South Africa advances Operation Vulindlela market reforms

South Africa’s government has announced progress on Operation Vulindlela reforms aimed at opening markets, weakening monopolies, and attracting private investment.

• Electricity and grid: National Treasury Director-General Dr Duncan Pieterse said lifting the licensing requirement in 2022 opened the market to new private renewable energy generators; the national grid now needs more than R100 billion in investment to expand and modernise.
• Other reforms: Cabinet has recently approved the approach to unbundling Transnet’s ports authority; private rail operators have begun testing lines; the Electronic Travel Authorisation launched in August; Transnet issued a request for qualifications for a strategic partner for the multibillion-rand Manganese Export Corridor; and digital ID and MzansiXchange pilots are advancing.