South African president Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday delivers his first state-of-the-nation speech since the ruling party extended its quarter-century grip on power in last month\u2019s election.<\/p>\n
His address to parliament in Cape Town is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. local time.<\/p>\n
Here are five key things to watch out for:<\/p>\n
1. A rescue plan for the state power utility<\/strong><\/p>\n Ramaphosa\u2019s office has said he\u2019ll announce new measures to ease the crisis Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd, which supplies most of South Africa\u2019s electricity, has wracked up more than $30 billion in debt and is at risk of insolvency.<\/p>\n The utility got a three-year, R69 billion ($4.7-billion) bailout in the February budget, but that won\u2019t nearly be enough to stabilize its finances.<\/p>\n The National Treasury would probably breach its expenditure ceiling and deficit targets if it\u2019s forced to come up with additional money, and that could cost the country its last remaining investment-grade credit rating.<\/p>\n Ramaphosa could elaborate on plans announced in his last keynote address in February to split Eskom into generation, distribution and transmission units under a state holding company – a measure that\u2019s been opposed by labor unions that fear it will lead to privatization and job losses.<\/p>\n South African Airways also has its back to the wall – it last made a profit eight years ago and needs to come up with R12.7 billion to pay off debt that matures this year and another R4 billion to keep flying into 2020.<\/p>\n The carrier will be looking to Ramaphosa for reassurances that the government will provide it with the backing it needs to raise new loans.<\/p>\n 3. A strategy to revive economic growth<\/strong><\/p>\n Africa\u2019s most industrialized economy contracted an annualized 3.2% in the first quarter, dealing a blow to Ramaphosa\u2019s efforts to halve a 28% unemployment rate.<\/p>\n The president may reveal what\u2019s being done to reduce red tape and other hindrances to growth and investment as the government targets a top-50 position in the World Bank\u2019s ease-of-doing-business rankings within three years.<\/p>\n It currently ranks 82nd out of 190 nations. There could also be announcements on relaxing visa requirements to attract more tourists, and an indication of the government\u2019s latest thinking on the possible sale of state assets.<\/p>\n 4. A way forward on land restitution<\/strong><\/p>\n The ruling party\u2019s decision in December 2017 to change the constitution to make it easier for the government to take land without paying for it has rattled investors and farmers.<\/p>\n Since then, lawmakers and a government advisory panel have been wrestling with how to implement the decision in a manner that addresses racially skewed ownership patterns without derailing the economy.<\/p>\n Ramaphosa may release the panel\u2019s findings and give some idea as to how the process of land restitution will unfold.<\/p>\n 5. Certainty on the role of the central bank<\/strong><\/p>\n Ace Magashule, the secretary-general of the ruling party, caused shock waves in financial markets this month when he announced that the central bank\u2019s mandate should be changed to ensure it does more to foster economic growth and create jobs.<\/p>\n Ramaphosa repudiated those comments and put the ruling party\u2019s plans to nationalize the central bank on hold, saying they weren\u2019t feasible at this stage.<\/p>\n The president could provide further reassurances that the bank\u2019s independence is sacrosanct and it will remain focused on fighting inflation.<\/p>\n2. Support for the national airline<\/h3>\n
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