South Africa’s Ramaphosa Introduces New Reforms to Drive Growth

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched the second phase of a reform agenda that seeks to spur growth and fix persistent inefficiencies in Africa’s largest economy. It targets dysfunctional municipalities, promotes digital innovation, and aims to improve housing access for low-income households. The plan, which Ramaphosa says addresses the binding constraints on the country’s growth, will be overseen by Operation Vulindlela, which answers directly to the Presidency and the National Treasury. Key reforms include hiring qualified municipal officials, rolling out a national digital ID system, and easing regulations to spur urban development. The government will also release state-owned land for affordable housing. These initiatives come ahead of a revised budget presentation and build on earlier reforms that expanded private electricity generation and opened freight-rail access.

Bloomberg