“Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic what we needed from government was long-term strategic goals to invigorate investment, but what business needed today was a policy position shift.

“The message investors needed to hear is that the public sector will become an enabling partner to business rather than a red-tape laden behemoth that places the responsibility of job creation squarely at the door of private enterprise.

“The reality is that in 2020 the lockdown all but imploded the private sector, which will take years to recover even with the strongest government backing. Without active policy changes across the board, the private sector’s burden is too great.”

Van Reenen says SONA 2021 highlighted the need to address corruption, economic growth and reform and the lack of infrastructure to service the country – the same subjects addressed in SONA 2020.

“We’ve heard this before. We know the problems, but what we need from government now, is firm leadership in offering solutions.

“Unless we have substance to underpin the big blue-sky thinking, the government is offering little to nothing in the way of tangible assistance to effect an economic turnaround,” says Van Reenen.