The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (SEIFSA) hosted Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni at its 80-year Anniversary Gala Dinner on October 6 2023.
SEIFSA extended an invitation to the two Ministers after a successful and historic meeting between the federation and President Cyril Ramaphosa on April 18. SEIFSA President Elias Monage referred to “the goodwill that emanated from our historic meeting and the willingness of this sector to want to work collaboratively with the government” in his address to the gathering.
The Gala Dinner, which was held at the Wanderers Ballroom, Illovo, was a black-tie event with about 300 guests, including dignitaries, captains of industry, business leaders, CEOs and senior industry executives.
The gala evening was a celebration of SEIFSA’s 80 years of service as a national employer federation representing employers in the metals and engineering industries, a crucial part of the domestic economy that comprises 26% of the broader manufacturing sector.
While there were plenty of achievements to toast at the dinner, SEIFSA CEO Lucio Trentini was quick to acknowledge the current “unprecedented times” and stressed the importance of business and government working together to address the many challenges facing South Africa – a sluggish economy, an ever-rising unemployment rate, load-shedding and myriad logistical problems that threaten to erase any green shoots, to name a few.
Monage was in agreement that constructive engagement between business and government is necessary, referring to the parties as “natural allies” as both have a vested interest in South Africa’s economic success.
He said SEIFSA had made a firm commitment to forge a closer partnership between government and business and listed the Federation’s recent engagements with President Ramaphosa, Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Cabinet Ministers as illustration.
In this, Monage was clear that while SEIFSA does not always agree with all government policies, the Federation is committed to building a prosperous South Africa for all.
At the end of a stunning evening, most guests were in agreement that the gala event illustrated that whatever challenges may lie ahead for SEIFSA, the Federation has stood tall for 80 years as a beacon of excellence and a tireless voice for the metals and engineering industry.
