This morning kicked off with some warm introductions and the Minister's Speech. Although there was some speculation related to whether or not Minister Zwane would give the speech, he did in fact arrive and deliver it. Our team of experts attended the speech and we have sat together to mull over it and consider what this speech is likely to mean for the industry - what it said, what it failed to say and perhaps what it could have said.
We have created some media content for possible use by you:
A video of Jonathan Veeran's views on today's speech as well as a transcription of his views. Click
here for the video and
here for a transcription.
A copy of the Minister's speech is available
here.
A collection of captioned photographs from the first speakers this morning - including the Minister - is available
here.
Insights from
Rashaad Carrim - "The political landscape in South Africa is changing, but politics in this context is not a fast-moving creature, and thankfully so. Perhaps the approach of Cyril Ramaphosa in the current landscape is replicating the process adopted at CODESA in the early 90s - chipping away slowly and working towards a negotiated settlement - which was of course an effective long-term strategy in that instance. We are hoping that what, on the face of it, may seem to be a dragging of heels, is in fact a measured strategy towards achieving long-term positive change in the industry by the new leadership. Although the Minister's speech stayed within fairly factual, banal parameters and was primarily retrospective, it would be remiss to expect someone in as tenuous a position as the Minister’s to say much more. We could perhaps even take some comfort in his saying less - had he made bolder, more committed statements, stakeholders would not have placed any reliance on it in any event."
Insights from
Johan Olivier - "The Minister's reference in his speech to zero harm in health & safety by 2024 is an unrealistic objective in an inherently dangerous industry. Let's give real measures we can achieve."
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