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Time is Running Out: CEO Warns Ramaphosa to Act Now
Magda Wierzycka has built her reputation as one of the most influential business figures in South Africa. Now she has returned home with a clear message for President Cyril Ramaphosa and the outgoing head of the National Prosecuting Authority, Shamila Batohi. She believes both leaders are running out of time to tackle the deep-rooted corruption and state failures that continue to undermine the country’s future.
After spending over seven years with one foot in the United Kingdom and one in South Africa, Wierzycka decided to fully come back home. Her move was partly influenced by tax changes abroad but also by the realisation that South Africa stands at a defining moment. She describes the local political and business landscape as a mixed bag. There is strength and potential, yet the reality of corruption and criminal activity remains overwhelming.
A warning grounded in lived experience
Wierzycka says that corruption has become embedded in the way business and governance operate. The consequences are visible everywhere. Crumbling infrastructure. Failing services. And economic growth that has struggled to keep up with the needs of a young and growing population. South Africa’s unemployment rate has surged past thirty percent. Many families are still unable to access safe living conditions, consistent services, or stable employment.
She believes that what once shocked the nation during the State Capture years has not ended. Instead, it has evolved into something even more damaging for communities where physical safety and daily survival are now at stake.
Despite moves to reform sectors like energy and logistics, accountability and justice remain painfully slow. High-profile commissions have exposed wrongdoing in great detail, yet almost no powerful individuals have had to face consequences. For Wierzycka, this transparency means little if it is not accompanied by action.
A call to lead before the clock runs out
Wierzycka frames her concerns as both a warning and a final opportunity. Ramaphosa and Batohi are among the few people who hold the power to redirect South Africa’s story. The President’s political future is uncertain. Batohi’s time at the NPA is almost over. She urges them to use whatever time remains to deliver meaningful change and a legacy that South Africans can feel.
There is accountability owed. There is trust to rebuild. And there is a country waiting for a turning point.
A spark of hope beneath the frustration
Although her message is pressing, Wierzycka is not without optimism. She sees signs of renewal in the emerging competition between political parties under the government of national unity. Breaking decades of reliance on a dominant single party may help strengthen accountability.
She also points to what continues to work. A powerful private sector that has kept the economy afloat. A stable financial system. Sound fiscal foundations. And a thriving informal economy that continues to support millions. If these strengths are nurtured and supported by honest leadership, they could become engines of transformation.
What comes next depends on leadership
Wierzycka’s message resonates because it reflects a truth many South Africans feel daily. There is hope. But there is also fear that the chance to correct the country’s course is slipping.
If decisive action comes too late, the toll will continue to be paid by the public. The youth are searching for jobs. Communities living in insecurity. Businesses are fighting constant disruption. A nation that deserves more.
History remembers those who step up when it matters most. Wierzycka believes that the moment for Ramaphosa and Batohi is right now.
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Source: Daily Investor
Featured Image: Facebook/Industrial Development Corporation
