SOEs under threat‚ says ANC's Mkhize

ANC Treasurer General Zweli Mkhize admits that state-owned enterprises are facing many challenges.

These enterprises are faced with challenges ranging from financial and operational sustainability to policy decisions that have an adverse impact on their viability.

“The issue that is worrying is‚ as the ANC‚ how do we make sure that there is improvement in the governing of those (state-owned enterprises)? We need to improve management [and] improve how they are run‚” said Mkhize.

“The point is if you deal with the parastatals that at a certain point are going to put so much pressure as to compromise the debt levels‚ is an issue that we have to look at other alternatives‚” he said.

The Treasurer General was speaking to business leaders at the Gordon Institute of Business Science in Sandton‚ Johannesburg‚ last night under the theme “Business-Government partnership in the decade ahead: A View from Luthuli House.”

He said that‚ going forward‚ the ANC needed to strengthen the efficiency of the parastatals.

Mkhize added that they’re also concerned about the sluggish growth of the economy‚ which limited employment.