Ramaphosa's stimulus package shows power is finely balanced in the ANC.

President Cyril Ramaphosa's economic stimulus package
shows that he and his political allies are
in charge of economic policy.
(Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

The economic stimulus package announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa shows that he and his political allies are, contrary to much analysis in recent months, in charge of economic policy.

Ramaphosa insists that it is a ‘bold’ attempt to initiate economic change which will particularly benefit youth, women and small businesses. It rests partly, he adds, on ‘significant regulatory reform’.

But the package is more interesting for what it says about the politics of economic decision-making in the ANC than for its likely impact on the economy.

Certainly, it does not signal readiness by Ramaphosa and his allies to use their power to introduce much-needed reforms. In an article in the financial press explaining the thinking behind the package, Ramaphosa acknowledged that it rested not on new ideas but on trying to get the government to do what it has already said it will do. 

He wrote that it was “tempting to unleash novel policy directions” but it was far more important “to build a track record of successful implementation.”

By Steven Friedman.

Full story at Mail & Guardian.