African National Congress (ANC) national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri has opined that through the party’s election manifesto, the ANC is working to secure a renewed mandate from South Africans to accelerate the country’s economic growth and job creation efforts.

She said it was only through a sustained period of economic growth that the party would be able to transform the country’s economy, reduce unemployment and ensure a better life for all.

The ANC noted the latest Statistics South Africa report which indicated that the South African economy grew by 0.6% in 2023. This compared with 1.9% growth in the previous year.

Bhengu-Motsiri praised “the ongoing economic programme of the ANC-led government” following the release of the Statistics South Africa report, and said the party's programmes prioritised interventions to promote growth.

She said investment in South Africa’s present and future was key to unlocking higher levels of economic growth and job creation.

The party believes that through structural reforms, investment conferences, and close, ongoing work with business and labour constituencies, “investment levels are steadily being raised”.

“Sectors that contributed to growth during 2023 were finance, real estate, and business services; transport, storage and communication; personal services and manufacturing,” Bhengu-Motsiri said.

She acknowledged the negative effects of loadshedding on South Africans and the economy, and said through the “determined implementation” of the country’s Energy Action Plan, the ANC aimed to bring an end to the era of loadshedding.

“The ANC is determined to turn this situation around and restore the energy security that is required to grow our economy and accelerate employment creation, especially for young people,” she said.

Bhengu-Motsiri explained that the ANC would also expedite the implementation of the Freight Logistics Roadmap to ensure the improved performance of the rail and ports logistics sectors, weak performance of which contributed to the slow growth in the economy last year.