Ramaphosa says SA's economic reform agenda will create conditions for higher growth
Ramaphosa said the progress report on Operation Vulindlela, which is government's initiative to accelerate economic reform, shows steady progress.
Ramaphosa was writing in his latest newsletter, where he gave an update on government's efforts to turn the economy around.
In the first quarter of the year, South Africa's economy expanded by a marginal 0,1% compared with the fourth quarter of 2024.
But Ramaphosa said they'd made some headway in clearing obstacles that have held back the country's growth agenda.
He said these include the reduction in load shedding over the past year, which was supported by reforms to unlock private investment in electricity.
Ramaphosa said they're moving at pace 'towards a competitive electricity market, which will introduce greater competition in electricity generation and reduce the chances of experiencing load shedding again'.
He said government had also reduced the turnaround times for approval processes for water use licences and energy projects.
Ramaphosa said the measures were 'common sense reforms' that would preserve public ownership of key infrastructure while introducing greater competition and investment.
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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Lala Maje, director for initial teacher education, stated: 'This initiative comes as South Africa continues to battle high levels of youth unemployment and an education system that is stretched and overburdened during these difficult economic conditions. 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He firmly denied any claims that political or executive pressure influenced IDC's acceptance of this role. South Africa's youth face a persistent unemployment crisis that limits their economic independence and future prospects. Initiatives like PES and the UIF Labour Activation Programme have the potential to be transformative if implemented effectively. The UIF focuses on accredited training and sustainable job creation, offering structured pathways into formal employment, while PES provides essential short-term relief and work experience. Nonetheless, fundamental questions remain: Is the PES pushing the UIF out of its core mandate? Is the use of UIF funding in this manner undermining the fund's sustainability, legal integrity, and governance standards? Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.
