CEO: Sibanye-Stillwater
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Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman says South Africa’s new Government of National Unity (GNU) must bring meaningful change if it is to enjoy continued support from business.
“If the Government of National Unity really treats everybody fairly, businesses will continue to be supportive and should be supportive. If the [new] government does not do that, I’m not sure that business can carry on, even in a government of national unity, because we need change,” said Froneman.
Froneman also heads up the crime and corruption workstream – one of eight formed between Government and the private sector a year ago to help solve critical problems in SA.
“If you don’t structure the government of national unity in a way that government can become more effective, start building capacity, I’m not sure why business should continue to try and drive those work streams,” Froneman said on 25 June.
His comments, made at the London Indaba, come as SA anxiously awaits for President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce his new Cabinet amid tough negotiations with GNU participants, especially the business-friendly DA.
Froneman has not been one to mince his words over South Africa’s shortcomings as an investment destination and on 25 June said he remains critical of what the ANC-led government has done to the country.
“That’s there for everybody to see. It’s unacceptable. The corruption is unacceptable. The destruction of capacity within government is even more obvious,” he said.
“And I can tell you, a change in the election [outcome] hasn’t changed my view… There’s a turning point now – we’re on a knife-edge… South Africa can still go very left or on the right path. So we’re at a critical juncture.”
