Cape Town – Former Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter has warned that South Africa is facing a severe crisis, with rising unemployment, surging government debt, violent crime, and political instability echoing conditions from the end of Apartheid in 1989.
Speaking at the BizNews Investment Conference, he highlighted stagnating economic growth, deteriorating investor confidence, worsening relations with the U.S., civil unrest, political interference in policing, and a growing skills exodus.
“South Africa is in crisis. The economy shows no sign of meaningful growth, investor confidence is sinking, the currency is beleaguered, and government debt is ballooning to unsustainable levels,” De Ruyter said.
“Our relationship with the United States has taken a significant turn for the worse. Geopolitical forces beyond our control force us to find new markets.”
“Civil unrest is destabilising our cities and our towns. This is everywhere. It is not just in Gauteng. Political murders are an all too frequent event.”
De Ruyter drew parallels between today’s challenges and those of the late 1980s, noting that while history shows South Africa has recovered before — through democratic reform, improved living standards, and expanded social welfare — the current global context is different, and international pressures that helped drive change then may not exist now.
He urged that the country must seize any strategic opportunities to avert disaster and rebuild its economic and political stability.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
