'We need to reconfirm with govt that emerges that they're committed to business partnership'

On the eve of Wednesday's critical election, Business Leadership SA (BLSA) warned that business would withdraw from its partnership with government if a future coalition includes partners who push for nationalisation and new taxes.

Busi Mavuso, CEO of BLSA, told News24 that they are not going to support an administration 'that is touting policies of mass economic destruction'.

The public-private partnership is helmed by Business for South Africa (B4SA), an alliance of business leaders and other social partners working with the state to address bottlenecks impacting economic growth and social development in the country.

On The Money Show, B4SA chairperson Martin Kingston says he doesn't disagree with Mavuso's statement 'at all'.

Kingston notes that she is on their steering committee and that the membership of BLSA is fully involved in their work with government.

"What I believe she is saying is that we need to ensure that a subsequent Cabinet and administration that is formed... is as committed as it has been to date to structural reform, to the design and implementation of interventions that are going to address the challenges around energy, transport and logistics, and crime and corruption."

"And, if they're not, obviously we can't collaborate with them. We've mobilised some very significant amounts of resources... and if that commitment carries on we will redouble our efforts."

Martin Kingston, Chair - Business for South Africa

While he does not anticipate this will be the case, Kingston says If there's a business-unfriendly approach in the context of the policies that are adopted, then business will not collaborate.

"The ANC has been absolutely clear in our engagements with them that it wants to carry on this process, but we've also made it equally clear that we're not propping up the ANC or any other political party - we're working with the government of the day."

Kingston, Chair - Business for South Africa