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Zuma: SA must work harder in 2016 and create more jobs

Zuma has been criticised for destabilising the economy after replacing Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister with a relatively unknown ANC backbencher. Lobbying from big business and party insiders allegedly forced Zuma to back track and reappoint Pravin Gordhan to the position, after he too had been pushed aside in 2014.

Cognisant of local elections around the corner, Zuma pledged to “build a South Africa where economic opportunities increase for all and not just a few”.

“The pursuit of economic transformation will continue,” he said.

“We have to work further in 2016 to achieve broader and more meaningful black economic empowerment and participation in the economy,” said Zuma.

Zuma said government we will explore opportunities in agriculture, mining, small business development, energy, growing the country’s ocean economy, transport, water and sanitation and telecommunications.

“We will also work further to improve the functioning, performance and governance of state owned companies,” he said.

“We will continue stabilising the labour market, and to pursue agreement on the national minimum wage.”

Gordhan’s budget speech in the first week of May is expected to give more direction on the country’s economic framework going forward.