Image: ESA ALEXANDER
It is not government's responsibility to create jobs, but it should create an environment conducive for business to grow, President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday.
"It is not the business of government per se to create jobs," he told guests at the opening of the National House of Traditional Leaders.
"We must create the right environment for business to thrive, so that they can create jobs for our people."
In the past few weeks government has had meetings with business and Zuma established an inter-ministerial committee on investment promotion.
He had asked the business community to tell him which regulations were making it difficult to operate. They sent him a "comprehensive contribution" which he would discuss with ministers on Friday.
Some of the concerns the Free Market Foundation (FMF) had raised included delays in getting property registered and lengthy procedures for permits and taxes.
A trial and judgment to enforce a contract could take as long as 500 days. It took around two-and-a-half years to resolve an insolvency and recover only about 35% of the money owed.
According to an article on the FMF's website, there was a long process to get a business connected to the electricity grid.
Source: News24