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Ramaphosa's South African `New Dawn' Faces Same Dark Clouds

Ramaphosa's South African `New Dawn' Faces Same Dark Clouds

(Bloomberg) -- One year into the “new dawn” that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa promised when he took power, the economy is battling many of the same old problems.

Growth in Africa’s most-industrialized economy is sluggish, unemployment is still at record levels and the debt of mismanaged state companies such as Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. is weighing on finances. That’s a challenging backdrop for Ramaphosa, who promised a slew of regulatory reforms when he became leader of the African National Congress in December 2017.

These charts show the progress he’s made, and where he’s falling short.

Ramaphosa's South African `New Dawn' Faces Same Dark Clouds

Economic Growth

Ramaphosa's South African `New Dawn' Faces Same Dark Clouds

Ramaphosa, like his predecessor Jacob Zuma, began his presidency with a recession. The country has emerged from that slump, but expansion hasn’t exceeded 2 percent annually since 2013 and will only reach that level by next year, according to central bank forecasts. That’s far from the 5 percent growth he pledged in his campaign for leadership of the ANC.

Business Confidence

Ramaphosa's South African `New Dawn' Faces Same Dark Clouds

Business confidence surged to a two-year high early in 2018 on hopes that Ramaphosa’s leadership would mark an end to years of economic mismanagement and alleged graft under his predecessor. Sentiment has since cooled.

“There was an expectation that reforms would come through very quickly,” said Sanisha Packirisamy, an economist at Momentum Investments. “That was an unfair expectation given the political reality of a ruling party that has two very strong and opposing factions.”

Unemployment

Ramaphosa's South African `New Dawn' Faces Same Dark Clouds

Slow growth and low business confidence mean steps to boost employment, such as hosting a jobs summit and partnering with the private sector for a youth-internship program, haven’t made a dent in record-high unemployment. But Ramaphosa’s introduction in January of a minimum wage “may end up being a policy that boosts demand and buoys the economy,” according to Daryl Glaser, a political science professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

Capital Inflows

Ramaphosa's South African `New Dawn' Faces Same Dark Clouds

Foreign direct investment has begun to recover from an 11-year low. Ramaphosa’s plan to attract $100 billion in investment over five years has brought pledges from China, the U.K., the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia and Daimler AG’s Mercedes-Benz unit.

State Companies and Ratings

Ramaphosa's South African `New Dawn' Faces Same Dark Clouds

Moody’s Investors Service changed its outlook on South Africa’s credit ratings to stable from negative in March, keeping the country’s at investment grade. Despite this reprieve, the debt loads of state companies remain a key risk for the sovereign rating. A cut to junk by Moody’s could trigger outflows from some of the world’s largest funds.

Ramaphosa’s televised state-of-the-nation address is due to begin at 7 p.m. in Cape Town.

--With assistance from Amogelang Mbatha.

To contact the reporter on this story: Prinesha Naidoo in Johannesburg at pnaidoo7@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Rene Vollgraaff at rvollgraaff@bloomberg.net, Gordon Bell

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