<P> In South Africa the Department of Public Enterprises is the shareholder representative of the South African Government with oversight responsibility for state - owned enterprises in key sectors . Some companies are not directly controlled by the Department of Public Enterprises, but by various other Departments . </P> <P> State - owned enterprises play a significant role in the South African economy . In key sectors such as electricity, transport (air, rail, freight, and pipelines), and telecommunications, SOEs play a lead role, often defined by law, although limited competition is allowed in some sectors (i.e., telecommunications and air). The government's interest in these sectors often competes with and discourages foreign investment . </P> <P> The Department of Public Enterprises minister has publicly stated that South Africa's SOEs should advance economic transformation, industrialization and import substitution . DPE has oversight responsibility in full or in part for six of the approximately 700 SOEs that exist at the national, provincial, and local levels: Alexkor (diamonds), Denel (military equipment), Eskom (electricity generation), South African Express Airways, South African Forestry Company (SAFCOL) (forestry), and Transnet (transportation). These six SOEs employ approximately 105,000 people . The SOEs share of the investment was 21% while private enterprise contributed 63% (government spending made up the remainder of 16%). The IMF estimates that the debt of the SOEs would add 13.5% to the overall national debt . </P> <P> Many state - owned firms were established during the apartheid era to counter the impact of international sanctions against the country . The ANC government initially sold stakes in the companies, and lowered import tariffs . Those measures were reversed following opposition from COSATU and the South African Communist Party . By 2007, an alliance of unions and leftist factions within the ANC had unseated President Thabo Mbeki, replacing him with Jacob Zuma . The new ANC policy aimed at expanding the role of SOEs in the economy, following the example of China . </P>

How many state owned enterprises in south africa