President Cyril Ramaphosa has highlighted the changing nature of the world in which we live, particularly because of the advances in technology.<\/p>\n
The president was speaking at the 25 Years of Democracy Conference, at University of Johannesburg in Auckland Park on Tuesday (24 July).<\/p>\n
\u201cMany more people are going to lose jobs,” Ramaphosa said. “They\u2019ll lose jobs because of technology, globalisation, climate change and a whole number of other challenges like low economic growth, as we have seen, in our own country.”<\/p>\n
The two-day conference aims to provide an in-depth reflective analysis and report on the past quarter of democracy and how the country can map the next 25 years. Ramaphosa said that, while the conference offers an opportunity to take stock of achievements, it is also a platform to identify the challenges, opportunities and tasks of the present and the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cResearch and academic institutions have a critical role to play in advising government [and] in providing the necessary data that informs our planning models. As I said in the State of the Nation Address a few weeks ago, this is a government that is not afraid of new ideas, and of new ways of thinking,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He emphasised that the National Development Plan (NDP) remains government\u2019s lodestar in moving the country forward.<\/p>\n
“The NDP calls on all social partners to work together to invest in skills development, particularly at a time when technology is transforming the workplace. Attainment of the NDP\u2019s Vision 2030 rests on having an educated, skilled and capable workforce.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo produce more graduates in the critical skills needed by our economy, we have to work more closely with universities, TVET colleges and other educational institutions,\u201d the president said.<\/p>\n
He also punted the need for government to fast-track the implementation of its policies.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to reflect as government, particularly on whether our implementation model in its current iteration has effectively met our development needs. In attempting to do too much and not coordinating our actions within and between departments, we have been found wanting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
University of Johannesburg vice chancellor Tshilidzi Marwala emphasised the need for government, in preparation for the next quarter of democracy, to be cognisant that the world of work is shrinking.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you look at unemployment in South Africa, it\u2019s because we have been de-industrialising. If we are to become relevant again, we need to find what makes us competitive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n