By Adam Wakefield
Following an energetic morning session, the afternoon session of the Nandos
Daily Maverick The Gathering at the Vodaworld Dome on Friday, 10 June in Midrand kicked off with a debate, moderated by journalist Stephen Grootes, between the mayoral candidates of the Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters and the current mayor of Johannesburg, Park Tau.
The three, with the DA's Johannesburg candidate Herman Mashaba and the EFF's Floyd Shivambu representing their parties, debated on what the current state of economic growth was in Johannesburg, how each of their parties viewed the best way forward for spurring job growth in South Africa's largest city, and which party had the best understanding of what the city needed.
Shivambu argued for Johannesburg to be a centre of production instead of a city driven by consumption, while Mashaba talked about how entrepreneurs needed to be empowered, with economic growth being a key facet of both their view points. Tau spoke about the city's large investment infrastructure was paying dividends for the city, with the money spent seen on the city's roads as an example. There was some disagreement about cycling in the city, with the subject having come up in the
morning session. Following the lunch break, a panel discussion ensued including Pan African Service CEO Iraj Abedian, political and labour activist Jay Naidoo, Section27 executive director Mark Heywood, journalist Sisonke Msimang and suspended Independent Police Investigative Directorate head Robert McBride. The panel was moderated by journalists John Perlman and Marianne Thamm.
There was an acknowledgement among the panelists that at present South Africa was not reaching its full potential, beset by structural problems within government and in broader society. Suggestions of society retaking its power from the political class, to what civil societies future might be to the future of jobs were raised, as were concerns that disagreements within governing structures led to the isolation of those who had voiced their disagreement.
It was an intellectually engaging and thought provoking session that laid the groundwork for the events' concluding speaker, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.
For more information, visit
www.dailymaverick.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on
Facebook or on
Twitter using the #NandosDMgathering hashtag.