BNIC#2: André de Ruyter’s dream SONA: Renew South Africa's economy, or fall off the fiscal cliff

Speaking at the second BizNews Investment Conference (BNIC#2) in Hermanus, former Eskom CEO André de Ruyter warned that South Africa faces the same collapse conditions as 1989, but said bold leadership could spark renewal. He called for a “fantasy SONA” in 2026: needs-based empowerment, a new Scorpions, fiscal discipline, and market-friendly reforms. With five months to act, he urged Ramaphosa to choose between quiet failure - or a legacy-defining pivot to growth and prosperity.

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