South Africa looks for growth

South Africa has had a difficult 2022; from the fallout of the war in Ukraine, to catastrophic flooding in Kwa-Zulu Natal and rolling blackouts. Can the economic team steer South Africa to growth in 2023? It will need to lean into its financial muscle, industrial stalwarts, and a fair wind from renewed interest in mining.

© South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa December 16, 2022. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

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YEAR AHEAD

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South Africa: 10 things on Ramaphosa’s economic team to-do list for 2023 After South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa secured the top spot in his party in December, attention has now turned to decisions his government is ...

SAFRICA-POLITICS-CONFERENCE-ANC © South African President Cyril Ramaphosa gestures after being re-elected as the leader for the African National Congress (ANC) for the next five years, during the 55th National Conference of the ANC at the National Recreation Center (NASREC) in Johannesburg on December 19, 2022. – Ramaphosa garnered 2,476 votes for the post of party president against 1,897 for former health minister Zweli Mkhize, the African National Congress’ elections chief, Kgalema Motlanthe, announced. (Photo by MARCO LONGARI / AFP)

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More vexing

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South Africa: Despite big win, tricky deputy casts shadow on Ramaphosa President Cyril Ramaphosa and his camp won a decisive majority when South Africa’s ANC ruling party re-elected him in as leader in December. However, ...

© A Transnet Freight Rail train is seen next to tons of coal mined from the nearby Khanye Colliery mine, at the Bronkhorstspruit station, in Bronkhorstspruit, around 90 kilometres north-east of Johannesburg, South Africa, April 26, 2022. REUTERS

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‘A LONG GAME’

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South Africa: Logistics firm Transnet too risky for private investors The African Rail Industry Association (ARIA) has accused Transnet of running a “deeply flawed” third-party access process, urging the government to re...

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scale up

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Standard Bank plans corporate and investment bank expansion in Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire Standard Bank plans to establish a corporate and investment banking (CIB) presence in Senegal and grow its existing operation in Côte d’Ivoire as part...

© Sasol has struggled due to debt and poor investment choices.
Shutterstock

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NO STRANDED ASSETS

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South Africa: Sasol pins future on gas as a transition feedstock Successful debt reduction and a positive Brent crude oil price outlook have resulted in S&P Global Ratings upgrading Sasol’s credit ratings, but the c...

© Offshore wind turbines are among the applications for which rare earths are essential. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

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Magentic Attraction

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South Africa: Rainbow’s Phalaborwa pilot can help break China rare-earths dependence Rainbow Rare Earths is close to starting a pilot project at Phalaborwa in northeast South Africa to provide an alternative to relying on Chinese suppl...

South Africa coal miners eye rail investments as crumbling infrastructure depresses exports

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KING COAL

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South Africa’s next Eskom CEO ignores coal at their peril – Bayoglu André De Ruyter failed to fix load shedding at Eskom because he concentrated too much on renewable energy and not enough on coal-fired generation, Vus...

© FILE PHOTO: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa attends the nomination process of the top African National Congress (ANC) officials in the 55th National Conference of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, December 18, 2022. REUTERS

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OPEN DOOR

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South Africa: Smoother work permit system needed to bridge skills gap South Africa needs to embrace foreign skills to address the country’s knowledge gap by fixing its visa and work permit system, says Jens Papperitz.

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