- The Presidency and the National Treasury, in collaboration with the Southern Africa Towards Inclusive Economic Development programme met over two days on 25 and 26 June in Rosebank to discuss the next phase of Operation Vulindlela – “Building Momentum on Reform: Towards the Next Phase of Operation Vulindlela.”
Operation Vulindlela was established in October 2020 as a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the implementation of structural and economic reforms to drive growth and job creation.
Operation Vulindlela’s Saul Musker said that reforms in the first phase have delivered in alleviating loadshedding plus improved the performance of the logistics system, but they are insufficient to drive a structural transformation of the economy. Additional reforms would be required in the next phase to stimulate jobs-rich growth.
Musker said that that there was an opportunity to unlock growth in a direction that is both green and digital. “Over the next five years, South Africa has an opportunity to accelerate growth through massive new investment in the energy sector, leveraging its unique solar and wind resources to reduce energy costs and power green manufacturing,” said Musker.
He provided no specific details on how this can be achieved.
South Africa recently held national elections (29 May 2024) where the ruling ANC party lost its majority and has been forced to enter into a government of national unity (GNU) with coalition partners.
The GNU inherits a de facto government in the form of the Ministry in the Presidency under which Operation Vulindlela falls plus the legacy of the previous regular government against the background of a flawed Draft 2023 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) plus a proper and legally compliant Integrated Energy Plan.
Almost a month after the national election, Ramaphosa has been sworn in for a second term but he has yet to appoint a Cabinet. How the Ministry in the Presidency fits with the GNU and specifically Operation Vulindlela, is anyone’s guess at this stage.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
