Rafiq Wagiet5 August 2024 | 17:42

Tito Mboweni shares tips on how GNU partners can fix SA's economy

The former Reserve Bank governor and former finance minister believes the private sector must be included in the GNU's plans.

Tito Mboweni shares tips on how GNU partners can fix SA's economy

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni delivers his Budget speech in Parliament on 24 February 2021. Picture: GCIS. Tito Mboweni Budget speech Budget speech 2021

Stephen Grootes interviews former SA Reserve Bank governor and former finance minister Tito Mboweni. 

Listen to the interview in the audio player below. 

In October 2018, Mboweni stepped into the role of Finance Minister, following the resignation of Nhlanhla Nene, spending less than three years in the role. 

Mboweni had previously worked in the private sector, exactly where he finds himself these days following his time as finance minister.

This was his second stint in government, having served as Minister of Labour during the initial Government of National Unity (GNU) under President Nelson Mandela, before being appointed Governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) in 1999.

With vast experience working in government and in the private sector, and not forgetting his time as SARB governor, Mboweni offered his advice on how the partners in the current GNU can fix the country's problems.

"Define the next five years as infrastructure years in South Africa. Reconstruct infrastructure, re-build infrastructure, polish up where it's necessary, and let's get going." - Tito Mboweni, former Reserve Bank governor and former finance minister  

"We need to bring together all the talents that we can muster in our country, both in the private and public sector. There's huge potential here." - Tito Mboweni, former Reserve Bank governor and former finance minister  

"If we can fix our ports, and ensure that the connection between the ports and the rail system works. If we can ensure that our communication & telecommunications systems work properly, we're on a good wicket there." - Tito Mboweni, former Reserve Bank governor and former finance minister

"Let's fill up the posts with people who can do the job. The 'know-how' is critical in the way ahead." - Tito Mboweni, former Reserve Bank governor and former finance minister  

"Money is not the problem. I think we have a substantial budget that can be utilised. That's from public funds...the private sector a lot of talent & capabilities that we should use." - Tito Mboweni, former Reserve Bank governor and former finance minister  

"We should continue to ensure that our roads are in a good state, our public hospitals are in a good state, our schools are in a good state, our bridges are in a good state and if we build the dams we said we were going to build to supply water to our people." - Tito Mboweni, former Reserve Bank governor and former finance minister  

Scroll up to listen to the full interview.