Pretoria – Cabinet says it has noted the downgrading of South Africa by rating agencies, and says government will focus on implementing the National Development Plan to deal with the challenges.
Briefing journalists at the Imbizo Centre in Parliament on Thursday, Communications Minister Faith Muthambi, who led the briefing following the Cabinet meeting of 25 June, said government was alive to the growth challenges that the country faces.
“Government has prioritized the accelerated implementation of the National Development Plan, with reforms that are aimed at unlocking South Africa’s growth potential.
“Government is committed to improving the regulatory environment, reducing skills shortages and accelerating its infrastructure investment programme as part of removing obstacles that are constraining growth,” she said.
Cabinet welcomes end of platinum mine strike
Minister Muthambi said Cabinet noted that the five-month strike in the platinum belt had dire effects on workers, employers and the economy as a whole.
The strike, which also led to the intervention of Mineral Resources Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi, was cited as a major contributor by Stats SA when Statistician-General Pali Lehohla recently announced that the gross domestic product (GDP) had contracted by 0.6% in the first quarter of 2014.
“While the right to strike is protected in our Constitution and labour laws, Cabinet appeals to both employers and the labour movement to resolve negotiations speedily and to avoid such prolonged strikes.
“The success of our development programmes depends on a stable and thriving economy.
“As South Africans, we all have a responsibility to grow the country’s economy,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
