NEDLAC SUMMIT PAVES THE WAY FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT IN 2003

Keynote speeches at Nedlac's 7th Annual Summit, and the commissions that followed the plenary session, all fed into the theme of building on the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, so as to form a bridge to the Growth Summit to be held early in 2003.

In his address, the Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdadlana urged the Nedlac constituencies to encourage and monitor how social partners contribute to the implementation of the agreements reached at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. "Achieving sustainable development requires that social partners pull together, through social dialogue, to face the challenges of enormous burdens of poverty and inequality, slow economic growth, and the lack of adequate employment creation, which are a reality in our country", said Minister Mdladlana.

Speaking on behalf of the Community Constituency, Ruth Ntshulana-Bhengu, Deputy President of the South African National Civics Organisation, SANCO, called on all sectors of society to play a role in sustainable development. She mentioned the corporate sector, Black Economic Empowerment groups, women and youth in particular.

Business unity

Chairman of Business South Africa, Attie du Plessis, emphasised the unity that organised business in South Africa is working towards. "In future, we will not speak of them and us", he said, referring to Business South Africa and Nafcoc, "but to us." He said that he was certain that the future unification and current co-operation of the Black Business Council and BSA would ensure that business participates more vigorously and effectively in Nedlac.

Labour upbeat

Labour's speech illustrated the challenges facing South Africa in tackling economic and social problems of poverty, unemployment and inequality. However, General Secretary of Cosatu, Zwelinzima Vavi was upbeat on the prospects for the country's leadership, as represented by Nedlac, to "shape a new destiny for our people". He congratulated government for its sensitivity with regards to recent decisions around HIV/AIDS, inflation targeting, food prices and modest growth of the budget, "demonstrating its willingness to modify its position in the face of adverse conditions"

The Summit included four commissions, where delegates were able to debate in more detail issues related to the Summit theme.

The issue of the Basic Income Grant was hotly debated in the Commission on Social Security, which was addressed by the General Secretary of SATAWU, Randall Howard, and the Deputy Director-General of the Social Development Department, Fezile Makiwane. General-Secretary of Fedusa, Chez Milani, was the chairperson.

The perennial problem of defining good governance, and the current hot topic of the "peer review" were some of the issues discussed at the Commission on Nepad and the African Union, where General Secretary of NACTU, Cunningham Ngcukana and Sipho Masuku of the South African Youth Council led the discussion along with Dr Pandelani Matoma of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Discussion also centred around how Nedlac could play a part in ensuring that civil society plays a bigger role in other African countries.

Mr Tayo Fashoyin, of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation, based in Geneva, (part of the International Labour Organisation) flew in to address the Commission on globalisation. He was accompanied by Lord Brett, Chairperson of the Governing Body of the ILO, and former Chairperson of the Workers' group of the ILO Governing Body. Respondents on behalf of labour and business were General Secretary of Cosatu, Zwelinzima Vavi and Nedlac Labour Market Chamber convenor, Vic van Vuuren.

The commission on Investment, Sector Strategies and Partnerships discussed the sector focus that is now the hallmark of industrial policy, particularly in the Integrated Manufacturing Strategy, which was debated at Nedlac this year. The Director-General of the Department of Trade and Industry, Dr Alistair Ruiters, briefed the commission on how the dti was being restructured in order to accommodate this sector focus.

"Achieving sustainable development requires that social partners pull together, through social dialogue, to face the challenges of enormous burdens of poverty and inequality, slow economic growth, and the lack of adequate employment creation, which are a reality in our country", said Minister Mdladlana.