China’s “Marshall Plan” for South Africa Raises Questions

South Africa's Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan (R) attending a briefing on South Africa's energy crisis in 2019. Since then power and logistics woes have worsened sharply. Image: Phil Magakoe / AFP

China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) has apparently provided a comprehensive blueprint to overhaul South Africa’s ailing infrastructure sector in order to kickstart growth.

South African development is being dragged down by a joint crisis in its state-owned enterprises. Ongoing blackouts from its power utility Eskom combine with breakdowns in the rail network run by Transnet to stymie mineral exports leading to growing job losses compounding an unemployment crisis that threatens social stability.

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by Cobus van Staden

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