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We welcome the:
• Focus on the economy, infrastructure development, service delivery and education. In particular we welcome the:
• Planned infrastructure development that will facilitate the movement of coal and other minerals to our ports and global markets that has long been a hindrance.
• Presidential summit on infrastructure as an acknowledgment that government needs to engage stakeholders.
• Focus on higher growth and job creation to reduce and ultimately eradicate poverty and inequality.
• Continued focus on reducing unemployment. However, although 365000 people were employed in 2011 the average target of 500 000 per year was not achieved.
• Announcement that investments to the value of R8,4 bn rand were approved as part of the incentives under Section 12(i) of the Income Tax Act, designed to support new industrial projects and manufacturing.
• Allocation of R1.5bn of the R10 bn jobs fund administered by the IDC which was allocated to sixty companies to create jobs.
• Reduction of port charges with a potential R1bn saving to business
• Attention to mitigation of future electricity tariff increases and seeking ways of alleviating pressure on business
• Call on teachers to ensure dedication to service and the renewed focus on maths and science teaching
• R1bn guarantee fund to promote access to home finance

We would have like to have seen more on:
• Easing the plight of small business by reducing regulatory bottlenecks and red tape in order to reduce the cost of doing business and thereby stimulating job creation.
• Details on Government’s outlook on industrialisation.
• New job creation and support measures to enable businesses to create more jobs although report back on existing programmes was appreciated.
• Practical plans to improve the education system and facilitate greater access to useful skills for business.
• Improved crime and corruption prevention strategies, especially regarding crimes against businesses.
• Reassurance to foreign and domestic investors on economic stability specifically relating to concerns on Nationalisation.
• Outcomes of the Presidential performance monitoring system and feedback on the performance management system for government officials.