Lengthy and sometimes violent strikes, electricity supply constraints, perceived or real concerns about economic policies and a slow breakdown in trust between major social partners have deducted from growth and investment. In 2012, the Marikana strike and its consequences knocked exports as well as confidence; confidence in our ability to manage our social stresses.
In 2013, the motor industry strike and related strikes in the automotive component sectors and transport sectors knocked over 0.5 percent off our growth. In 2014, the five-month-long platinum strike and the four week manufacturing sector strike knocked over one percentage point off our GDP growth.