Cape Town – South Africa is going through a difficult period which requires unity and common purpose from leaders of all sectors to help build confidence in the economy, President Jacob Zuma said today.
“It is a period of focusing on solutions and of working together to solve our problems. It is the time of counting our achievements and our blessings as a nation,” he said, while presenting his Reply to the debate on the Presidency's Budget Vote in the National Assembly.
Zuma said the National Treasury reported that the mining strikes of last year subtracted 50 basis points from growth and an additional 30 basis points from growth in the current year.
He said if it was not for the mining strikes, the economy could have created more than 57 000 jobs.
While the sector, which accounts for 60% of the value of South Africa’s exports, had recorded some recovery in the first quarter of this year, the sector is still performing poorly, he said.
Deputy Minister Kgalema Motlanthe would meet mining stakeholders tomorrow and Zuma said he was encouraged by the seriousness with which the industry takes the intervention.
“The fact is that markets were very volatile on the day of the media briefing on the economy,” he said.
Zuma said the rand’s weakness is a natural result of a surging dollar and lower commodities, while domestic labour unrest and the lower than expected gross domestic product (GDP) figures would also have had an effect.
“The bottom line is that we should exercise caution when dealing with such matters and avoid uninformed or loose talk that may exacerbate the situation,” he cautioned.
He said the National Development Plan (NDP) enjoyed the support of Parliament and other sectors of society. “Very few policy documents have ever enjoyed such wide-spread support. All plans of government departments, municipalities and provincial governments would be aligned with the NDP,” he said.
Zuma announced the re-opening of the lodgement of land claims, in the State of the Nation Address, for those who did not claim during the first window of opportunity.
He said the cabinet approved the Restitution Amendment Bill for public comment, which will assist those who missed the 1998 cut-off date.
Consultations will be undertaken with regards to the 1913 cut-off date for the descendants of the Khoi and San, the heritage sites and historic landmarks.
Zuma said on August 17, the Department of Sports and Recreation and Arts and Culture will host the Inaugural Nelson Mandela Sports Day in Johannesburg.
The Springboks and Bafana Bafana will share the field in taking on foreign opponents and the event will be followed by a cultural diversity International Concert.
“The event is part of celebrating the legacy of Madiba. It will also promote nation building, reconciliation and patriotism,” said Zuma. – SAnews.gov.za
