Call to tone down as SA welcomes Moody’s

THE government and business have called for a truce on making public statements that undermine confidence in the country.

The appeal comes as SA prepares to welcome a delegation from Moody’s Investors Service this week and as AngloGold Ashanti chairman Sipho Pityana has upped the ante on his criticism of the government, while the Black Business Council has backed the current administration.

President Jacob Zuma led the charge on Friday when he asked for an end to negative engagements. Business Unity SA president and Telkom chairman Jabu Mabuza heeded the appeal and said uncomfortable conversations about the country would happen behind closed doors.

At a meeting of the Presidential CEO Initiative, Zuma said an agreement had been reached to “refrain from public utterances that promote a negative narrative about the country and undermine confidence in the country”.

Mabuza said: “We undertake that we will govern our people and ask everybody to please check your language. If there is a difference, please close the door and differ inside the house.”

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and labour federations Cosatu, the Federation of Unions of SA and National Council of Trade Unions were present at the meeting, at which Zuma announced the successor to the youth wage subsidy.

Stakeholders have reached an in-principle agreement to replace the Employment Tax Incentive, which expires in December, with a broader youth unemployment scheme that aims to create 1-million internships over three years.

The incentive scheme could cost about R15bn and will offer interns a R3,000 stipend.