Ramaphosa’s Tenure: Economic Metrics & Governance Challenges

Cyril Ramaphosa ascended to the presidency of South Africa in February 2018, inheriting an economy marked by anaemic growth, elevated unemployment, and pervasive state capture. His administration launched with an emphasis on economic reform, investment attraction, and combating corruption, aiming to revitalize national institutions and restore investor confidence.

Economic Performance and Policy Trajectories

Since 2018, South Africa’s economic trajectory under President Ramaphosa has faced significant headwinds, exacerbated by global and domestic factors. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates have largely underperformed initial projections and the National Development Plan (NDP) targets of 5-6%. For instance, real GDP growth registered 0.8% in 2018, 0.1% in 2019, plummeted to -6.0% in the COVID-impacted 2020, recovered to 1.9% in 2021, and then slowed to an estimated 0.6% in 2022. This persistent low growth environment has directly impacted job creation efforts. The official unemployment rate, which stood at 27.2% in Q1 2018, peaked at 35.3% in Q4 2021 before marginally receding to 31.9% by Q3 2023, according to Statistics South Africa. Youth unemployment remains disproportionately high, exceeding 60% in the same period, indicating deep structural issues within the labour market.

Policy interventions have focused on the ‘new investment drive,’ which saw R1.2 trillion in pledges by 2022 against a five-year target of R1.2 trillion by 2023, primarily in infrastructure and manufacturing. However, the conversion of pledges to implemented projects faces bureaucratic delays and execution challenges. Fiscal policy has been constrained by rising sovereign debt, which reached approximately 72.3% of GDP by 2023, up from 55.6% in 2018. This escalation limits the state’s capacity for counter-cyclical spending and capital investment, presenting a fundamental trade-off between fiscal consolidation and growth-stimulating expenditure. The Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) of November 2023 projected a consolidated budget deficit of 4.9% of GDP for 2023/24, highlighting ongoing fiscal pressures.

Combatting Corruption and Institutional Restoration

A central pillar of President Ramaphosa’s agenda has been the fight against corruption and the restoration of state institutions, severely weakened during the ‘state capture’ era. The Zondo Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture concluded its work in 2022, submitting a multi-volume report detailing systemic corruption. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI – Hawks) have seen increased capacity and independence. Between 2018 and Q3 2023, the NPA’s Investigating Directorate enrolled 34 state capture and corruption cases involving 205 accused persons, with R7.0 billion in assets frozen or preserved. This represents a significant shift from the preceding period where high-profile corruption prosecutions were infrequent.

Despite these efforts, the pace of prosecutions and convictions has drawn criticism. The technical trade-off here involves balancing thorough, legally sound investigations with public demand for rapid justice. Building robust cases against politically connected individuals, often involving complex financial trails and transnational elements, requires extensive forensic analysis and legal preparation, which inherently extends timelines. Legislation such as the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Amendment Bill and the Public Procurement Bill aim to strengthen anti-corruption frameworks, but their full impact awaits implementation and enforcement.

Addressing the Energy Crisis and Infrastructure Deficit

South Africa’s persistent energy crisis, primarily manifested through severe load shedding by the state-owned utility Eskom, has been a critical impediment to economic growth. Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF) has seen a consistent decline, averaging 65.0% in 2018 to below 50.0% in 2023, indicating the deteriorating reliability of its coal-fired fleet. This technical failure is primarily due to a combination of neglected maintenance, design flaws in new power stations (Medupi and Kusile), and operational mismanagement.

The administration has introduced several interventions to address this. The ‘Energy Action Plan’ includes accelerating procurement of new generation capacity (e.g., through bid windows for renewables), easing licensing requirements for private generation projects (the threshold for embedded generation was raised from 1MW to 100MW, then removed entirely), and restructuring Eskom into generation, transmission, and distribution entities. By Q3 2023, over 100 private energy projects with a combined capacity of more than 10 GW were in various stages of development, largely in solar and wind. However, grid capacity constraints, particularly in the Northern Cape, present a new technical bottleneck. The trade-off involves prioritizing rapid deployment of new capacity versus the extensive, long-term investment required to upgrade an ageing transmission network and address the foundational operational issues within Eskom’s existing plants.

South Africa’s official unemployment rate surged from 27.2% in Q1 2018 to a peak of 35.3% in Q4 2021 before moderating to 31.9% by Q3 2023. This persistent elevation underscores the significant structural challenges in job creation despite targeted investment drives.

Eskom’s Energy Availability Factor (EAF) declined from an average of 65.0% in 2018 to below 50.0% in 2023. This operational deterioration has directly correlated with increased stages and frequency of load shedding, critically impacting industrial output and GDP growth.

FAQ Section

What are the primary economic challenges during Ramaphosa’s presidency?

The primary economic challenges include consistently low GDP growth (e.g., 0.6% in 2022), high and persistent unemployment (31.9% in Q3 2023), elevated public debt (72.3% of GDP in 2023), and structural impediments such as the energy crisis and logistical inefficiencies. These factors have constrained both public and private sector investment and productivity.

How has the fight against corruption progressed under his leadership?

Progress in combating corruption has been marked by the comprehensive Zondo Commission report and increased activity by law enforcement agencies. Between 2018 and Q3 2023, the NPA’s Investigating Directorate initiated 34 state capture and corruption cases, involving 205 accused persons and freezing R7.0 billion in assets. While this indicates a strengthened institutional response, the pace of convictions remains a challenge.

What are the technical trade-offs in addressing South Africa’s energy crisis?

Addressing the energy crisis involves several technical trade-offs. Accelerating the introduction of renewable energy (e.g., 10 GW in private projects underway) offers rapid capacity addition but necessitates significant grid upgrades to manage intermittency and connect remote generation sites. Simultaneously, rehabilitating Eskom’s existing coal fleet requires substantial capital expenditure and extended outages for maintenance, which temporarily exacerbates load shedding. The optimal strategy balances immediate capacity injections with long-term infrastructure modernization and operational efficiency improvements at Eskom.