NEDLAC STATEMENT ON ARTICLE IN YESTERDAY'S SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

The National Economic Development and Labour Council would like to inform the media that the article carried in the Sunday Independent of 30 September 2001 headlined "Nedlac adds voice to calls for economic codesa as rand slides further" contains a number of serious inaccuracies.

Firstly, the journalist got hold of an unofficial discussion document (not a Nedlac document) which was written over a year ago. He then claims that the document represents a call which was made following the recent fall of the rand. This makes no sense whatsoever.

Secondly, the document is not a Nedlac document, it was one to which Phillip Dexter had contributed in his personal capacity. Concluding that Nedlac has made any call on the basis of this document is devoid of any truth.

Thirdly, the document does not call for an economic codesa. The Executive Director has never made such a call. Of course, Nedlac certainly recognises the need, on an ongoing basis, to discuss issues of national priority. This is captured in the Nedlac Summit declaration of September 2000, to which the document the journalist quotes was a forerunner.

Fourthly, the journalist was requested to send his article to the Executive Director to ensure that it was accurate. He made no such effort.

Jennifer Wilson
Communications Coordinator
Nedlac
(011) 482-2511
fax: 482 4650
083 652 8524 (note new number)