Mashatile proposes war rooms to tackle economic challenges in South Africa

DEPUTY President Paul Mashatile has proposed the establishment of three dedicated war rooms focusing on pivotal areas: the economy and jobs, poverty and hunger, and clean governance.

- BANELE GININDZA

Speaking at a business breakfast session and launch of the Transformation Fund at Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum in Pretoria, Mashatile on Monday said the country currently faced one of the highest levels of economic inequality globally, with a Gini co-efficient of 0.63 and a poverty rate of 17.82% highlighting the significant disparity in income and wealth.

"The war rooms will not follow the normal Cabinet process but instead, they will take a deliverology approach, which is the discipline of getting things done. We will do stock takes, deep dives, and intervene decisively where there is no progress," Mashatile said.

He said the private sector participation in each war room would be more than about mere representation but about accomplishing and obtaining results.

"The war rooms must meet regularly to track the work being done and report to the larger war room, which I will convene and report to the President," Mashatile said.