Standard Bank had a round table discussion with various key stakeholders of the Free State at Blue Gem on 11 April 2024.
The round table discussion focuses on challenging matters that are faced by the public sector in the Free State, this included funding assistance as well as prospective collaborations from the banking industry. The keynote speaker was Standard Bank CEO, Lungisa Fuzile.
Free State executive mayor, Cllr. Gregory Nthatisi was in attendance alongside various MECs, including finance MEC, Gadija Brown, MEC for Destea, Thabo Meeko and Education MEC of the Free State, Makalo Mohale.
The mayor mentioned that although the Free State is at the centre of investments, it remains the poorest of the poor. Although this was raised by the mayor, the Finance MEC further motivated the panel that the Free State’s staggering unemployment rate has decreased gradually.
The Finance MEC further mentioned that South Africa cannot develop without having a strong, workable social compact.
“The round table discussion was an honest conversation about the challenges that we have in our country, the economic growth, the business environment, creating a conducive environment for jobs, unemployment and what role capital and corporate South Africa has to play with reference to development for the previously disadvantaged community,” said Brown.
Keynote speaker and CEO of Standard Bank, Lungisa Fuzile, felt very positive about the discussions and the overall attendance. “It warms my heart to see the amount of interest that people of the Free State have to enhance their province.
I was particularly impressed by their grasp about the state of the economy of the province and the country, the challenges the province is facing and of course the openness of partnering with those who are likeminded and who are keen to participate in finding solutions for the challenges faced in the province,” concluded Lungisa.
Abigail Visagie
