Ramaphosa Launches Phase Three Of Government-Business Partnership - Focus Shifts To Growth And Jobs

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Hyde Park, Johannesburg - President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched Phase Three of the Government-Business Partnership at Summer Place, Hyde Park, moving the partnership from stabilisation and reform to growth.

Ramaphosa said Phase One was about stabilisation and Phase Two about reform. Phase Three must be about growth - converting progress into investment, production and jobs.

RECAP OF PROGRESS:

Energy: South Africa has gone more than a year without load shedding. Power station performance improved. Private investment pipeline established. Market Operator Licence granted to National Transmission Company and Grid Capacity Allocation Rules approved. Ramaphosa said work remains on transmission grid, new generation, municipal distribution and affordability.

Freight Logistics: National Logistics Crisis Committee and Freight Logistics Roadmap adopted. Decline in rail and port performance arrested, freight volumes recovering. Rail access agreements concluded with 11 private train-operating companies.

Crime and Corruption: South Africa removed from FATF grey list in October 2025. Establishment of Digital Forensics South Africa to investigate financial crimes. Focus now on prosecution, asset recovery, dismantling criminal networks.

Youth Employment: SA Youth platform and Youth Employment Service (YES) expanded. Global Business Services incentive backlog addressed, contributing to 26,000 jobs in 2025.

Ramaphosa noted economy still growing below level needed to reduce unemployment.

"For the millions of South Africans who cannot find work, economic recovery remains an abstract idea," he said.

PHASE THREE FRAMEWORK: Inclusive Growth, Jobs and Confidence

Immediate objective: lift growth above 3%. Growth of 3% is threshold, not summit.

Composition of growth matters: labour-intensive, industrial capacity, support for SMEs, black industrialists, women-owned and youth-owned businesses, reaching townships, rural communities and small towns.

NEW SECTORS ADDED:

1. Tourism: Fastest way to generate jobs. Plans to improve air access, modernise visa processing, destination marketing, tourist safety, tourism infrastructure.
2. Agriculture and Agro-processing: Address water, transport, biosecurity, finance, market access. Accelerate land reform, connect smallholder farmers to finance, tech, supply chains and export markets.
3. Mining: Leverage critical minerals demand. Modern, transparent mining-rights system, reliable electricity, improved rail and ports, action against illegal mining, beneficiation, junior miners and black-owned mining companies.

Ramaphosa said focus will remain on energy, logistics, crime and corruption, youth employment to deepen implementation.

Government targets R3 trillion in investment mobilisation. Operation Vulindlela to accelerate reforms in electricity, logistics, water, telecoms, visa system.

"Every workstream must have clear objectives, measurable targets, firm timelines and accountable leaders," Ramaphosa said.

He stressed partnership does not transfer government responsibility to business, no special favours or privileged access.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE PEOPLE OF GA-RANKUWA:

1. Jobs - The Main Test: Ga-Rankuwa youth unemployment remains high. Phase Three promises expansion of SA Youth and YES, plus labour-intensive sectors. Question for Ga-Rankuwa: Will jobs reach Zone 1-16, not just Sandton? Will SMMEs in Ga-Rankuwa get supplier opportunities from big business investing?

2. Township Economy: Ramaphosa said growth must reach townships. For Ga-Rankuwa spaza shops, salons, welders, builders, auto shops - this means need for access to finance, procurement opportunities, paying suppliers on time, skills support. Residents must watch if R3 trillion investment includes Ga-Rankuwa industrial sites, Rosslyn automotive link.

3. Agriculture Link: Many families have links to Winterveld, Mabopane smallholdings and North West farms. Focus on agro-processing could mean market for smallholder farmers supplying Ga-Rankuwa and Tshwane.

4. Tourism Potential: Ga-Rankuwa, Moruleng Cultural Precinct, Sefako Makgatho, Tshwane townships could benefit if tourism extends beyond established destinations as promised. Local guesthouses, tour guides, crafters could gain.

5. Service Delivery Reality Check: President said growth must be felt. For Ga-Rankuwa, that means reliable electricity beyond load shedding, water security, functioning roads (R80, R566), working traffic lights, and efficient Home Affairs visa and municipal services for small business.

Bottom Line For Ga-Rankuwa: Phase Three is boardroom deal. Its success will be measured in Ga-Rankuwa by whether a young person from Zone 5 gets first job, whether a woman-owned business in Ga-Rankuwa gets tender, and whether electricity and water allow business to operate.

Source: The Presidency