ZUMA'S RESIGNATION - WHERE TO FROM NOW?

CAPE TOWN - President Jacob Zuma (or should I say "former President") last night announced his resignation as president of the state bringing to an end what appeared to be a Presidency marred by all sorts of scandals to say the least.

With Zuma out of office, all eyes now lie on the man who is seen as the potential successor of Zuma - Cyril Ramaphosa. Having been elected president of the ANC about 2 months ago, Ramaphosa is seen as the man to take South Africa out of the situation it is in courtesy of the Zuma Presidency. 

If successful as the next president of the Republic, Ramaphosa will be faced with a huge task to restore dignity to the state and government in general. We look at some of the tasks that Ramaphosa might have to deal with once he assumes office of the president if that be the case.

• TACKLING CORRUPTION

It is no secret that there was corruption under the Zuma led administration. Calls of him to step down over allegations of State Capture, Zuma appointees heading almost all the law-enforcement agencies , which have been slow or loathe to act against some of his closest allies who've been implicated in the free for all. As President, Ramaphosa will have to deal with the corruption issues effectively and restore trust to the people.

• STATE OWNED COMPANIES ARE IN CHAOS

With corruption and looting sprees targeting mostly state owned companies (Eskom which is at risk of running out of cash, PetroSA) are among some of the SOCs that have been hobbled by a lack of leadership and oversight. Ramaphosa has seen part of the transformation at Eskom, however much still needs to be done to improve our State Owned Companies.

• REIGNITING GROWTH

While the Government's National Development Plan says an average 5.4% economic growth rate is needed to meet it's goal of slashing a 27% unemployment rate, the central bank anticipates an expansion of just 1.4% this year and 1.6% in 2019. Greater policy certainty would go along way toward boosting business confidence and investment in the economy under the Ramaphosa Administration. 

• FINDING FUNDS FOR THE FREE TERTIARY EDUCATION

Shortly before he was replaced as the ANC leader, Zuma announced that Government would be fully subsidizing tertiary education for students from homes where the combined annual income is less than R350 000. Though this is a good idea and the ANC backed it, there is no solid plan of action as to how this will be achieved and it is all left for the man to fill in Zuma's shoes to provide a way forward.