According to Adrian Saville, a professor of economics, finance, and strategy at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and director of the GIBS Centre for African Management and Markets (CAMM), there are three key areas of focus for South Africa that would have an outsized impact on our future. His view is based on an analysis of 160 countries, conducted with his team at CAMM, and the factors that enable nations to transition and transform their economies. 

The first is a focus on increased savings and investments. Saville says that every country that has successfully transitioned has achieved an elevated savings rate of 25% of GDP or higher. South Africa’s savings rate is currently just 15%. 

The second is public-private partnerships, and the third is a focus on labour-absorbing sectors such as tourism and agriculture for job-creating growth. 

Take three minutes to watch Saville explain why South Africa should focus on these three factors.

Saville was also a keynote speaker at Old Mutual’s Thought Leaders Forum in August 2025. For more details, register to download the special edition of our MINDSPACE publication.