Phosa gives notice of big change

Expect a number of structural, policy and management changes to be announced in the next month or two, ANC treasurer-general Mathews Phosa said yesterday.

Phosa, in a speech prepared for delivery at the Global Emerging Markets Summit in London, said president-elect "´Jacob Zuma's government would focus on providing services that would accelerate socio-economic transformation in South Africa.

"It is safe to say that you can expect the government of president-elect Jacob Zuma to focus its attention, policies and delivery on providing a bouquet of health, education, housing and infrastructure services to accelerate socio-economic transformation in South Africa," Phosa said.

"To ensure that this agenda is elevated to national priority you can expect a number of structural, policy and management changes.

"Systems that have not been functional will be changed and creative methods will be sought to shorten the channel between policy and delivery."

Phosa "wanted to make it very clear" that the ANC-led government would not change the constitution "as if it is our own private property".

"The constitution of South Africa belongs to all South Africans," he said.

"We have no intention of making it a political plaything."

He appealed for greater access to credit for Africa, saying the International Monetary Fund had predicted a growth rate of two percent for Africa against contractions of 1.3 percent for the globe and four percent for the Eurozone.

"As a businessman that, in my mind, spells opportunity.

"If we achieve success by positively stimulating the economy through improved access to credit here and internationally, major opportunities can be created in the short and medium term while the economic pendulum starts its upswing."

South Africa is looking for partnerships with its international friends and partners to seize the opportunities available in South Africa, he said.

"If the incoming Zuma administration were to create opportunities for investors in the health, education, housing, infrastructure, commodities, energy and resources industries, it would beg for partnerships between our own companies and those in Europe and across the globe which are looking for profitable partnerships with South Africa. The incoming president will verbalise his own economic policies in consultation with his (advisers)."

South Africa's conservative fiscal and monetary policies will, however, remain in place.

Phosa promised an era of good governance and sound macro-economic policies, warning against pessimism. - Sapa

Published in The Mercury April 30, 2009 Edition 1 Page 2