Budget 2025: Structural reforms crucial for economic growth, says Godongwana

CAPE TOWN - Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says structural reforms form an important part of the 2025 budget to help ease economic bottlenecks and grow the economy.

Godongwana says this has already started through the first phase of Operation Vulindlela, which targeted “far-reaching reforms” in the network sectors and the visa regime.

He says the reforms will also be implemented to encourage greater private sector participation in public infrastructure.

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The first phase of Operation Vulindela was to enhance the country's appeal to international travellers and investors.

This was done through more streamlined visa processes, including a trusted employer scheme and an e-visa system.

On Wednesday, Godongwana said the second phase will now focus on seeing through existing reforms in energy, water and the visa regime.

He says this also targets housing and the apartheid legacy of spatial inequality.

"Reforms will include changes to housing policy and accelerating the release of publicly owned land and buildings."

Godongwana says this will also include clearing the backlog of title deeds for affordable housing.

He says the new regulations for public-private partnerships will reduce bureaucracy when undertaking these partnerships to allow the government to leverage its limited resources.