While news of yet another recession is not altogether surprising, it is, nevertheless, depressing and confidence sapping. Equally discouraging is the state of the discourse within the African National Congress about how best to navigate the economy out of its low-growth trap. At best, the ideas lack creativity; at worst, they serve only to deepen the crisis. Sadly, the potentially sensible oars of the Cyril Ramaphosa Presidency are unlikely to hit the water until after the 2019 election, assuming, that is, Ramaphosa presides over a decisive victory – a big assumption indeed.