<\/p>\n
South Africa must enshrine its reform process in law to guarantee the momentum gained under President Cyril Ramaphosa endures after he leaves office, said the head of a key business lobby group.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reform project is the most important project that is happening in this country,\u201d Business Leadership South Africa Chief Executive Officer Busi Mavuso said in an interview at Bloomberg\u2019s office in Johannesburg on Wednesday. \u201cReducing government dominance in the country gives the country the resilience in order to continue functioning, irrespective of what happens in politics.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Investors have warmed to Africa\u2019s largest economy as reforms begin to bear fruit, most visibly with the end of almost daily power cuts as the state-owned electricity utility improves its performance. South Africa\u2019s credit-rating has been upgraded, the much-maligned rand has strengthened, and the stock market hit a record high in February.<\/p>\n
But the legacy of corruption and mismanagement under Ramaphosa\u2019s predecessor, Jacob Zuma, still dogs an economy that has expanded at less than 1% annually for more than a decade. And with Zuma still a political force, there\u2019s apprehension whether the pro-growth track of Ramaphosa and his government coalition partners will survive the election cycle.<\/p>\n
The next general election isn\u2019t until 2029. But Ramaphosa will stand down as leader of the African National Congress \u2014 the country\u2019s biggest political party \u2014 in late 2027, and in the past the incoming head of the ANC has then become president.<\/p>\n
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Before then, the country holds municipal elections on November 4.<\/p>\n
If the ANC loses ground with voters \u2013 as polls suggest it might \u2014 it may weaken Ramaphosa\u2019s ability to steer the selection of his successor toward someone who will continue reforms. He also faces a potential parliamentary impeachment process over a 2022 cash-in-sofa scandal that he\u2019s challenging in court.<\/p>\n
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\u201cOur country has been undermined by politics,\u201d Mavuso said. \u201cYou are therefore, through reforms, decoupling the functioning of the economy from politics, you are de-risking the function of the economy from politics.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her remarks come as the government and private sector launch the third phase of their partnership aimed at lifting national economic growth to 3% by 2030.<\/p>\n
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Ramaphosa established Operation Vulindlela, a unit within his own office aimed at fast-tracking reform implementation, and between 70% and 75% of those in the energy and logistics sectors are complete.<\/p>\n
The urgency is pressing. Data this week showed the economy contracted by a larger than anticipated 0.2% in the second quarter, snapping six quarters of consecutive growth.<\/p>\n
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Mavuso cautioned that the numbers show the economy remains vulnerable and that improvements at state power utility Eskom and the state port and rail operator Transnet only mark the beginning of the process. That\u2019s why getting the reforms written into law is essential, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the reforms are reducing the government dominance on the economy, it shouldn\u2019t matter who the president is because we\u2019ll still be able to generate electricity irrespective of what happens,\u201d Mavuso said. \u201cAt that time, it will be a function of implementing what\u2019s in the law.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other Highlights<\/p>\n
Mavuso said municipal dysfunction is become a drag on the economy, with companies increasingly having to compensate for failing services and infrastructure.
\nBusiness is still pursuing a partnership with the City of Johannesburg similar to one with Transnet and Eskom in order to fix the crumbling city, and offer operational and technical support.
\nJohannesburg has a \u201ccompetence problem\u201d with incapable leaders running the city.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2026 Bloomberg<\/p>\n
#urged #lock #reforms #Ramaphosa #leaves<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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