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About this talk

Join us for a discussion with Ann Bernstein on South Africa's political and economic future following the formation of the country's new Government of National Unity (GNU) in July 2024. After the African National Congress, in power since 1994, failed to secure a parliamentary majority, the GNU came into office promising to accelerate reform, restore state capacity and place South Africa on a higher growth path. The conversation will explore why progress has remained slow, with corruption, unemployment and institutional weakness continuing to undermine economic and social development. It will also focus on the mounting crisis in Johannesburg, where political instability, financial mismanagement and declining service delivery have raised serious concerns about the future of South Africa's largest city. Bernstein founded the Centre for Development and Enterprise in 1995 and has become one of South Africa's leading advocates for economic and institutional reform. She writes extensively on growth, unemployment, education, governance and the role of business in development, and regularly convenes conversations across political and institutional divides on the country's most pressing challenges. She will reflect on the obstacles facing South Africa today, what is required to generate growth and employment, and whether the 2026 local government elections could provide an opportunity for political and economic renewal.

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