Energy revolution at the heart of South Africa's post-pandemic recovery

While nations face unprecedented challenges with the war in Ukraine and the economic aftershocks of Covid-19, many countries - including South Africa - are emerging from the pandemic-induced slump with bright ambitions for the future.

"There's been a negative perception about South Africa growth policy, uncertainty and negative factors," Leila Fourie, CEO of Johannesburg Stock Exchange told Euronews. "What we are doing here is to try to put forward the story of what's happening on the ground, this great transformation, government policy around power, renewables focus, the growth trajectory both connected to financial markets as well as commodities and the renewed interest by foreign investors into South Africa. On a relative basis South Africa is favourably positioned relative to its BRICS countries right now."

Like most countries, South Africa did not escape the pandemic, suffering significant loss of lives and livelihoods. However, the government responded strongly to the crisis at home and led an international alliance for vaccines for Africa. For Mmamloko Kubayi, South Africa's Minister for Human Settlements said cooperation at a continental level was key: 

"As a country what we have been able to do is not only speak for ourselves in terms of access to the vaccine but we're the voice for the continent and also we're saying to the global community 'let's not hog the vaccines', but ensure vaccine equity so all nations are able to access the vaccines so they operate safely and recover. It made us a leader in terms of speaking for the most vulnerable."

South Africa's economy started to recover in 2021, growing by 4.9 percent and Foreign Direct Investment into South Africa also jumped in 2021, to 36 billion euros. 

"It is