The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: An Economic Review of Zuma’s Presidency

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs reviews the economic impact of Jacob Zuma's presidency, detailing a period marked by corruption, state capture, and economic decline, alongside specific policy successes in healthcare and renewable energy.

• South Africa's economic indicators deteriorated under Zuma's leadership, with a 2017 GDP growth forecast of 0.7%, unemployment at 27.7%, and gross national debt reaching its highest level since 2008. The country experienced a technical recession in the first quarter of 2017, and credit ratings from S&P and Fitch were downgraded to junk.
• Regulatory uncertainty and investor-unfriendly policies have hindered growth, specifically regarding the mining sector's revised Mining Charter, which required 30% black ownership within 12 months, and the proposed 2016 Land Expropriation Bill regarding expropriation without compensation.
• The administration achieved notable successes in public health and energy, with UNAids recognizing the combatting of the HIV/Aids pandemic as international best practice and the Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme making South Africa a top-10 destination for renewable energy investment.
• Zuma's 'Look East' diplomacy strengthened ties with China, leading to South Africa becoming a BRICS member and China becoming its largest trading partner by 2010. Trade with BRICS nations rose from US$27.9 billion in 2010 to US$28.9 billion in 2016.
• The government planned to implement a national minimum wage of R20 per hour by 2018 to reduce inequality and improve living standards for the working poor.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2017). The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: An Economic Review of Zuma’s Presidency. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-an-economic-review-of-zumas-presidency/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: An Economic Review of Zuma’s Presidency. 2017. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-an-economic-review-of-zumas-presidency/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: An Economic Review of Zuma’s Presidency |date=14 December 2017 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-an-economic-review-of-zumas-presidency/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2017good, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: An Economic Review of Zuma’s Presidency}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2017}, month = dec, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-an-economic-review-of-zumas-presidency/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }