Erwin reaffirms restructuring policy

ALAN PEAT THE POLICY for restructuring state assets remains in place at the department of public enterprises, minister Alec Erwin told a Pretoria press conference last week. He also confirmed that this would continue to be done either through strategic equity partnerships, outright sales or full privatisation of entities. “We will continue to divest of certain assets,” said Erwin. “Although we have done a great deal of that, there remain certain assets in the Transnet stable.” Details of the whats, whens and hows are due to be made public at the end of September - once the department has finished its analysis of state-owned entities. “The main emphasis this coming period,” said Erwin, “is going to be to raise levels of investment [and] build strong state-owned enterprises in partnership with the private sector.”