Operation Vulindlela’s wins are real, but implementation momentum is slowing - BLSA

The launch of Operation Vulindlela’s second quarter report last week was a reminder of the valuable work it does, but also of how much still must be done.

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To me, success is measured only when there is a real, tangible difference on the ground, changing the way we do business. By that standard, OV has delivered important wins, but critical work remains.

There are clear successes in that respect. Most obvious is in electricity - the major development of renewable energy projects, Eskom’s return to profitability after eight years, and the 14,500MW of new energy production already registered with Nersa. The vast improvement in registration turnaround times to just 11 days has removed a major bottleneck that was holding back private investment.

Visa reform is also a major tangible achievement. The 300,000 application backlog has been cleared and the electronic travel authorisation system is now up and running, boosting tourism and business travel. These are the kinds of practical improvements that directly enable economic activity.

The BLSA Reform Tracker, available free online, tracks over 200 reforms like these and accords with the progress that Operation Vulindlela shows.

However, implementation timelines have slowed on other critical fronts. Critical infrastructure like the Transport Economic Regulator, the independent water regulator and the unbundling of Transnet’s National Ports Authority are still on the “to do” list, despite being on the agenda for years. In most cases, the legislation is done, but we await the follow-through with the implementation of the institutional reforms. Even on electricity, where progress has been remarkable, vital rules and regulations to enable wheeling, grid capacity and electricity trading are still to be finalised.