Deputy Director
George Kershoff

George is responsible for the day-to-day management of the BER’s output in general and the surveys in particular, as well as staff and financial administration. He also writes quarterly reports on business confidence, inflation expectations and the financial sector survey. His research focus is business survey methodology and South-African sector trends. Since 2014, George serves on the Council of CIRET (the Centre for International Research on Economic Tendency Surveys).

George holds a Master’s of Economics degree, Stellenbosch University.

Fun fact: On top of George’s bucket list is an around-the-world business class trip.

gjkk@sun.ac.za

Senior Economist
Hugo Pienaar

Hugo takes responsibility for the BER’s macro forecasts and won the Thomson Reuters South Africa Economist of the Year award in 2014. He is the author of the BER’s flagship Economic Outlook publication. Other duties include communicating the BER’s views to clients, the media and foreign investors; content editing of various BER publications and contributing to the BER trainee economist programme.

Hugo holds an Honour’s of Economics degree, Stellenbosch University.

Fun fact: In another life, Hugo would be a sports reporter.

hugop@sun.ac.za

@hugopien

Senior Economist
Christelle Grobler

Christelle focuses on macroeconometric modelling and forecasting. She is responsible for the maintenance and running of the BER's core macroeconometric models and also does company/sector specific econometric modelling. Christelle also takes responsibility for highlighting the key results and broader macroeconomic implications of the surveys.

Christelle holds a Master’s of Economics degree (cum laude), Stellenbosch University.

Fun fact: France is Christelle’s favourite holiday destination, which could be linked to her love of Pinot Noir.

cgrobler@sun.ac.za

Senior Economist
Craig Lemboe

Craig participated in the BER’s internship programme in 2007 and re-joined the BER in 2010. He is responsible for the BER’s quarterly Building and Construction report. Craig is also responsible for analysing and forecasting trends in fixed investment and has extensive knowledge of the Western Cape economy.

Craig holds a Master’s of Economics degree, Stellenbosch University.

Fun fact: Craig thinks that a young Denzel Washington should play the lead in a movie about his life.

cjl@sun.ac.za

Economist
Nicolaas van der Wath

Nicolaas has worked as an economist for the government at the Departments of Housing and Agriculture, as well as a commodity market analyst in Johannesburg. At the BER, he is responsible for the data publications of the BER, the fiscal sector forecast and assisting with the inflation expectation survey.

Nicolaas holds a Master’s of Econometrics Degree, University of Pretoria.

Fun fact: Sailing around the world is on top of Nicolaas’s bucket list.

wnwath@sun.ac.za

Economist
Harri Kemp

Harri joined the BER team immediately after completing his studies in 2010. Harri focuses on macroeconomic forecasting and econometric modelling and is co-editor of the BER’s quarterly Retail Survey report.

Harri holds a Master’s of Economics degree, University of Oxford.

Fun fact: If it was up to Harri to decide what he could be in another life, he would be a rock guitarist.

jhkemp@sun.ac.za

Economist
Lisette IJssel de Schepper

Lisette joined the BER in 2012 after completing an exchange programme with the University of Amsterdam. Lisette’s research focus is on the manufacturing sector and she is the editor of the BER’s quarterly Manufacturing Survey report as well as the monthly PMI survey.

Lisette holds a Master’s of Economics degree, Stellenbosch University.

Fun fact: On top of Lisette’s travel bucket list is seeing the northern lights, but she would also like to visit the South Pole – and everything in between.

lisette@sun.ac.za

Economist
Mia Slabber

Mia previously worked as a development economist at an independent think tank in Cape Town. At the BER, Mia is responsible for SAM-based impact analyses and other ad hoc queries.

Mia holds a Master’s of Economics degree, Stellenbosch University.

Fun fact: Mia is definitely a summer person, as she says that she can “only handle about 1 month of winter of every year”.  

gmslabber@sun.ac.za

@miadevos

Junior economist
Matlhodi Matsei

Matlhodi started her career in financial services, and has working experience in the banking and asset management sectors. She joined the BER in 2015 as a trainee economist. She is responsible for the inflation forecast and, in addition to general macroeconomic research and analysis, her research focus is on the building and construction sector.

Matlhodi holds a Master’s of Economics degree, Stellenbosch University.

Fun fact: A movie about Matlhodi’s life would be an action film and she would like Thandie Newton to play the lead.

matlhodi@sun.ac.za

Trainee Economist
Sello Sekele

Sello is part of the ongoing Economist Internship Programme in conjunction with Absa Bank Limited. While he is a full-time employee of Absa Bank, he has been seconded to the BER to gain experience in all aspects of business-oriented economic analysis. During the course of the year, he will assist with the BER’s survey analysis and the BER’s Weekly Review, as well as gain further experience with econometric modelling and forecasting.

Sello holds an Honour’s of Economics degree, University of Johannesburg.

Fun fact: If it was up to Sello to decide what he could be in another life, he would be a traffic officer

sekele@sun.ac.za