By Jon Herskovitz
JOHANNESBURG Jan 9 (Reuters) – South Africa’s
President Jacob Zuma is expected to lay out plans to tackle
chronic joblessness, fix a broken school system and end rampant
corruption in the continent’s largest economy when he delivers
his State of the Union address in February.
But after more than two years of a leadership widely seen as
ineffective, few expect Zuma to do more than pay lip service to
growing problems that have eroded economic competitiveness.
Making things worse is legislation pending in parliament
which a prominent study said would drive up unemployment and
make labour more costly.
Concerns have been raised at home and abroad over a state
secrecy law that parliament approved late last year that would
make it easier to cover up corruption by jailing those who try
to expose it through releasing classified documents.
Zuma, facing re-election as leader of the ruling African
National Congress at the end of the year, wants to keep his
powerful labour allies happy, and will make sure pro-business
reforms that economists say are desperately needed, are kept on
ice.
Meanwhile, the rand has weakened severely against the
dollar, stoking worries of inflation as imports become more
costly for a country that relies heavily on imports.
EXPENSIVE LABOUR
Continued…
