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News & Press: Media Statements

Mini-Budget Sentiment Welcomed but Strong Governance Needed Says IoDSA

Friday, 12 November 2021   (0 Comments)
Johannesburg - A strong unequivocal commitment to fiscal sustainability announced by the Finance Minister in his Medium-Term Budget statement is to be welcomed, but the decisive test is always seeing words put into action and for government not to waver from its stated path.

The Institute of Directors South Africa (IoDSA) says boardrooms around the country should welcome Minister Enoch Godongwana’s sentiments on long-term growth, narrowing the budget deficit and stabilising the worrying trend of rising debt.

Notes IoDSA, CEO Parmi Natesan, “In order for business to thrive in South Africa and confidence to increase, strong messages like this assist and go a long way to restoring confidence. However, promises without swift action are hollow and we now look forward to seeing how government plans to deal with the debt issue that remains at worryingly elevated levels. We are also buoyed by the Minister’s concerns over unemployment but again we need to see more detail on the solve.”

Natesan says a call for faster implementation of structural reforms to unlock greater private sector investment, economic growth and job creation is also a welcome move, particularly when it comes to private sector participation.

“Our members tell us their companies are prepared to act and participate more robustly if over-regulation and red tape are reduced which would then create a smoother and more efficient operating environment.”

Natesan says a critical aspect of big infrastructure spend is fiscal accountability.

“Big capital projects always carry high potential for fraud and malfeasance. Now more than ever we need the right governance protocols in place and then implemented without fear or favour to make sure allocated funding is responsibly managed and accounted for.”

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