S.Africa’s Zuma says will make jobs a priority
September 27th, 2008 | by admin |JOHANNESBURG, Sept 27 (Reuters) - ANC leader Jacob Zuma toldCommunist party allies on Saturday his party would work withSouth African business and unions to boost the economy and thatjob creation would be a priority.
Zuma, frontrunner to win a presidential election due nextyear, also said that while the ruling African National Congresswould seek much-needed foreign and domestic investment, it wouldnot compromise the rights of workers and the poor.
“We have made it clear that the creation of decent workopportunities will be a primary focus of our economic policy,”Zuma said in a speech to the South African Communist Party(SACP), which wants him to steer South Africa to the left.
“We will continue to work with business and labour to builda vibrant, resilient and sustainable economy.”
Kgalema Motlanthe was appointed this week as interimpresident after the ANC forced Thabo Mbeki to resign in SouthAfrica’s biggest political upheaval since the end of apartheid.Zuma is expected to take over after elections next year.
Some investors are worried the ANC’s Communist and tradeunion allies will pressure the government to tilt away fromMbeki’s pro-business policies, although Motlanthe quicklypledged continuity on the economic front.
In a move to reassure investors rattled by the crisis, hereappointed respected Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, whoseresignation on Tuesday hit the rand currency and stocks.
While investors want fiscal discipline, unions and theCommunist Party are pressing for more government spending toease the poverty of millions of blacks, something Zuma haspromised to do.
Mbeki’s failure to bring the fruits of black majority ruleto the poor was a leading cause of his unpopularity with theleftist ANC backers of Zuma, his long term rival. (Reporting by Phakamisa Ndzamela; Writing by Rebecca Harrison;Editing by Angus MacSwan)
