ECONOMIC GROWTH
CLAIRE BISSEKER: Quick wins will strengthen Ramaphosa
Free higher education and the youth internship service may paper over the cracks — but these policies do not tackle the heart of joblessness
Raising economic growth and stabilising public finances are the top priorities of Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene. To achieve this his initial approach is to go for the low-hanging fruit rather than attempt a wholesale relaunch of the moribund National Development Plan. There are distinct advantages in this given the state’s lack of capacity and deep ideological cleavages within the ANC over economic policy. A few quick wins should bolster President Cyril Ramaphosa’s popularity and raise business and consumer confidence. As that confidence builds it should translate into faster economic growth, helping to bring the fiscus under control and delivering jobs. Success in these areas could give Ramaphosa the political backing he needs to tackle the more contentious, systemic reforms to education and the labour market that appear to be off the table for now.The quick wins Ramaphosa has already notched up include ejecting former president Jacob Zuma and South African Revenue Service commiss...
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