The utterances over the period of Zuma

“NOW IS THE time to lay the groundwork for stronger growth going forward, and for growth that gives rise to more jobs… Economic indicators suggest that we are now turning the corner. Economic activity is rising in South Africa, and we expect growth going forward,” State of the Nation Address (Sona) 2010.

“We have set a growth target of 5 percent by 2019. To achieve this, we will embark on various measures and interventions to jump-start the economy. We have set this target during a difficult period. The economy has grown below its potential over the last three years and many households are going through difficulties,” Sona 2011.

“I have asked Eskom to seek options on how the price increase requirement may be reduced over the next few years, in support of economic growth and job creation, and give me proposals for consideration… On economic transformation, we are amending the BroadBased Black Economic Empowerment Act,” Sona 2012.

“On average, the economy has grown at 3.2 percent a year from 1994 to 2012, despite the global recession, which claimed a million jobs. Working together as government, business, labour and the community sector, we nursed the economy to a recovery,” Sona 2014.

“Should we not come together and recognise the economy is sick? You cannot say it is business as usual when the economy is sick,” Zuma at the launch of the first unit of Eskom’s new Medupi power station in Limpopo in 2015.

“The ANC seeks the deracialisation of the ownership and control of the economy by empowering the historically oppressed black people and the working class in particular.” He also says the party seeks to deracialise the economy “because the economy was constructed on a racial basis. We can’t be shy about it”. Zuma at the ANC Youth League’s “Economic Freedom in Our Lifetime” lecture in December 2016.

“We all have a lot to do to turn the economy around and to cut wastage. We will go through a difficult period for a while, but when the economy recovers we will be proud of ourselves for having done the right thing,” Sona 2017.

“The policy conference takes place during a difficult period economically in our country. The economy has entered into a technical recession,” ANC national policy conference in June 2017.

“Let me emphasise that radical economic transformation is government policy and arises from the ANC, and not from outside the country as many rumour-mongers claim,” at the National Council of Provinces in November 2017.

“Companies that dominate in the mines, there are not many… You will find the same companies in charge. That means they are monopolising the economy and they’re not black,” Zuma in an ANN7 news network interview in November 2017. – Compiled by Dineo Faku