As I assumed the role of minister of finance in August 2021, South Africa stood at a pivotal juncture in its history. Our nation had just weathered its most profound upheaval in nearly three decades: a storm of public violence, fuelled by simmering discontent and exacerbated by the hardships borne of Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. It was a sobering reminder that the challenges and disparities below the surface could no longer be ignored.
These events, I firmly believe, were not isolated incidents but rather a culmination of a legacy, a legacy etched in the profound impact of apartheid, touching both human lives and infrastructure. However, it was also the outcome of a decade marked by stagnant economic growth, characterised by policy uncertainty and incoherence. The long shadow of apartheid continue to mean inequalities and infrastructural deficiencies, which are formidable barriers to our progress.
