VIDEO: Black Management Forum takes on Gauteng budget

SANDTON - The Black Management Forum Sandton branch hosted Gauteng MEC Barbra Creecy at the Holiday Inn in Sandton recently to discuss the Gauteng budget.

March 16, 2015

Gugu Zwane 1 minute read

Take advantage of the change… Gauteng MEC Barbra Creecy speaks about the Gauteng budget at the Holiday Inn in Sandton.

Chairperson of the forum Langa Manqele said the forum is part of the social forces that seek a final and an equitable resolution of the apartheid’s social and economic legacy. The forum is a non-racial, thought leadership organisation with the main purpose of influencing socio-economic transformation in South Africa, in pursuit of socio-economic justice, fairness and equity.

Manqele explained the forum’s interest in the Gauteng budget and said, “We take cognizance of various decisions taken by political parties and other interest groups on economic issues, specifically those for or against economic transformation.”

Creecy spoke about the budget and encouraged the forum to take advantage of the high growth rate in Africa. “You have to be part of the challenge and take the initiative as well,” she said. “It isn’t going to be easy, there is going to be a lot of work before we see the fruits of our labour, but we need to do the work now before it is too late.”

Manqele said the forum is particularly happy to see the synergy, continuity and coherence of policy unambiguously translating into Gauteng government’s economic policy and budget priorities.

However, Manqele also pointed out one of the forum’s concerns about the budget and the challenges the budget faces. “I wish to pause and reflect on the central challenge in achieving the envisaged 30 percent spend on township enterprises and on black suppliers in general,” explained Manqele.

Creecy said as part of impacting economic change, it was important to take advantage of the opportunities available. “We, the government, are also trying to rise to the challenge, to put in the effort and take the initiative,” she said.

Watch this video of Gauteng MEC Barbra Creecy speaking at the Holiday Inn in Sandton during a Black Management Forum Sandton Branch Gauteng budget talk: