Ramaphosa: Partnerships deliver outcomes

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says partnerships and collaborations have resulted in green shoots for the country in key government programmes.

He said this when participating in a debate on The Presidency’s Budget Vote in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Dedicating his speech to demonstrating how partnerships are effective in modern day governance, the Deputy President said working together in various endeavours of social and economic interaction has become the new norm around the world.

He said leaders and policymakers who ignore this tried and tested approach to addressing and resolving problems “do so at the peril of preventing societies from moving to higher levels of progress and development”.

“I have seen over the past year how working together can achieve great outcomes on a number of issues where positive outcomes were thought to be impossible.

“Positive outcomes can be achieved if we draw on the energies of all stakeholders to address the challenges that face our people, be they how to grow an inclusive economy, build skills and capabilities, enhance the capacity of the state and promote leadership and partnerships throughout society.

“It can be done, but only if we forge new ways of working together that involve all South Africans in a common struggle to fundamentally transform our economy and our society,” he said. The Deputy President cited a few examples where new partnerships have resulted in new initiatives, creating the space for collective effort.

This includes the collaboration between social partners in coming up with the R3 500 National Minimum Wage in February this year following two years of consultation.

“Earlier this year, the social partners at Nedlac [National Economic Development and Labour Council] reached a historic agreement on labour stability and the introduction of a national minimum wage.

“Many of us thought the differences between the social partners – particularly a militant labour component and a business class whose main focus is profit – would stand in the way of reaching agreement.

“Following two years of intensive engagement between government, labour, business and the community sector, an agreement was reached,” he said.

The Deputy President said even though social partners at times differed in opinion and position, they all remained committed to an outcome that would be in the best interest of the country.

“Although they were representing the interests of their respective constituencies and although they fought vigorously to protect those interests, they were all keenly aware that over and above everything else, they had to represent the collective interests of the people of South Africa,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za