Highest-leverage reforms

Bottleneck Reforms

Not every reform is equal. In a dependency graph of 171 reforms and 228 enabling links, a handful sit upstream of much of the rest — move them first and the most of everything else becomes possible. These are ranked by leverage: how many reforms each one directly unblocks, how many enabling chains route through it, and its growth impact.

Top 15 by leverage

1
Energy Bounce-Back and Industrial Energy Self-Generation
EnergyInfrastructure Unblockmedium term
Impact 5/5
unblocks 11
2
Fiscal Consolidation and Debt Stabilisation
Government CapacityState Capacity & Governancelong term
Impact 5/5
unblocks 6
3
National Treasury PPP Unit and Infrastructure Financing Reform
Government CapacityState Capacity & Governancemedium term
Impact 5/5
unblocks 8
4
TVET College Quality and Industry Relevance — Artisan Pipeline
Skills & EducationHuman Capital Pipelinelong term
Impact 5/5
unblocks 6
5
National Reading and Literacy Crisis Response Programme
Skills & EducationHuman Capital Pipelinelong term
Impact 5/5
unblocks 5
6
Transnet Freight Rail and Port Private Sector Participation
Logistics & TransportInfrastructure Unblocklong term
Impact 5/5
unblocks 7
7
Advanced Manufacturing Skills for the Energy Transition (EV, Solar, Green Hydrogen)
Skills & EducationHuman Capital Pipelinelong term
Impact 4/5
unblocks 3
8
Port Productivity Improvement Programme
Logistics & TransportInfrastructure Unblockmedium term
Impact 5/5
unblocks 5
9
Critical Minerals Beneficiation Strategy
EnergyTrade & Industrial Competitivenessmedium term
Impact 4/5
unblocks 5
10
AfCFTA Implementation and Intra-African Trade Expansion
Trade OpennessTrade & Industrial Competitivenesslong term
Impact 4/5
unblocks 3
11
National Transmission Company Capitalisation and Grid Expansion
EnergyInfrastructure Unblocklong term
Impact 5/5
unblocks 3
12
FATF Greylisting Exit — AML/CFT Legislative Package
Corruption & GovernanceState Capacity & Governancequick win
Impact 4/5
unblocks 4
13
Renewable Energy Grid Integration and Transmission Expansion
EnergyInfrastructure Unblocklong term
Impact 5/5
unblocks 4
14
NHI Phased Implementation: Credible Roadmap and Costed Financing Plan
Health SystemsHuman Capital Pipelinelong term
Impact 4/5
unblocks 2
15
Eskom Restructuring — Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Unbundling
EnergyInfrastructure Unblocklong term
Impact 5/5
unblocks 3

Full ranking (171 reforms)

