President Cyril Ramaphosa has credited a deepening partnership between government and the private sector as a key driver of South Africa’s economic recovery and reform momentum.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2026 South Africa Investment Conference in Sandton on Tuesday, President Ramaphosa said collaboration across business, labour and government has become a defining feature of the country’s growth strategy.
“This contribution has not been peripheral, but instrumental,” he said, referring to the role of business in supporting reforms, investment and job creation.
The President reflected on how this partnership has evolved since 2019, when government extended “the hand of partnership” to the private sector, a move that has since translated into billions of rands in investment pledges and coordinated efforts to stabilise and grow the economy.
He pointed to joint initiatives such as the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought together stakeholders to support economic recovery and protect jobs.
Business has also played a central role in employment creation, with more than 200,000 work opportunities generated for young people through the Youth Employment Service.
President Ramaphosa said this collaboration has extended into key reform areas, including in energy security, logistics performance and crime prevention, under the Government Business Partnership currently in its third phase.
“This collaboration reflects a deep and maturing partnership, and a uniquely South African approach to mobilising the skills, energy and talent that we have in abundance,” he said.
The President also outlined government’s intensified efforts to tackle crime and corruption, long seen as barriers to investment, including strengthening institutions such as the Special Investigating Unit and the National Prosecuting Authority.
A new criminal justice reform initiative, modelled on Operation Vulindlela, will soon be launched to target organised crime, corruption and the illicit economy.
In addition, new regulations under the Public Procurement Act are expected to be finalised this year to enhance transparency and accountability in state spending.
President Ramaphosa acknowledged the country’s difficult past, including the era of state capture and economic stagnation, but said meaningful progress has been made in rebuilding institutions and restoring confidence.
“Today, the green shoots of renewal are emerging. We have turned a corner. Our task now is to build on this progress, to create a dynamic and thriving economy and a more inclusive society.
“We will not rest until it is complete, and until every South African benefits from the fruit of economic progress,” he said.
He urged investors to view South Africa not only as a destination for capital, but as a long-term partner in development.
“You are not merely investing in an economy, you are investing in a nation determined to grow, transform, and succeed,” President Ramaphosa said.
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As the conference concluded, the President called on stakeholders to sustain momentum and work collectively to achieve faster, more inclusive growth.
“This is just the start. We still have much farther to go,” he said.
The President extended his gratitude to the sponsors of the conference, which include Afreximbank, Anglo American, African Rainbow Minerals, Coca Cola, The Development Bank of Southern Africa, DP World, Eskom, Google, MTN, Naspers, The National Empowerment Fund, Transnet, South 32, Uber and Vodacom.
He also thanked the Department of Trade and Industry, led by Minister Tau, the leadership of InvestSA, Infrastructure South Africa, the Industrial Development Corporation, Brand SA, Transnet, and all our partners for their hard work. – SAnews.gov.za
