Clement Mayathela interviews Rudi Dicks, Head of the Project Management Office (PMO) in the Private Office of the President to discuss Operation Vulindlela.

In his State of the Nation address, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the second phase of Operation Vulindlela will focus on overhauling the local government system and enhancing service delivery. 

First introduced in 2020, Ramaphosa described Operation Vulindlela as a strategic initiative designed to accelerate the implementation of economic reforms and bolster the country's economic recovery.

A joint effort between the Presidency and National Treasury, Operation Vulindlela seeks to modernise and transform key network industries, including electricity, water, transport, and digital communications.

According to Dicks, the initiative has already achieved significant success.

"The essence of the reform programme was to try and develop an approach where we could fast-track some of the reforms and policy decisions we've taken," Dicks explains.

The second phase of the programme is set to expand, incorporating additional structural reforms in sectors such as electricity, freight logistics, telecommunications, water, and skills development.

The aim is to drive sustained economic growth over the next five years.

"This is not about reducing costs; it's about implementing decisions we've taken over many years," Dicks emphasises.

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