Jeremy’s weekly wrap: Visa ‘breakthrough’ but SA needs more reforms

A new digital visa regime promises to turn tourism from red tape casualty into growth catalyst. Gender diversity in boardrooms is inching forward, though still dogged by structural gaps.

In healthcare, a regulatory rethink aims to speed up medicine approvals, but investment incentives lag. And at the RAF, a dramatic board dissolution signals a last-ditch attempt to rescue a system on the brink of collapse. Whether these shifts signal real change or just another round of promises remains to be seen.

Read:
Moneyweb’s new ‘Mandates and Megaphones’ G20 podcast hosted by Jeremy Maggs
GNU’s first year: Progress undermined by politics

Tourism leaders welcomed Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber’s digital overhaul, with the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa’s Rosemary Anderson calling it “a breakthrough.” An AI-powered visa system due in September, plus fast-track schemes for film crews and conference delegates, could help reverse years of lost business due to slow approvals.

You can also listen to this podcast on iono.fm here.

Meanwhile, the push for gender parity in the boardroom showed signs of momentum. The 2024 Spencer Stuart Index found 37% of JSE Top 50 board seats are now held by women, with over half of new appointees being female. But co-author Lisa Mariano warned that tenures remain shorter and opportunities uneven underscoring the need for mentorship and inclusive board practices.

You can also listen to this podcast on iono.fm here.

In the pharmaceutical sector, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority’s promise to halve approval times for locally made medicines was met with cautious optimism. Dr Stavros Nicolaou of the body Pharmaceuticals Made in SA called it a vital first step, but urged government to fast-track procurement regulations and implement competitive incentives to truly industrialise the sector.

You can also listen to this podcast on iono.fm here.

And the long-festering crisis at the Road Accident Fund came to a head (hopefully). Transport Minister Barbara Creecy dissolved the RAF board over systemic failures. Ngoako Mohlaloga from the Association for the Protection of Road Accident Victims said it was “engineered dysfunction,” with critical posts left vacant and claimants now waiting until 2031 for court dates. He called for National Treasury transparency, enforcement of the RAF Act, and urgent action to prevent further suffering of crash victims. Change may be in motion, but the clock is ticking …

You can also listen to this podcast on iono.fm here.

Follow Moneyweb’s in-depth finance and business news on WhatsApp here.