The government of national unity (GNU) is set to hold an economic indaba within the next two weeks as it seeks to ease tension among partners and restore policy confidence.
Tourism minister Patricia de Lille said ministers in the GNU will present their respective departments’ economic plans to reverse sluggish growth, at the indaba.
“When it comes to the economy, every single minister has got a responsibility to add to the growth of the economy. So I’m here as the minister of tourism, and this is tourism’s contribution towards economic growth.
“So we need to see the same from the minister of agriculture [John Steenhuisen]. We need to see the same from the minister of [public works &] infrastructure. We cannot just look at National Treasury to grow the economy. We all have got a responsibility,” she said on Tuesday ahead of the Tourism Investment Summit.
“I welcome the economic indaba that’s taking place in two weeks’ time ... the GNU must begin to show us that we are working together to grow the economy.”
The meeting comes after second-quarter GDP surprised to the upside, with growth of 0.8% driven by manufacturing and mining. Growth remains fragile, with unemployment above 33% and power and logistics bottlenecks weighing on business confidence.
A poll released by global market research firm Ipsos in September, measuring public sentiment towards the GNU since its formation in mid-2024 to the end of April 2025, showed a decline. Sentiment that the country was heading in the right direction, which rose to 36%-40% in the initial months of the GNU from July 2024, has dropped consistently since.
“As ministers, we are individually and collectively responsible for governing this country. And I hope we can get past the grandstanding and we know that our people are watching us. People are watching the GNU,” De Lille said.
“I’m really hoping that after one year in the GNU we can now reach that level of maturity where we take joint responsibility.”
Meanwhile, De Lille said her department plans to oppose the court action brought by board members of SA Tourism after their dismissal last week.
Board members approached the high court in Johannesburg seeking a reversal of De Lille’s decision to dissolve the board. The minister accuses the board of irregularly convening a meeting in August to appoint a chair after the resignation of Gregory Davids from the position.
“Well, it is their right to go for legal action. I actually welcome it, because if there are different interpretations of the law, it is only a court of law and a judge that can decide that,” De Lille said. “The matter is sub judice; we filed papers last week Friday to oppose, and so now the law must take its course.”
Update: September 9 2025
This story has more information.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.