Govt, business and labour to up partnership game in 2017

The partnership between civil society, labour, business and government that recently averted a near-downgrade of South Africa’s investment rating will “lift its game” next year to ensure that citizens start to experience change, according to Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. Speaking at a World Economic Forum (WEF) briefing on Tuesday, Gordhan noted that South Africa’s positive developments far outweighed the negative developments, adding that its political disconnect was mild compared with what he described as the “new, new normal” globally. He further noted that the country was nevertheless working collaboratively so that South Africans could feel the difference.