Press Releases

MEDIA RELEASE 03 October 2014

Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel today announced the appointment of Mr Hardin Ratshisusu as an Acting Deputy Commissioner of the Competition Commission, for the next six months, and extended Advocate Oliver Josie’s appointment by the same period.

Both Ratshisusu and Josie are part of the Executive Management of the Competition Commission, with Ratshisusu serving as Divisional Manager for Mergers and Acquisitions since March 2014, while Josie has been in this current role (Acting Deputy Commissioner) since 2013.

Ratshisusu has worked for the Commission for a cumulative period of over nine years, having joined the Mergers and Acquisitions Division in 2004.

He holds a BCom (Hons) from the University of Venda, a MCom (Economics) from the University of the Witwatersrand and an MBL from the University of South Africa.

Josie joined the Commission in May 2011, and has 25 years’ experience in both the public and private sector, specifically in relation to law enforcement, legal practice and corporate governance. He has two master’s degrees, one in law and the other in Business Leadership.

Making the announcement, Minister Patel said: “I believe these appointments will go a long way in helping to consolidate stability and strengthen the efficiency of the Commission as it assists government to focus more on jobs, industrialisation, small business development and economic transformation, not as a by-product, but an explicit objective of competition policy.”

The Commission is now engaged in a headhunting exercise to appoint permanent Deputy Commissioners.

ENDS

MEDIA RELEASE 16 September 2014

A new factory premises making fashionable women’s shoes was opened in Parow industrial area by Minister of Economic Development, Ebrahim Patel.

The factory, Chic Shoes, was started by a black woman, Rachmat Thomas in 2004 and now employs 300 workers. Minister Patel opened the new building that the company bought with the support of national government financing, to expand their manufacturing facilities.

“In the next two years, the company plan to expand with 240 more workers, creating a large new industrial capacity,” Minister Patel said. He recounted the strong partnership between the company and government, with funding provided by the Industrial Development Corporation (the IDC) and a production incentive grant made available from national government.

“This shows the potential to grow in the fashion manufacturing industry and to use our facilities as a base to export to other parts of the world. Government support to the local footwear industry amounted to more than R600 million in the past five years, as part of a focused effort to expand industrial capacity and jobs. The company makes a range of shoes, from women’s pumps for a leading retailer to shoes for public servants, and they bring enterprise, innovation and hard work to the partnership,” Minister Patel said.

“About 40 percent of the workforce is young people and the company is investing in skills for school-leavers. Young employment in manufacturing is vital if we are to grow the industrial base of Africa’s most diversified economy. If we do not invest capital and in skills development, we will de-industrialise and lose our manufacturing sector. We need a partnership between business, organised labour and the state to drive economic growth and job creation,” Minister Patel said.

He noted that local footwear production was improving following large factory closures about ten years ago.

“Production of footwear is beginning to get back to the volumes last seen in the mid 1990s, with 59 million pairs of shoes now made locally. Given the labour-absorbing character of the industry, South Africa needs a larger local clothing and footwear industry,” he said.

The Minister addressed an excited group of workers, managers and financiers and was taken on a factory tour and talked to workers involved in various industrial activities, from cutting of leather to stitching, glueing and packing of shoes.

Note to Editor

The following extract from the speech by Minister Patel provides additional detail from the event on the 16th September 2014. For more information, kindly call Ms Siphokazi Shoba from the Economic Development Department at 0823362688 or sshoba[at]economic[dot]gov[dot]za.

Download full media release to read an extract from Minister Patel’s speech and more details regarding the launch...

MEDIA ADVISORY 16 May 2014

Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel today announced the official appointment of Tembinkosi Bonakele as the new Commissioner of the Competition Commission for a five year term of office. The appointment has been ratified by Cabinet.

Bonakele has been Acting Commissioner for the past six months following the resignation of the former Commissioner.

Bonakele has been with the Commission for about 10 years. He has been in its management team since 2006, and a Deputy Commissioner since 2008. He played a key role in the establishment of the Commission’s cartels division and has worked on most of the Commission’s major cases over the past ten years, including the bread and flour cartel as well as the construction bid-rigging cartel cases, Telkom and SAB abuse of dominance cases and a number of other high-profile mergers.

He has been involved in negotiating a number of the Commission’s ground-breaking settlements and helped develop the Commission’s Corporate Leniency Policy as well as the Construction Fast Track Settlement Policy.

Welcoming Bonakele to head the institution, Minister Patel said: “I am pleased to have someone of Bonakele’s calibre at the helm of the Competition Commission. He is taking leadership of the Commission at a time when the South African economy needs to become more competitive and create many more decent work opportunities by combatting market abuse such as cartels and pervasive monopolies and ensure competitive pricing of products. In particular, the key jobs drivers identified in our policy frameworks require coordinated and concerted efforts improve economic performance and development outcomes.

"The Competition Commission has been one of a number of successful economic agencies and regulators that are together beginning to transform the South African economy. Mr Bonakele possesses the skills and experience to build on the successes of the Competition Commission.” In response, Bonakele said: “I am honoured and privileged to serve in such a wonderful institution. I am aware of the enormous task of leading the Commission and am committed to work with my colleagues to firmly establish the Competition Commission as an important institution in promoting economic development in South Africa.

Background for editors:
The Competition Commission is a statutory body constituted in terms of the Competition Act, which empowers the Commission to investigate, control and evaluate restrictive business practices, abuse of dominant positions and mergers in order to achieve equity and efficiency in the South African economy. It reports to the Minister of Economic Development.

Government policy frameworks such as the National Development Plan and its economic strategy in the form of the New Growth Path highlight the fact that the South African economy has been characterised by high levels of economic concentration and collusion on price and market-sharing. Anti-competitive conduct seeks profits from narrow and backward looking strategies based on inherited positions of market power. It ultimately implies lower output, investment and employment.

Source: SABC News Clip, hosted on YouTube.com

MEDIA ADVISORY 09 April 2014

The Western Cape will host the first Provincial Report back since the Presidential Indaba on Youth Jobs and Skills which was held in Johannesburg on the 28th of February. The Indaba is organised by the Economic Development Department (EDD), National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), South African Youth Council (SAYC) and the Presidency.

The Western Cape leg of the provincial Indaba will be held on the 10th of April, at the Good Hope Centre, in Cape Town. Youths drawn from local business, labour and civil society are expected to attend. The theme for the event is:

‘Working together to empower the youth through jobs and skills for a better South Africa’

Minister Ebrahim Patel will lead the Indaba supported by the Deputy Minister, for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency, Obed Bapela. The report back is a partnership between the government, the National Youth Development Agency and state owned entities.

The Indaba will take place as follows:
Date: Thursday, 10 April 2014
Time: 09h45 to 16h00
Address: Good hope Centre, Cape Town

Please note that for security purposes it is important that you confirm attendance by 9th April 2014.

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