Your president calling on you....

[Justloadit]

I think the situation is bordering on a major recession

[Justloadit]

"We need faster growth. Without faster growth we cannot succeed in reducing unemployment, poverty and inequality," said Zuma.

With the grid on Monday at 99.5% of capacity, how the heck can the economy grow, actually manufacturing grow wit out energy?

Since the black outs started in 2010 because of ESKOM's incompetence, the South African economy has been steadily declining.
The only reason that the black outs have been put at bay, is simply because the South African economy practically collapse, and therefor did not need any energy.

For any manufacturing growth, will require a minimum of an extra 25% capacity that is currently available. Any growth requires energy to power the growth, with out it we are lame ducks in this huge pond called Africa.

[Blurock]

Annualised GDP for Q1 comes in at 0.9% and the Rand is sliding.

So out comes JZ today and the Rand tanks to over R10 to the USD. What the heck did JZ say today to offend the markets so much?

Zuma: South Africa needs you
Zuma: Strikes are normal
Zuma appoints ministerial team to boost mining industry.

Or maybe it's that this was a surprise media briefing from the President - a sign that the situation is indeed pretty serious?

...and we need to create jobs. ...and we need to kickstart the economy. ...and we have mountains of money to spend on businesses that can make a contribution.

Then when you ask the IDC for assistance to provide 25% of your own investment to create new jobs and also to secure existing jobs, to replace imports and contribute to the economy by exporting, you get the same answer as the pawnbroking banks; "what security can you provide?"