Johnathan Paoli
THE Black Business Council (BBC) has commended President Cyril Ramaphosa for refusing to give the DA the position of Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition.
BBC CEO Kganki Matabane on Friday said the department housed all instruments responsible for transformation, including the Black Economic Empowerment commission, the Competition Commission, National Empower Fund, which needed to be protected.
“It will not make sense at all, for the department to fall under people who are 110% opposed to economic transformation and who will deliberately continue to exclude and derail the economic transformation agenda,” Matabane said.
Matabane further called on the President to expeditiously finalise the appointment of the Cabinet and announcement of his executive team to enable and allow the country to focus on decisively addressing the imbalances of the past.
He said the President had a responsibility to increase the persistently low rate of economic growth and tackle the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality, which have their roots in the Apartheid period, when the economy was deliberately structured as non-inclusive.
However, Matabane reiterated the council’s full support for Ramaphosa and said they would continue to work with him.
“The BBC fully comprehends the fact that this is an uncharted terrain and a watershed moment that needs cool and matured heads to safeguard the future of South Africa,” he said.
The CEO called on all progressive South Africans to work with the President in taking the country forward.
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