RAY HARTLEY: The outline of a decisive Ramaphosa presidency is finally visible
Announcing measures to stimulate the economy, Ramaphosa made unpopular decisions. Now he must follow through
Perhaps the most significant thing about President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of a package of measures to stimulate the economy was what are these days called “the optics”. Ramaphosa finally appeared like a man who is in command when he took to the podium in Pretoria to deliver the much-anticipated announcement. He has, until now, been careful to kick every controversy into touch, saying he will rely on the outcome of consultations to drive his agenda. But on Friday he was, for the first time, clear and decisive. And he played to a key strength: his ability to organise and direct large operations. He announced that the disastrous visa regime introduced by then home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba, which discouraged travel to SA with red tape, was coming to an end “immediately”. He announced that the mining charter has been revised to make it more investor friendly and that the much-loathed Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) has been shelved. He announced th...
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