tion and add further value to our mineral wealth. For too
implementation of Operation Phakisa, which aims to grow the
long our mineral wealth has been extracted from the
ocean economy and other sectors.
bowels of the earth only to depart our shores without adding any further benefit.
We are confident that these interventions will bear fruit and will bring real and meaningful change to the people of South Africa
The plan also pushes for the more effective imple-
For centuries the question of land has beset our nation. Our
mentation of the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP).
history of dispossession is a painful one and the wrongs of the
IPAP is based on the need for sustainable, long-term
past have not yet been fully redressed. Last year government
development that is underpinned by higher growth in
reopened the second window of opportunity for the lodgement
exports and labour-intensive, value-adding economic
of land claims.
activity in the production sectors, led by manufacturing.
President Zuma indicated that more than 36 000 land claims
A central pillar of the plan is to boost the role of state-
have been lodged nationally thus far with the cut off date for
owned companies. Coupled to this is the realisation
claims 2019. Through the Land Reform Programme, more than
that there must be greater state reform. We must find
90 000 hectares of land have been allocated to small holder farm-
ways to work smarter so that we deliver faster to the
ers, farm dwellers and labour tenants.
people of South Africa.
During the SoNA, the President detailed countless other achieve-
Notably, the plan also identifies the need to encour-
ments and plans. I invite you to read the full speech (at http://
age private sector investment. Government cannot
www.gov.za/president-jacob-zuma-state-nation-address-2015) to
move South Africa forward on its own; our partners
become better acquainted with the interventions that will move
in the private sector must do more to create jobs and
South Africa forward.
foster faster economic growth. Related to this goal, the
However, the SoNA is not just about mere words. Ultimately,
plan recognises that more must be done to moderate
it’s a barometer of the state of our nation. South Africa, for all its
workplace conflict.
challenges, is steadily moving forward. Since 1994 the lives of mil-
A crucial aspect of the plan is to boost small business. Throughout South Africa there are countless en-
lions have changed for the better, and we continue to the fight to ensure a better and more prosperous life for all.
trepreneurs who have the potential to turn growing
We have made strides as reflected in the Quarterly Labour Force
enterprises into sustainable businesses. Government
Survey for the last quarter of 2014. “The report shows that there are
recognises that we must do more to unlock the poten-
now 15.3 million people who are employed in South Africa. Jobs
tial of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs),
grew by two hundred and three thousand,” said President Zuma.
cooperatives, township and rural enterprises. If we are to move South Africa forward our technol-
He also announced that government was poised to meet the annual target of a million job opportunities.
ogy must keep pace with a fast moving world. The
“We have thus far created more than 850 000 work opportunities.”
plan therefore calls for a sustained roll-out of broad-
Although these figures are encouraging there is still a need to do
band, which will facilitate greater economic and social
more. The triple threat of poverty, inequality and unemployment
growth.
still looms large and must be defeated if we are to move South
The final two legs of the plan are ensuring water, sanitation and transport infrastructure and the further
Public Sector Manager • March 2015
Africa forward. In this regard we all have a role to play, together we can build the nation of our collective dreams.
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