Chamber challenges ANC

The ruling ANC should use the renewed mandate it received at last week’s general elections to form a government that serves all South Africans, regardless of who they voted for, said the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) yesterday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC extended its 25-year grip on power in the May 8 polls, although its share of the vote dipped.

Analysts largely attributed the reduction in support to anger over allegations of corruption implicating senior government officials and executives at stateowned companies under the leadership of former president Jacob Zuma, who has however denied graft charges against him.

In a statement, Sacci CEO Alan Mukoki urged Ramaphosa to appoint a team of skilled, experienced and dedicated ministers and government officials.

“Sacci recommends the appointment of officials who are free of any taint of corruption or nonperformance.

“This and this alone will help to boost the confidence of business in the new government,” he

said. “An increased business confidence level is among the most important foundations of a growth in an economy.

“It is when business confidence is high that immediate decisions are made to work hand in hand with government and all other stakeholders to grow the local economy.”

He said businesses would not hesitate to make short-, mediumand long-term investment decisions that created economic growth and jobs, but only if they had confidence in the government. – ANA

Increased business confidence level is important