South Africa’s top CEOs have a message for Ramaphosa

South African business leaders have written to the leaders of the country’s two biggest parties, imploring them to settle their differences and keep the ruling coalition intact.

The collapse of the government, which is hanging by a thread following a dispute over the national budget, would lead to job losses and impact growth, the business leaders said, a copy of the letter seen by Bloomberg read.

The letter was sent to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also the leader of the African National Congress, and John Steenhuisen, head of the Democratic Alliance, by the leaders who are part of a delegation that works with government to drive economic growth.

They include Adrian Gore, the chief executive officer of Discovery, and Duncan Wanblad, the leader of Anglo American.

“We have a great deal to lose. A collapse of the Government of National Unity could reverse the gains we have achieved,” the leaders wrote.

“We therefore write to you with a simple plea: Stay the course. stay in the room. Hold the line. Keep building. Compromise.”