President Cyril Ramaphosa has provided the first insights into South Africa’s upcoming Budget 3.0, announcing a massive R1 trillion allocation for infrastructure development over the medium term. The president made the announcement during the launch of Phase 2 of Operation Vulindlela at the Union Buildings, a program initially introduced in 2020 to drive economic reforms.
The new phase will focus on overcoming regulatory and structural challenges in key sectors, including energy, water, housing, telecommunications, and logistics. Ramaphosa also emphasized the need to strengthen local government ahead of the 2026 elections, pledging to ensure qualified officials are appointed to critical municipal roles.
Additionally, the president acknowledged South Africa’s lag in digital transformation, revealing Cabinet’s approval of a digital roadmap to modernize government services. Plans include a digital ID system, rapid payment solutions, and online access to essential services like ID and passport applications.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is set to deliver the full budget on 21 May, which Ramaphosa promised will be a forward-looking plan unlike previous years. The president also highlighted progress in energy and logistics as key successes from Operation Vulindlela’s first phase.
