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Strategic Dialogue Group (SDG) and Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) held a successful interactive dialogue session which emphasised a need to move public discourse towards practical solutions and actions that can rescue state owned entities (SOEs). Such interventions should ultimately ensure SOEs play their intended transformative roles in society. The report of proceedings of this session is now available.

An overriding theme emerging from the dialogue was that social compacting is inevitable if South Africa is to realise lasting solutions with benefits for communities. “We are joined at the hip, now let’s stop pulling in different directions as government, business, labour and civil society,” is the strong message emerging from the past weekend’s half-day dialogue.

The opening address was delivered by Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr David Masondo, followed by commentaries from a panel and an interactive dialogue with attendees. Panel members were:

  • Popo Molefe, Chairperson of the Transnet Board;
  • Zingiswa Losi, President of COSATU;
  • Dipak Patel, Special Advisor to the Minister of Public Enterprises;
  • Henk Langenhoven, Chief Economist at the Minerals Council; and
  • Khaya Sithole, an independent analyst and academic.