Improved power supply could boost growth, says Treasury DG

Johannesburg - South Africa's improved electricity supply could add between 0.8 and 1 percentage point of GDP growth, director general Lungisa Fuzile told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference in Johannesburg.

"By our estimate we think that our resolution of the constraint could add anything between 0.8 and 1 percentage point to our growth. So that all firms that need energy can have it all the time."

Power utility Eskom said earlier in May that it does not expect to implement electricity cuts for the rest of the financial year which started in April.

SA needs to "reduce noise" in its political system

Fuzile also said that the country has to reduce the "noise" in its politics in order to attract investment and improve confidence.

"We have got to reduce the amount of noise in our political system, especially as it pertains to various policies that are under consideration so that we can improve confidence and make our country an attractive investment destination."

Africa's most industrialised country has been gripped by political upheavals ranging from a failed impeachment attempt against President Jacob Zuma for breaching the constitution to media reports that he is at "war" with Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in the past few weeks.