Pretoria – Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba says government and business need to find each other on regulatory issues so that companies can thrive and grow.
“That growth needs to be inclusive, with businesses hiring workers and paying them higher wages, and allowing workers to participate in the value they create,” he said.
Speaking at the Topco Media Top 500 Companies Awards event held in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Minister Gigaba said no country has developed quickly without alignment and productive partnership between government and business.
“The developmental state cannot be successful unless it develops and spearheads a vision and narrative for economic development which is shared and embraced by the business class and which goes beyond the currently-wealthy and rent-seeking.
“Despite two decades of macro-economic stability, fiscal prudence and, until recently, consistent growth, the South African economy continues to be bedevilled by unsustainable levels of poverty, unemployment and inequality,” the Minister said.
Minister Gigaba said business can work with government, labour and civil society in forging a new, more equitable and sustainable future.
“From the perspective of our continuing effort to build a developmental state, it is important that we enlist you as partners in any economic project,” he said.
Topco Media, organiser of the Top 500 Awards, announced that the government publication, Public Sector Manager, is on board as category sponsor for the Best Managed Company in Media Award and Uzulu Business Solutions as a category sponsor for the Best Managed Company in Business Support Award.
Every year, Top 500 - South Africa's Best Managed Companies - profiles the top five companies in 100 business sectors. Together these make up the economy's lauded ‘Top 500'. These heavyweight companies have an annual combined turnover of over R3.5 trillion and comprise the vanguard of corporate South Africa.
Top 500 offers multiple touch points through an integrated marketing solution that speaks to executives at the highest level.
The awards narrow down the latest Top 500 publication's 500 qualifying companies into 62 award winners contesting 13 awards. – SAnews.gov.za
