Spotlight on SOEs seeking government bailouts

Transnet has asked the government for financial assistance to pay its R130 billion debt, while In July 2023 Eskom received R16 billion payment from the National Treasury.

The amount received by Eskom is part of the R254 billion the power utility stands to receive to pay a big part of its total debt load of R423 billion.

The same has been the case with most of SA's state-owned companies over the years, including SAA, the SABC and others.

While these SOEs were positioned to spearhead the country's economic development by promoting industrial competitiveness, and social development that includes growing new skills and employment, it remains to be seen whether that ambition can still be realised.

Dawie Roodt, a founder, Director and Chief Economist of the Efficient Group, and former SA Statistician-General Dr Pali Lehohla weigh in.

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