ATT: THE EDITOR – BUSINESS DAY
YOUR EDITION MONDAY 31^st AUGUST 2015

It is refreshing to hear government at last stating that they hear everybody saying that they are not running the country properly and that they are not running the economy properly.  Furthermore, President Zuma has said it is for the private sector to run the economy and not government.  The statement is correct but it is also true that government has to create a conducive environment for the business sector to enable itself to play its part.  If there is negative legislation and onerous regulations the private sector shrink away faster than an anemone.  Furthermore if the government has actually come to the realisation that they do not create jobs and that they should not be trying to run the economy then why, in the same speech, has President Zuma again said “reducing labour….so that you maintain profit margins – is that the way to go”, again I don’t think the reality of the situation has sunk in.  On the one hand our government says that they are not running the economy but on the other hand they are trying to handcuff the business community to suit their political ends.  The situation is that we do in fact have a “sick”  economy and if government keeps applying the “wrong medication” it will not produce a cure.  We all understand that it is not business as usual and that the business community is reluctant to reinvest in their own businesses because of the sick environment presented to them by our government who just can’t see their way clear to allow the business community to get on with the job and to create wealth for all.

Michael Bagraim