State of the Nation Address 2024

Click-to-Save

Click-to-Save

State of the Nation Address 2024

Leave No One Behind Leave No One Behind
GROW THE ECONOMY | WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEARS

The economy will grow at a faster rate than our population

Why this?

If South Africa is to successfully reduce poverty and unemployment, far higher rates of growth are required. This growth needs to be inclusive and create jobs.

NDP Target

GDP should increase 2.7 times in real terms between 2010 and 2030, an average of 5.4% p.a.

To reach this goal, we will:

TO REACH THIS GOAL, WE WILL:

  • Mobilise R3 trillion in new investment through targeted incentives and by dedicating specific SEZs towards export markets.
  • Give high priority attention to sectors that can create large numbers of youth oriented jobs.
  • Promote tourism: International tourist arrivals will more than double to 21 million by 2030. This will be achieved through a world class visa regime, significant growth in Chinese and Indian markets and Africa air arrivals, and addressing reality and perception around tourist safety and security.
  • Develop agriculture and agro-processing capability.
  • Prioritise infrastructure development: Establish an Infrastructure Fund to leverage public and private funding, build a pipeline of large public infrastructure projects, strengthen project design and implementation capacity.
  • Information Technology and Communications. We will expand our high tech industry by ensuring that the legal and regulatory framework promotes innovation, scaling up skills development for young people in new technologies and reducing data costs.

Grow the Economy

The economy will be growing at faster rate than our population

Within the next decade, it is our ambition that our economy should be growing at a rate far greater than our population. It is only when we reach consistently high rates of growth that we will be able to reverse the economic damage of our past.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, SONA 2019

Investment

We are intensifying our investment drive and our efforts to improve the investment climate. Of the investments totalling R300 billion announced at the inaugural Investment Conference last year, projects worth just over R250 billion have entered the implementation phase.

More investments are also in the pipeline and will be showcased at the second South African Investment Conference to be held on 5 to 7 November.

The private sector has committed to invest R840 billion in 43 projects over 19 sectors and creating 155,000 jobs in the next five years.

Infrastructure

Our new approach to infrastructure development is based on stronger partnerships between the public and private sectors, and with local communities.   This includes a special package of financial and institutional measures to boost construction and prioritise water infrastructure, roads and student accommodation through a more efficient use of budgeted money.

As announced in the previous SONA, government has set aside R100 billion to seed the Infrastructure Fund. We are working to institutionalise the fund, which will be managed by the Development Bank of Southern Africa, with the newly configured Department of Public Works and Infrastructure playing an oversight role.

Leader of the GOOD party, Patricia De Lille, was appointed Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure when President Ramaphosa announced his new Cabinet earlier this year.

Government’s work in the area is being done in consultation with private investors, such as pension funds, who are enthusiastic about participating in the Infrastructure Fund.   These reforms will ensure better planning of infrastructure projects, rigorous feasibility and preparatory work, improved strategic management, impeccable execution and better governance. This will provide a much-needed boost to the construction sector.

Revitalising key sectors

Government will give priority attention to the economic sectors that have the greatest potential for growth.

Drawing on our successes in the automotive sector, master plans will be developed with business and labour in industries like clothing and textiles, gas, chemicals and plastics, renewables, and steel and metals fabrication sectors.

President Cyril Ramaphosa officiates the Nissan South Africa investment ceremony. Earlier this year, Nissan announced a R3-billion investment in its facility in Rosslyn, Pretoria for production of the next-generation Nissan Navara.

The agriculture and agro-processing sector will be substantially expanded by supporting key value chains and products, developing new markets and reducing South Africa’s reliance on agricultural imports.

To bolster the mining industry, government will work to develop markets for South African minerals through targeted beneficiation, reduced costs of inputs, and increased research and development.

Stay up to date

Get a weekly update on the most pressing issues that interest and affect South Africans – straight from the desk of the President.

Click here to subscribe