Much hard work still needed for SA

“Why Ramaphosa’s plan falls short” (Editorials, September 27-October 3) points out the many hurdles yet to be cleared in SA.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has the herculean task of restoring the state’s health, but our coffers are bare. The stimulus package he announced falls far short of restoring growth; he needs to take a scalpel to the problem — fire nonperforming ministers, engender goodwill from business, rein in the unions, downsize the public service, auction the assets of state-owned enterprises, drop the national health insurance project and clearly articulate how the land [expropriation] will be fairly dealt with (much hinges on this).

Though former president Thabo Mbeki had a vision of broad, sunlit uplands, his successor, Jacob Zuma — with his communist and trade union allies — consigned this to the waste bin. As president, Zuma abrogated his authority, allowing his corrupt cronies and the Gupta family access to the country’s treasures. They unashamedly denied the poor their share of the nation’s wealth.

Begging for loans now is no solution — it would only add to our unmanageable debt burden.

We need to attract foreign investment with a welcoming environment, and create more industries and labour opportunities. Even then, the hard yards will still have to be covered.