South Africa puts public works, jobs at heart of COVID-19 recovery plan
WENDELL ROELF and ALEXANDER WINNING SOUTH Africa will embark on a massive public works and job-creation drive in response to the coronavirus crisis, President Cyril Ramaphosa has said, unveiling a plan to return Africa's most industrialised economy to growth. Under pressure after data showed the largest-ever GDP contraction in the second quarter, Ramaphosa said his plan could unlock more than R1- trillion ($60 billion) in investment over the next four years and create more than 800,000 jobs. He said modelling by the National Treasury showed it could raise annual economic growth to an average of around 3% over the next…