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

9 November 2002

A successful 7th Annual NEDLAC Summit was held in Sandton today. The theme of the Summit was "Sustainable Development, a Platform for Growth" and the Summit focused on how the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development could form a sound platform for global sustainable development that can contribute to economic growth, job creation and decent work for all, greater social equity and the protection of the environment.

Nedlac's Annual Summit provides an opportunity for the constituencies of Labour, Business, Government and Community to reflect on the past year and to plan for the period ahead. Today's Summit was chaired by Deputy President Jacob Zuma, who reminded the meeting that he had, on a number of occasions, expressed the need for government, labour, business and the community sector to form a social compact. "I am therefore pleased to note that this resolve has come to fruition with the impending Growth and Development Summit next year," said Deputy President Zuma.  

The Summit was attended by 300 senior delegates from Nedlac's four constituencies, as well as a number of guests from Parliamentary Committees, other statutory bodies, NGOs, Provincial and local governments, foreign embassies and other socio-economic councils.  

Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana, commended Nedlac on the continued successes of the institution. He noted the numerous gains that had been made and the increased level of activity within all the Nedlac Chambers. The Minister 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.

Chairman of Business South Africa, Attie du Plessis, emphasised the unity that organized 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-operating of the Black Business Council and BSA would ensure that business participates more vigorously and effectively in Nedlac.

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"

Executive Director of Nedlac, Phillip Dexter, in his report to the Summit, highlighted the increase in activity at Nedlac in the past year. He thanked the constituencies for their commitment to the institution, without which nothing could be achieved.

The Summit agreed on a declaration which commits the Nedlac constituencies to making every effort to seek consensus on solutions to a number of strategic issues to meet the major socio-economic challenges facing the country. These include job creation, investment, economic growth, black economic empowerment, poverty alleviation, combating HIV/AIDS, the social dimensions of globalisation and taking up the challenges and opportunities arising from NEPAD and the AU. Vehicles for achieving this consensus would include the Growth and Development Summit, Sector Summits, an agreement on a comprehensive strategy for combating HIV/AIDS and the proposed partnership with the International Labour Organisation.

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

• Social Security;
• Nepad and the African Union;
• Investment, Sector Strategies and Partnerships; and
• The ILO Commission on the Social Dimensions of Globalisation.

Issued by Nedlac
9 November 2002

Enquiries: Jennifer Wilson
083 652 8524