#	Reform	Constraint	Unblocks	Leverage
16	Localisation and Designation Policy for Public Procurement	Government Capacity	6	0.41
17	SARS Capacity Expansion and Revenue Recovery	Government Capacity	6	0.41
18	Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2024 Update — Revised Electricity Mix	Energy	5	0.41
19	Integrated Public Transport Networks Scale-up	Logistics & Transport	3	0.40
20	Healthcare Worker Employment: Absorbing the Qualified but Unemployed	Government Capacity	1	0.40
21	Electricity Regulation Amendment Act — Competitive Electricity Market	Energy	2	0.36
22	Automotive Production and Development Programme (APDP Phase 2) Enhancement	Energy	2	0.35
23	Transport Economic Regulator: Operationalising the EROT Act	Logistics & Transport	3	0.35
24	Government SMME Procurement: Enforcing the 30% Set-Aside	Financial Access	3	0.34
25	STEM Teacher Development and Retention Programme	Skills & Education	2	0.34
26	Special Economic Zones Reform	Government Capacity	4	0.33
27	Freight Rail Third-Party Access and Transnet Separation	Logistics & Transport	2	0.33
28	SMME Red Tape Reduction: BizPortal and Compliance Integration	Regulatory Burden	4	0.32
29	EV White Paper — Managed Automotive Transition	Energy	2	0.32
30	School Infrastructure Acceleration: Eliminating Inappropriate Structures	Government Capacity	1	0.32
31	SMME Regulatory Burden Reduction	Regulatory Burden	2	0.32
32	Intergovernmental Fiscal Framework Review — Equitable Share Formula	Government Capacity	3	0.30
33	PRASA Passenger Rail Recovery Programme	Logistics & Transport	1	0.30
34	GEPF Infrastructure Investment Mandate	Financial Access	2	0.29
35	Carbon Tax Phase 2 Implementation and Revenue Use	Regulatory Burden	5	0.29
36	Retail-Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather (R-CTFL) Master Plan	Skills & Education	2	0.29
37	SETA Reform and Skills Development Levy Efficiency	Skills & Education	3	0.28
38	Provincial Health Department Turnaround Programme	Government Capacity	3	0.28
39	National Small Enterprise Amendment Act: Ombud Service Operationalisation	Financial Access	3	0.28
40	Anti-Extortion and Construction Mafia Task Force	Crime & Safety	1	0.28
41	Infrastructure Delivery Management System: Professional Project Management Mandate	Government Capacity	1	0.28
42	Eskom Debt Relief Conditions and Restructuring Framework	Energy	2	0.27
43	4IR and Digital Skills Pipeline	Skills & Education	2	0.27
44	Primary Healthcare Platform Strengthening and CHW Integration	Health Systems	2	0.27
45	NSFAS Sustainable Funding Model — Comprehensive Post-School Student Finance	Skills & Education	2	0.27
46	Cooperative Banks Development and Township Financial Inclusion	Financial Access	2	0.26
47	TB Elimination National Acceleration Programme	Health Systems	1	0.25
48	Gas Amendment Bill — LNG Import Infrastructure and City Gas	Energy	2	0.25
49	SOE Policy Impediments Reform — PFMA, BBBEE, and Procurement Flexibility	Regulatory Burden	4	0.25
50	ECD Function Shift: Early Childhood Development Migration to DBE	Skills & Education	2	0.25
51	IMT Spectrum Auction Completion (ICASA)	Digital Infrastructure	0	0.25
52	National Rail Policy White Paper: Third-Party Access Framework	Logistics & Transport	0	0.25
53	Green Hydrogen Commercialisation Strategy	Energy	1	0.25
54	Informal Economy Integration: Simplified Tax and Municipal Trading Infrastructure	Regulatory Burden	3	0.24
55	Labour Activation Programme for Long-Term Unemployed	Labour Market	1	0.24
56	Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan (JET-IP)	Climate & Environment	1	0.24
57	Poultry Industry Anti-Dumping and Local Production Expansion	Trade Openness	1	0.24
58	AGOA Retention and Post-AGOA Trade Diversification	Trade Openness	1	0.22
59	Integrated Energy Plan Update — Gas and Energy Diversification	Energy	1	0.22
60	Bulk Water Infrastructure Investment Programme	Water	1	0.22
61	NPA Prosecution Capacity and Independence	Corruption & Governance	1	0.22
62	Inclusive Growth Spending Review — Reprioritising Social Grants vs. Employment	Government Capacity	1	0.22
63	Mother-Tongue Based Multilingual Education Scale-up	Skills & Education	1	0.22
64	PEPFAR Funding Transition: Domestic HIV/AIDS Programme Financing	Fiscal Space	1	0.22
65	Employment Tax Incentive (ETI) Extension and Expansion	Labour Market	1	0.22
66	SAPS Detective Service Capacity and Case Clearance	Crime & Safety	1	0.22
67	Green Hydrogen and Critical Minerals Regulatory Framework	Climate & Environment	1	0.22
