JOHANNESBURG, 13 FEBRUARY 2020 – Steel and Engineering Industries Federation
of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) Chief Executive Officer Kaizer Nyatsumba welcomed
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s undertakings to stimulate economic growth through
infrastructure investment and to crack down on the criminal syndicate that has been
confronting the construction industry and other sections of business.
Commenting on the President’s State of the Nation Address, Mr Nyatsumba said there
was a lot positive in the President’s speech, and the important thing now will be to ensure
that there is delivery on those plans.
“Our philosophy at SEIFSA has always been that the country needs a solid partnership
involving all important stakeholders, starting with the government, business and labour,
to advance the country’s interests. We are pleased that the President has explicitly
committed to that partnership,” Mr Nyatsumba said.
He said SEIFSA was particularly pleased with the President’s declaration that a task team
has been set up to target the “construction mafia” and all those who engaged in various
forms of economic disruption. Also, to be welcomed was the re-statement of the
commitment to fight corruption in all its forms and eliminate any remnants of state capture.
Mr Nyatsumba said the R700 billion infrastructure investment fund and the construction
of Umzimvubu Dam were likely to breathe life into the near-moribund construction sub-
sector, which forms an important part of the broader and more diverse metals and
engineering sector.
“We were encouraged by the President’s direct acknowledgement that the country finds
itself in a perilous state that requires all stakeholders to collaborate much more closely
than ever before. We at SEIFSA remain committed to working with the Government and
our labour partners, including on the finalization of the mooted Steel Master Plan,” Mr
Nyatsumba said.
Other aspects of President Ramaphosa’s speech that he welcomed were the commitment
to build a university of science and technology at Ekurhuleni, the commitment to make
public Ministers’ performance contracts once they have been signed, the commitment to
overhaul the Durban port, as well as the undertaking to enforce more rigorously
designation of South African manufactured products.
Ends
Issued by:
Ollie Madlala
Communications Consultant
Tel: (011) 298 9411 / 082 602 1725
Email: ollie@seifsa.co.za
Web: www.meindaba. seifsa.co.za
SEIFSA is a National Federation representing 21 independent employer Associations in
the metals and engineering industries, with a combined membership of 1600 companies
employing around 200 000 employees. The Federation was formed in 1943 and its
member companies range from giant steel-making corporations to micro-enterprises
employing fewer than 50 people.