- Kgalema Motlanthe, former President of South Africa, spoke to CDE’s executive director Ann Bernstein about South Africa in the next five years.
- President Motlanthe said the ANC leadership now accepts that unless they do something about the current trajectory, there is no doubt that they will lose the elections, and eventually become irrelevant in South African politics.
- He explained that under Zuma’s leadership other senior ANC members could offer advice and criticism, but without effect. Zuma would always do what his benefactors wanted him to do.
- To build a better future, he argued, it is vital give people more opportunities to start companies that can grow. The only way to reduce poverty is to permit people to work.
- He expressed concern about the way small employers are compelled to abide by wage agreements made by big employers and big unions. He believes the Labour Relations Act should be amended to exempt small employers from those agreements.
- He sees our education system as a big barrier to growth and inclusion and called for it to be fixed. He also claimed that it will be hard to grow the economy unless we raise our artisanal skills.