68	NSFAS Fraud Prevention and Administration System Overhaul	Corruption & Governance	2	0.22
69	Expanded Public Works Programme Reform: Towards Skills Pathways	Skills & Education	2	0.20
70	SEDA Digital Transformation and Specialist Sector Hubs	Government Capacity	2	0.19
71	Municipal Fiscal Powers and Functions Amendment Bill	Government Capacity	2	0.19
72	NERSA Institutional Independence and Regulatory Capacity	Regulatory Burden	2	0.19
73	STI Decadal Plan 2022–2032: From Aspiration to Funded Mandate	Innovation & R&D	2	0.19
74	NRF Postgraduate Bursary Reform: Value and Industry Co-funding	Skills & Education	2	0.19
75	BBBEE Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) Expansion	Regulatory Burden	0	0.19
76	Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant Long-Term Operation Extension	Energy	0	0.19
77	NERSA Municipal Tariff Rationalization and Cost-Reflective Pricing	Energy	0	0.19
78	Green Hydrogen R&D and Demonstration Programme	Energy	0	0.19
79	Urban Land Release for Affordable Housing and Infrastructure	Land & Housing	0	0.19
80	Digital TV Migration and Analogue Switch-Off	Digital Infrastructure	0	0.19
81	Rapid Deployment Policy for Telecommunications Infrastructure	Regulatory Burden	0	0.19
82	Water-Use Licence Reform: Streamlining the Application System	Water	0	0.19
83	Raw Water Pricing Strategy Reform	Water	0	0.19
84	National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) Establishment	Government Capacity	0	0.19
85	Critical Skills List Update and Visa Fast-Track	Skills & Education	0	0.19
86	e-Visa System Rollout for Tourism and Business	Regulatory Burden	0	0.19
87	Learner Transport Policy: Funded National Programme	Logistics & Transport	1	0.18
88	Nuclear New Build Programme — 2,500 MW New Nuclear Sites	Energy	1	0.18
89	Steel and Metal Fabrication Master Plan	Trade Openness	1	0.18
90	PPP Regulatory Reform for Social Infrastructure	Fiscal Space	1	0.17
91	SEFA Mandate Refocus: Growth-Oriented SMME Finance	Financial Access	1	0.16
92	Innovation Fund Scale-up Beyond Pilot Phase	Financial Access	1	0.16
93	Anti-Dumping and Import Surveillance Modernisation	Trade Openness	1	0.16
94	Two-Pot Pension System — Retirement Savings Architecture Reform	Financial Access	1	0.16
95	Land Bank Recapitalisation and Agricultural Finance Refocus	Financial Access	1	0.16
96	AML/CFT Implementation Monitoring — NCOP and Provincial Layer	Corruption & Governance	1	0.16
97	Solar Water Heater Programme — Mass Residential Rollout	Energy	1	0.16
98	Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill	Regulatory Burden	1	0.16
99	University Certification Backlog Elimination	Skills & Education	1	0.16
100	Technology Innovation Agency 2.0 Reform	Innovation & R&D	1	0.16
101	IPR-PFRD Act Reform for Faster R&D Commercialisation	Innovation & R&D	1	0.16
102	National School Nutrition Programme Procurement Reform	Corruption & Governance	1	0.16
103	Rural School Consolidation Policy	Government Capacity	1	0.16
104	DPWI Enterprise Renewal: Financial Systems and Consequence Management	Government Capacity	1	0.16
105	Health Market Inquiry: Private Sector Reforms Implementation	Health Systems	1	0.16
106	African Medicines Agency Treaty Ratification and SAHPRA Strengthening	Regulatory Burden	1	0.16
107	National Minimum Wage Review and Adjustment Mechanism	Labour Market	1	0.16
108	Johannesburg Water and Municipal Water Utility Reform	Water	1	0.16
109	Carbon Tax Rate Escalation and Revenue Recycling	Climate & Environment	1	0.16
110	Climate Change Adaptation Infrastructure	Climate & Environment	1	0.16
111	National Nuclear Regulator — Capacity for New Build Oversight	Regulatory Burden	2	0.13
112	Railway Safety Regulator: Independent Enforcement Capacity	Regulatory Burden	2	0.13
113	Copyright Amendment Bill — Fair Use and Digital Access Reform	Regulatory Burden	0	0.13
114	Competition Commission Digital Markets Inquiry	Regulatory Burden	0	0.13
115	Digital Platforms Competition Framework (Buyer Power Regulations)	Digital Infrastructure	0	0.13
116	BRICS+ Trade Facilitation and Alternative Payment Systems	Trade Openness	0	0.13
117	Fuel Price Regulation Reform — Partial Deregulation	Regulatory Burden	0	0.13
118	R&D Investment Escalation — Reaching 1.5% of GDP	Skills & Education	0	0.13
119	Post-School Education Pathways — CET and Second-Chance Programme	Skills & Education	0	0.13
120	CSIR 10-Year Foundational Digital Capabilities Research Programme	Digital Infrastructure	0	0.13
121	Advanced Agri-Tech and Food Systems Cluster	Innovation & R&D	0	0.13
