SA
Pravin Gordhan calls for active citizenship
South Africa is in the midst of an extensive process of rebuilding, and all its citizens need to find ways to make a difference rather than watching passively from the sidelines.
OWN CORRESPONDENT
This was one of the key messages conveyed by Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan at a briefing for Jewish business leaders held in Johannesburg on Tuesday evening.
A range of leaders – including the chief executives of public companies – attended the event, which was organised by the South Africa Jewish Board of Deputies as part of its #MakeUsCount pre-election awareness campaign.
Gordhan acknowledged that the rebuilding process would take a long time, but assured his audience that every effort was being made to implement good governance and infrastructure development through the public service in order to get South Africa working again.
He commended prominent Jewish community members who had come forward in response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s “Thuma Mina” call, one of whom now lives in London but had been coming through on a regular basis to assist in getting Eskom back on its feet.
On presenting the minister with a chanukiah at the conclusion of the evening, SAJBD Vice-President Zev Krengel quipped that it symbolised the hope that the lights would continue to burn in South Africa as well.