Our Work

The Government Business Partnership brings together the capabilities and resources of government and business to tackle the constraints holding back inclusive economic growth, investment and job creation in South Africa. Led by the President, the Partnership combines senior government and business leadership, specialist expertise and implementation capacity behind clear priorities, measurable outcomes and a strong focus on delivery.

Since 2023, the Partnership has focused on some of the country’s most pressing challenges. Its first phases concentrated on Energy, Transport & Logistics, Crime & Corruption and Youth Employment, helping to stabilise critical network industries, advance structural reforms and strengthen the foundations for economic recovery. This work has contributed to significant progress, including the end of loadshedding, a recovery in logistics performance and South Africa’s exit from the FATF grey list.

Phase 3 expands the scope of the Partnership to address the urgent challenge of low growth and unemployment. Its ambition is to help move South Africa towards sustained GDP growth of more than 3% and contribute to the creation of one million additional jobs by 2030. Every initiative is assessed against its contribution to inclusive growth, job creation and confidence.

Phase 3 is organised around three complementary pillars, each focused on a critical part of the growth challenge:

Economic growth enablers: Energy and Transport & Logistics;
Growth drivers: Mining, Tourism, Infrastructure, and Agriculture & Agro-processing; and
Confidence multipliers: Crime & Corruption, Youth Employment, the City of Johannesburg and building an evidence-based SA Inc narrative.

Phase 3 takes a targeted, evidence-led approach to where the Partnership can have the greatest impact. The growth sectors were selected based on their economic significance, potential to scale, ability to create jobs and generate wider economic benefits, and the extent to which practical constraints can be addressed through action within South Africa. They also offer opportunities across both rural and urban economies and have strong potential to absorb labour, particularly young people.

Across all focal areas, the Partnership concentrates on practical interventions where coordinated action between government and business can unlock investment, spur economic growth and help create jobs.

Key focal areas

Mandate

Support the implementation of the government energy reform agenda under the ERA legislation. Specific targets for 2025 include helping create the conditions to mobilise new generation build, maintaining zero loadshedding, preparing for the introduction of the electricity market in 2026, and expanding the national grid. This is all done through National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM), in collaboration with government and Eskom.

Focal area lead

James Mackay

Mandate

Increasing volumes in transport and logistics, which is critical to enabling South Africa’s economic growth and creating jobs. Specific targets for 2025 include assisting with the following: improving operational performance of strategic transport corridors, boosting capacity in rail and ports to increase exports, enabling critical reforms in transport and logistics sector, attracting private sector participation and unlocking significant investment. This is all done through the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC), together with government, Transnet and other key stakeholders.

Focal area lead

Ian Bird

Mandate

The objective is to actively contribute to the systemic changes required to sustainably remove South Africa from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, thus enhancing investor confidence and improving the country’s credit ratings. The work includes capacitating the criminal justice system to investigate and prosecute complex money laundering and corruption cases effectively, as well as continuing to support NECOM and the NLCC in combating infrastructure crime.

Focal area lead

Graham Wright

Mandate

The Partnership acknowledges that while GDP growth is essential to create jobs, it is insufficient to address youth unemployment in South Africa. This focal area is focused on jointly implementing targeted interventions to drive meaningful employment opportunities for young people.

Focal area lead

Nicola Galombik