SA needs urgent reforms

THE government needs to introduce further reforms to improve doing business in South Africa, or risk being out of valuable skills and competition.

I noticed recent positive developments in the electricity sector that will allow private sector organisations to produce some of the power. The move to the auction spectrum is key to positioning South Africa in a digitalised global economy. These are encouraging signs. However, there is still work to be done.

This includes unlocking the full potential of our tourism market by making it easier for tourists to access visas to visit. If South Africa is to grow and prosper and our companies are to be globally competitive, we need access to scarce talent.

South Africa still faces challenges with its state-owned entities such as Eskom and Transnet.

We therefore need serious and urgent action from the government to fix the stateowned entities. They play key roles in our ability to be globally competitive.

When we are not operating optimally, it negatively impacts job creation, economic growth and exchange earnings.

The water crisis and the ineffectiveness of our water boards is another issue that urgently needs to be addressed by the government, as does infrastructure. Now is the time for action, not nice words. We need tangible progress in South Africa. The country is also falling behind in service delivery at the local government level.

We need to build more capacity at this level because business operations are impacted by the performance of local government.

We need to ensure that councils and municipalities and their metros are all fit for the purpose.

The employees must be qualified, competent, capable and willing people who can run world-class municipalities.

From a national perspective, South Africa needs to improve. It is a country of potential. We all have to work together to create the conditions that will allow for our mutual success.

BRUCE CHINNIA

Phoenix