Chinese television station CCTV interviewed president Jacob Zuma last week as part of the channel’s coverage of the G20 summit.<\/p>\n
The president would have been less than pleased with the outcome, as he struggled to make any strong points for any country looking at South Africa as a destination for investment.<\/p>\n
The reporter asked Zuma what he is doing to lift South Africa\u2019s growth from 0%. Zuma said that discussions took place at the G20 summit relating to how to boost the economy.<\/p>\n
The president said that the proposals coming from China were very clear \u2013 ‘that we need to look at innovation as a critical driver of economic growth, and you must have inclusive economic growth’.<\/p>\n
He said that investors are hestitant due to the \u2018sluggish\u2019 economy.<\/p>\n
What can you do? The reporter asked, to bring get South Africa\u2019s economy on track?<\/p>\n
“We have got a plan”, Zuma said, pointing to the National Development Plan. He said whatever the country takes from China, it helps towards the Development Plan.<\/p>\n
President Jacob Zuma says it is important for the leading political party to address its current challenges, but welcomed the new form of democracy which involves coalitions.<\/p>\n
“The party must understand what is happening, and it must say what do we do to deal with this.<\/p>\n
“Democracy has matured\u2026people generally are beginning to make choices,” Zuma said.<\/p>\n
“There has been an introduction of a new element of coalitions because there is no one party could rule without talking to small parties. That is a new kind of politics,” he said.<\/p>\n
When asked what that means for what used to be the major party \u2013 the ANC, Zuma said: \u201cIt means its reached a point where the democracy is now taking another kind of turn. The ANC then has to say, how do we handle this situation as a big party in the question of coalitions.<\/p>\n
“We must now begin to plan and factor in the issue of coalitions when we go for elections. And this is the maturing of democracy.”<\/p>\n