General: Presidency to drive ‘agrarian revolution', SOE turn around

The Presidency will ‘oversee’ the work of departments responsible for elements of the ‘accelerated … agrarian revolution’ deemed necessary if ‘more poor and black people’ are to participate in ‘productive agricultural activity … expanding the country’s agricultural output’. Announcing this yesterday in his 2018/19 budget vote speech, President Cyril Ramaphosa said that he intends appointing a presidential economic advisory council – bringing together South African and international expertise in various disciplines – to inform decisions on ‘economic policy and its implementation’, notes Pam Saxby for Legalbrief Policy Watch.  Meanwhile, recommendations emerging from a review of the size, composition and efficiency of government being undertaken by a Presidency-led task team will underpin measures ‘ready for implementation by the start of the 6th democratic administration’. The task team is already busy ‘examining in detail the modalities of a state that is leaner, smarter, adaptable and more capable of delivering on its mandate’.

The appointment of a presidential council on state-owned enterprises (SOEs) will ‘usher in a new era’ of SOE management, among other things by developing ‘an appropriate shareholder ownership model’. According to the President, the council will also: ‘oversee interventions to strengthen governance; address immediate liquidity challenges; implement turnaround strategies; investigate allegations of corruption; and take steps against those implicated’. ‘Business people, experts and other stakeholders’ will make up one half of the council, with Ministers comprising the balance. In Ramaphosa’s view, by involving ‘expertise from outside government’ and ensuring the attendance of SOE CEOs, shareholder Ministers will be ‘empowered’ to play a more ‘effective’ role in expanding SOE capacity so that the entities concerned optimise their potential as the catalysts of economic development.