Busisiwe Mavuso, CEO of Business Leadership South Africa, said the state must not abdicate its role in addressing the nation's economic challenges.

This warning comes as South Africa grapples with high unemployment, crime, and a contentious migration debate. Mavuso said that while the private sector can support growth, the government must maintain its responsibility for governance and social stability to avoid a dangerous systemic failure.

In a series of discussions and opinion pieces published between May and June 2026, Mavuso highlighted the urgent need for institutional discipline. She said that reform and institutional discipline make a huge difference to how South Africa weathers global economic storms [2]. This discipline is viewed as a prerequisite for the country to serve as a safe haven during international volatility [2].

Logistics and infrastructure remain central to the economic recovery. Mavuso said that logistics reforms have delivered some results, but the momentum of these changes must accelerate [1]. She linked the country's ability to compete globally to its infrastructure, stating, "We cannot be a competitive exporting nation without efficient ports and efficient access to them" [1].

Despite the push for private-sector efficiency, Mavuso cautioned against the business community taking over functions that belong to the state. In an article published May 28, 2026, she said that stepping in for government could be a dangerous mistake [3]. She said the government must take charge of the current situation to ensure that legitimate community concerns, including those regarding migration, are addressed properly [3].

Mavuso's position emphasizes a balance where the state provides the necessary regulatory and social framework, while the private sector drives economic activity. She said that the state's failure to address social issues or maintain institutional order creates an environment where business cannot thrive regardless of individual sector reforms.

“"Stepping in for government could be a dangerous mistake."”

Mavuso's warnings highlight a tension in South Africa's recovery strategy: the desire for private-sector efficiency versus the risk of state failure. By insisting that the government remain the primary actor in social and institutional management, she is signaling that infrastructure fixes alone cannot save the economy if the underlying social contract and state capacity continue to erode.