Removing constraints to competitiveness and investment so that the economy can grow and resolve our fiscal crisis. We believe in bold measures and new institutions to enhance productivity and the competitiveness of firms. We also believe that we must strengthen our historical competitive advantages – manufacturing, agriculture, mining and tourism. This will quickly result in heightened confidence in the economy, especially among the established wealth.
Put jobs at the centre of economic policy while restructuring towards higher productivity competitiveness. We propose new policy measures and transitional packages, including subsidies and incentives to encourage labour-intensive production.
Rapidly expand new technological capacities and knowledge to quickly transition to a twenty-first-century economy. Key to this will be to develop instruments that incentivise investment in research and development and innovation, as well as initiatives with the banking sector to expand access to financial instruments. We believe that this is particularly critical to create a black innovative and productive class.
Expand human capabilities at scale, both through addressing our skills and education failures, as well as relaxing importation of critical skills to provide us with the necessary technical and entrepreneurial capabilities in the immediate term.
Set in motion new trade-offs and measures to accelerate economic inclusion. This must be done with the established private and banking sectors. We believe in doing this in manner that does not compromise investment, output and employment growth.
Develop a corrupt-free, high-performance state built on meritocracy and innovation. This will require a new compact with public sector unions. In the short term, we believe that we must strengthen the independence of existing institutions and, where needed, create new institutions as centres of excellence – possibly semi-autonomous and cushioned from political interference – to drive economic restructuring.
Change the nature of politics. This includes ANC reform, as well as a realisation across political structures of the existential crisis we are facing as a country and as constituent parts. Dynamics within the governing party will be a major deal-breaker and as a country, we cannot be held hostage to the possibility that the ANC reforms and modernises itself.
