Ramaphosa says he’s ready to steer country out of turbulence

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa made it clear he is ready to steer the country and the ANC out of its current turbulence.

Addressing the Gibs Forum at the Gordon Institute of Business Science in Johannesburg yesterday, Ramaphosa urged business and investors not to be ‘scared’ of radical economic transformation as it is not a radical revolution but an acceleration of the current transformation of the country’s economy to benefit all.

“It does not represent a new uncertain path. Radical economic transformation indicates a new phase of accelerated implementation of the long-standing economic policy positions of the ANC and government,” he said.

“The addition of the word ‘radical’ in our economic transformation approach is not a smash and grab or a radical revolution. Radical economic transformation should not scare us – we want an economic transformation that will bring stability in our country,” Ramaphosa said.

He lambasted those who used the radical economic transformation concept to opportunistically cement their radical credentials rather than achieve meaningful change in the lives of the poor.

Ramaphosa urged South Africans to work towards a shared growth and future to ensure the country became a winning nation where everybody would be happy.

He likened the country’s current political problems to a plane that went through some turbulence but would reach its destination.

“Nobody comes into a plane thinking it will crash. Even in turbulence it will reach stability and will reach its destination.

“We are going through turbulence, we will turn the corner. The signs are there,” he said.

In apparent reference to his own aspirations to achieve the ANC and the country’s presidencies, Ramaphosa said that, at times, a plane would be unstable in the skies because the pilot was tired and the co-pilot had to take over from him to steer it back on course.

“It is designed like a bird; it flies and it does not just fall down,” he said.

The deputy president said the country must engage in consensus-building.

On the controversial Mining Charter allegedly drafted to accommodate immigrants such as the Guptas, he said all stakeholders must come together and agree on a consensus.

“The mining sector has to transform but we must agree how we move forward our shared future.”

On investment, he said the country needed to make the country attractive to investors.

“As key players in the world economy we need to do this,” Ramaphosa said.

– ericn@citizen.co.za