Safe Pair Of Hands

Meet Trudi Makhaya, the powerhouse adviser President Cyril Ramaphosa has entrusted with helping to steer the economy and attracting investors

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MOST people had never heard of her – until President Cyril Ramaphosa mentioned her name recently. And when he did, it made everyone sit up and listen because it was obvious he expects big things of Trudi Makhaya.

At age 40 she’s the youngest economic adviser ever to a post-’94 South African president, but Ramaphosa has made it clear he has the utmost faith in the dynamic businesswoman. In her new role it won’t only be her job to help him in making big economical decisions – he’s also counting on her to help him lure investments to the tune of R1,2 trillion to our shores within the next five years.

This is what he believes South Africa needs to get on the road to prosperity, and he’s so serious about achieving this goal he’s assembled an elite team of the country’s best business brains to make sure the money comes rolling in.

The team – consisting of former minister and deputy minister of finance Trevor Manuel and Mcebisi Jonas respectively, renowned banker Jacko Maree and business leader Phumzile Langeni – is formally referred to as special envoys on investment, but the president, who’s affectionately known as “The Buffalo”, refers to them as his “lions”. It’s their job to travel the globe and persuade investors to seek their fortune here, and while they do so it will be Makhaya who coordinates their efforts.

But who’s the woman who’ll be guiding Ramaphosa’s economic A-Team as they pursue their mammoth task?