BNIC#2 Sarupen Q&A: Pragmatism over ideology - time for SA to “Burn the coal, build the grid, and fix the law”

At BNIC#2 in Hermanus, Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen laid out a candid roadmap for South Africa’s recovery. He stressed energy pragmatism - burn coal while building new transmission infrastructure and plugging in cheap renewables - alongside the urgency of restoring the rule of law. Sarupen argued that functional coalitions, not one-party dominance, will shape the country’s future, and said the GNU has “detoxified” the DA’s brand among sceptical voters. His core message: without growth, stability, and law enforcement, South Africa risks repeating July 2021’s chaos.