YEAR AHEAD
SA must tend green shoots to help economy grow stronger
Policy alone does not create growth and employment — we all need to unite towards a common purpose in 2017, writes Monale Ratsoma
As we approach the end of 2016, SA has a lot to build on in the pursuit of faster and more inclusive economic growth in 2017. At the beginning of the year, optimistic scenarios were difficult to sell. The events of December 2015 painted gloom over the year ahead. Investors were looking at South African assets as a potential one-way bet. For many, junk status, by at least one of the three main rating agencies, was inevitable. For some pundits an economic recession had become a baseline scenario. While compiling the budget for 2016, we projected economic growth of 0.9% for the year ahead. To many this seemed optimistic. In the first quarter the economy shrunk 1.2%. At this point, consensus was pointing to economic growth of near zero and below. But now, against all odds, we finish the year relatively on the front foot. Having been on a recent investor road show abroad, I am inspired and encouraged by the positivity towards SA, which unfortunately is often in contrast to how South Afri...
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