This era requires extraordinary, selfless leadership, characterised by a keen interest in uniting South Africans towards a common goal, with the objective of not only sustaining the economy, but ensuring it grows and benefits all. Leadership in both business and civil society must have that objective.
Our economy has not performed as we envisaged, and the recent vandalism and destruction of infrastructure will further increase the burden. We have to rebuild in an inclusive manner where a community participation framework is required that ensures business and communities take ownership of the instruments that drive the economy.
Civil society needs to focus our communities on things that unite us and cultivate an environment for the youth to work together in rebuilding our economy. Government and business leaders must come up with a different framework, one that creates an environment where both business and local communities benefit in real terms on investments made in their communities.
Consultations with local communities on what will be developed is required from leadership. This will enable communities to organise participation in the proposed development. They should be encouraged to form partnerships to participate in the economy. The conversation should go beyond creating local jobs – it must be about creating job creators in townships and rural areas. An ownership framework is required.
Inclusive rebuild programmes must ensure communities participate in the economy.
For example, people must be encouraged to be part of the supply chain where they produce and supply to malls and shopping centres. People will not only support these businesses, but will also feel as though they partly own the businesses.
We should have three priorities in resuscitating the economy:
- Entrepreneurship and SMME participation in rebuilding key infrastructure affected by the protest action. The government and business sector should prioritise training and development of the skills required by the industry to create sustainable jobs and economic growth. The funding model or framework to sustain operations/start-up capital should be part of a package to support small businesses in real terms.
- The government needs to improve safety and security to enable businesses to operate in a predictable and stable environment. Increasing investor confidence will attract large investments to create sustainable jobs and stimulate economic growth.
- Encourage the established small-scale retail within townships and rural areas, and couple this with skills development – particularly for local manufacturing and services that come from local communities.
We have to increase the safety and security of supply chains. We have to look at infrastructure development focusing on new routes and increasing the use of rail. The retail sector has been mostly affected, which tampers with food security. There are potentially massive job losses which will have a major impact on communities that depend on these jobs. There is an opportunity to create new jobs through an infrastructure rebuild programme that uses local; and lastly, the government and business should do a skills audit around the necessary skills.