KHAYA SITHOLE: DA faces GNU conundrum: to stay or go
Party’s departure from coalition opens the door to ‘doomsday coalition’
The relationship between big business and politics is one of the most difficult minefields to manage — especially in SA. Business leaders have an awkward relationship with the political system. They cannot be in it — their jobs are to run businesses — but they cannot be ignorant of political developments as these inevitably influence the operating environment. It is when the political system heads to mayhem that the question of the great divide becomes a problem.
Given their deep insights into long- and short-term trends and how decisions of today influence the outcomes of tomorrow, business leaders may well be in position to offer guidance, particularly on decisions that have material impacts on the economic fortunes of a nation. But whether such guidance is warranted depends on the relationship between the politicians and business. In the December 2015 chaos of Des van Rooyen’s ill-fated appointment as finance minister, the sum of projected consequences was alarming enou...
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.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.