122	Road Accident Fund Structural Reform	Fiscal Space	0	0.13
123	SANRAL Road Funding Model Reform Post E-Tolls	Fiscal Space	0	0.13
124	Minibus Taxi Formalisation and Digital Integration	Regulatory Burden	0	0.13
125	BELA Act Implementation: Admissions, Language Policy, and Grade R Compulsion	Skills & Education	0	0.13
126	PMTE Property Portfolio Rationalisation and Revenue Optimisation	Fiscal Space	0	0.13
127	Mental Health Services Expansion and Care Act Reform	Health Systems	0	0.13
128	Cannabis and Hemp Industry Licensing Rationalisation	Regulatory Burden	0	0.13
129	Enterprise and Supplier Development: Corporate Linkage Programme	Financial Access	0	0.13
130	Just Energy Transition SMME Finance Facility	Financial Access	0	0.13
131	CCMA Capacity and Case Resolution Reform	Labour Market	0	0.13
132	Section 189 Retrenchment Process Reform	Labour Market	0	0.13
133	Productivity SA and Workplace Competitiveness Support	Labour Market	0	0.13
134	Informal Economy Integration and Worker Protection	Labour Market	0	0.13
135	NEDLAC Social Compact on Employment and Growth	Labour Market	0	0.13
136	Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response Strategy	Crime & Safety	0	0.13
137	Illegal Mining and Resource Crime Combatting	Crime & Safety	0	0.13
138	Court Case Backlog and Judicial Efficiency	Crime & Safety	0	0.13
139	SIU Special Tribunal and Asset Recovery Acceleration	Corruption & Governance	0	0.13
140	Cybercrime and Digital Evidence Legislation	Crime & Safety	0	0.13
141	Municipal Water Loss Reduction (Non-Revenue Water)	Water	0	0.13
142	Water Services Amendment Bill Implementation	Water	0	0.13
143	Water Use Licensing and Allocation Reform	Water	0	0.13
144	Merchant Shipping and Maritime Industry Development	Regulatory Burden	1	0.09
145	Cooperative Development: Outcome-Based Redesign	Government Capacity	1	0.09
146	Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Governance and Benefit Reform	Labour Market	1	0.09
147	National Lotteries Commission Governance Overhaul	Corruption & Governance	0	0.06
148	Financial Matters Amendment — Insurance Sector and Microinsurance	Financial Access	0	0.06
149	Derelict and Ownerless Mines Rehabilitation Fund	Other	0	0.06
150	Denel Strategic Equity Partner and Defence Industrial Viability	Government Capacity	0	0.06
151	Alexkor and Safcol Land Claims — Long-Delayed Resolution	Land & Housing	0	0.06
152	SAA Successor Entity — Commercial Viability Without Ongoing State Support	Government Capacity	0	0.06
153	SA Satellite Space Programme Commercialisation	Digital Infrastructure	0	0.06
154	Indigenous Knowledge Systems IP and Commercialisation Framework	Regulatory Burden	0	0.06
155	Inclusive Education: Special Needs Schools and Full-Service Schools Expansion	Government Capacity	0	0.06
156	Government Building Maintenance Budget Ring-fencing	Government Capacity	0	0.06
157	Green Building Standards Mandate for Government Properties	Energy	0	0.06
158	Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Act: Passage and Implementation	Health Systems	0	0.06
159	Compensation Fund Turnaround and Claims Backlog	Labour Market	0	0.06
160	IPID Independence and Police Accountability	Crime & Safety	0	0.06
161	Private Security Industry Regulation (PSIRA) Reform	Crime & Safety	0	0.06
162	Community Policing Forum Revitalisation	Crime & Safety	0	0.06
163	SANDF Deployment in Support of SAPS Border Security	Crime & Safety	0	0.06
164	Legal Aid South Africa Capacity and Access to Justice	Crime & Safety	0	0.06
165	Water Board Governance and Financial Sustainability	Water	0	0.06
166	Catchment Management Agency Establishment	Water	0	0.06
167	Sanitation Infrastructure and Bucket Eradication	Water	0	0.06
168	SANParks and Protected Area Expansion	Climate & Environment	0	0.06
169	Marine Fisheries Reform and Small-Scale Fisher Rights	Climate & Environment	0	0.06
170	Forestry Sector Revitalisation and Timber Value Chain	Climate & Environment	0	0.06
171	TRC Recommendations Implementation	Government Capacity	0	0.00

How leverage is computed

leverage_score = 0.40*norm(betweenness) + 0.35*norm(out_degree) + 0.25*norm(growth_impact). Edge A→B means reform A enables reform B; out_degree counts reforms directly unblocked. The dependency graph is also browsable directly on the Reform Dependencies page. Leverage is a structural signal, not a verdict — a reform low on this list can still be urgent on its own terms.

Data as of 2026-08-24 · latest PMG meeting 2026-08-21