners in labour and business to ensure industrial relations stability “when we appear unable to maintain a stable State ourselves”.

“We cannot expect our social partners in Nedlac to overcome their differences, when we in government cannot overcome our own – it doesn’t make sense. A well functioning government is a government that is not at war with itself. Where there are differences, we must be able to resolve these through dialogue and cooperation.”

Speaking from the same platform, Jabu Mabuza, who spoke on behalf of business, said that, in light of South Africa’s weak economic performance, the various constituencies participating in Nedlac needed to turn their attention “to where it matters most: the economy”.

“Business as usual will clearly not achieve the desired outcomes,” Mabuza said. “All sides must be willing to make concessions and compromises . . . honest, forthright and principled engagement through Nedlac must become the norm rather than the exception.”

He also appealed for “policy consistency”, especially in the areas of land reform, energy and renewable energy, mining law and regulations, as well as labour legislation. The objective of growing the economy should also underpin the current deliberations on a national minimum wage, the outcome of which would form part of a package of labour-market reforms.

Congress of South African Trade Unions general-secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali, who spoke on behalf of labour, made a pointed appeal for business to ensure it sent representatives to Nedlac that had the requisite authority to facilitate decision-making.

He noted that the labour movement had continually to committed high-level resources to the consultations in the form of union presidents and general secretaries. “With others this is not the case,” he quipped.

Ntshalintshali argued that the implementation of a national minimum wage would be a “positive contribution” to addressing inequality, and that it should be accompanied by a moderation in executive pay.

Ramaphosa also lent his support for greater restraint in executive remuneration, cautioning that excessive executive pay increases did not go “unnoticed” by labour.

The Deputy President noted that the social partners had committed to completing work on the minimum wage “without further delay”. He said the seven-person technical panel established to investigate an appropriate minimum-wage level should meet its October deadline so that the “committee of principals” could negotiate the full package on labour stability, including the minimum wage.