A Fast Growing and Inclusive Economy

The single biggest policy failing since 1994 has been around inclusive economic growth. South Africa finds itself in a middle-income trap, unable to compete in the low-skill, labour-intensive industries where low-income countries enjoy competitiveness, and without the spread of technological know-how and human capabilities to compete with high-income countries in more sophisticated industries and services.

Obsession 2

An Uncompromising, Performance-Based Education System

Good-quality basic education is both a development goal itself and a crucial ingredient of economic development. It is crucial to the supply of skills necessary to run a modern, complex, competitive and expanding industrial economy. Despite the relatively high fiscal allocations to the sector, our education system is broken, which exacerbates inequality and reduces economic competitiveness. We need to radically improve school performance and accountability.

Obsession 3

An Incorruptible and Innovative State

There will be no inclusive growth without urgently addressing state performance. Countries that have successfully restructured their economies, and transitioned out of low-growth, high-inequality traps have had high- performance states, built on professional bureaucracies and meritocracy.

Obsession 4

An Ethical and Accountable Leadership

In South Africa, leaders of political parties have come to see the object of attaining and retaining power as their primary function. Instead of being issue-based, they have become about placating their internal constituencies above all else.

A Fast Growing and Inclusive Economy

An Uncompromising, Performance-Based Education System

An Incorruptible and Innovative State

An Ethical and Accountable Leadership

Solutions