Eskom Chairman has a message for the South African government

Eskom Chairman Mteto Nyati said that, instead of treating business as the enemy, South Africa should learn from China and India to lift people out of poverty.

Nyati is one of South Africa’s top business leaders, known for advocating ethical leadership and a values-driven approach to business management.

Before he joined the Eskom board, he served as chief executive of Altron, MTN South Africa, and Microsoft South Africa.

Nyati is also the author of the bestselling autobiography, Betting on a Darkie, which describes his journey from a shopkeeper’s son to top corporate boardrooms.

He recently shared his views on South Africa’s lacklustre economic performance and the high unemployment and poverty rates.

“China and India have lifted hundreds of millions of their citizens out of poverty through market-oriented economic reforms,” he said.

“Yet in our country, business is still too often treated as an enemy rather than a partner for development. Why can’t we learn from their success?”

He highlighted that the majority of employees at companies like Capitec, Discovery, Standard Bank, and Shoprite are black.

This shows that these large businesses help to lift many people who were previously disadvantaged out of poverty.

He also called for policy certainty and creating an environment which attracts investments to South Africa.

“All companies want to grow. If sector policies in South Africa are uncertain, they will invest in Australia, South America, Eastern Europe and China instead,” he said.

Commenting on unions, which often promote anti-business and anti-capitalist policies, he said they will also benefit from economic growth.

“It is in the interest of trade unions to support inclusive economic growth in South Africa. Stronger growth will increase union membership,” he said.

He added that while unions do not directly set economic and trade policies, they significantly influence them.

“We need a national agenda involving all stakeholders, with compromises required from everyone to grow South Africa,” he said.

Mteto Nyati’s suggestions on improving South Africa

At the BizNews Conference in March 2026, Nyati shared a pragmatic vision for turning South Africa from a state of survival into an economic powerhouse.

He said that although the Government of National Unity (GNU) brought stability, he advocated for a single, clear agenda for the national interest.

He said that the colour of the policy does not matter, whether it is left- or right-leaning, as long as it delivers jobs, investment, and growth.

To secure South Africa’s future, Nyati argues the country must lock in three foundational pillars, which should be non-negotiable.

• Competence Deployment over Cadre Deployment: Leaders must appoint ethical, capable individuals based strictly on merit across all state-owned enterprises, municipalities, schools, and hospitals.

• Make it Easy to do Business: The government needs to stop viewing the private sector as an enemy and start treating business as a vital partner.

• Restore Law and Order: Society cannot function when criminals walk free and honest citizens live in fear.

He said that South Africa is a sleeping giant and is far from a lost cause. “South Africans across all divides need to work together to actively create its future,” he said.