Ramaphosa will face key period for reform progress

Subject

Ramaphosa's reform challenges.

Significance

A recent push among ruling ANC factions to force President Cyril Ramaphosa to dismiss Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan stalled at a series of party and government meetings earlier this month. Widely seen as a proxy for undermining the president himself, the moves against Gordhan focus attention on the progress and problems of Ramaphosa’s efforts to clean up government and introduce wide-ranging economic reforms.

Impacts

• Continuing speculation about Gordhan and changing departmental control over Eskom will undermine the utility’s new CEO.
• The ANC’s plans to keep SAA as a state entity will dampen investor confidence over wider SOE reforms.
• Despite the ANC’s travails, it will benefit from leadership changeover and turmoil in the main opposition parties.