Business organisations pledge support to government on tackling Covid-19

President Cyril Ramaphosa held a number of consultations in Pretoria today with smaller political parties and the representatives of business organisations to discuss a joint approach to tackling the effects of Covid-19 on South Africa. There was agreement that steps should be taken to look after the vulnerable, the needs of consumers and to ensure that stocks of products are maintained throughout the outbreak. The Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel said the government is monitoring the impact of the virus on the global economy and got feedback from the business community that they would take forward into the Command Council. Representatives of the Black Business Council, Business Unity South Africa and the Banking Association of South Africa pledged to help the government and their consumers to deal with the fallout from the crisis. - Linda van Tilburg