Hugo Pienaar
Chief Economist

Hugo takes responsibility for the BER’s macro forecasts. He was the Thomson Reuters SA Economist of the Year in 2014 and the Media24 Economist of the Year in 2021. 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 a Master’s of Economics degree (cum laude), Stellenbosch University.

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

hugop@sun.ac.za

@hugopien

Craig Lemboe
Deputy Director

Craig participated in the BER’s internship programme in 2007 and re-joined the BER as an economist in 2010. His main research focus at the BER is on the construction sector where he is the editor of the quarterly Building and Construction report in additional to taking responsibility for analysing and forecasting trends in fixed investment and oversight of the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS). Craig was appointed as the Deputy Director in 2023 and is therefore also involved in the day-to-day management of the BER.

Craig holds a Master’s of Economics degree and a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) degree, both from 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

Lisette IJssel de Schepper
Senior Economist

Lisette joined the BER in 2012 and her main research focus is the South African manufacturing sector. She is the editor of the BER’s Quarterly Manufacturing Survey and Purchasing Managers' Index, and also manages the BER's Economist Internship Programme.

Lisette holds a Master’s of Economics degree and a postgraduate diploma in Futures Studies (cum laude), both from 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

Helanya Fourie
Senior economist & ad-hoc project manager

Helanya chose economics because of the interesting questions that economists have to answer. Prior to joining the BER, she worked for FTI Consulting, Econex and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture. As an economic consultant in the private sector, she helped firms navigate and quantify the impact of policy changes. At the BER she focuses on key economic policy questions and provides research commentary and functions as the contact for ad-hoc research projects. She is also the editor of the BER’s Retail Survey.

Helanya holds an MSc in Competition and Regulation (cum laude) from Utrecht University, and an MComm in Economics from Stellenbosch University.

Fun fact: In another life, Helanya would have been a documentary filmmaker.

helanya@sun.ac.za

Shannon Bold
Senior Economist: Macroeconometric modelling and forecasting

Shannon is responsible for running and maintaining the BER macroeconometric model for forecasting the SA economy. Before joining the BER, she worked in the Economic Policy division at the National Treasury as well as the Public Investment Corporation’s Research and Projects Development team.

Shannon holds a Master in Econometrics degree (cum laude) from the University of Pretoria.

Fun fact: In another life, Shannon would want to run a sanctuary for all the animals in need of a second chance.

sbold@sun.ac.za

Cobus Venter
Macro service manager

After holding various positions within the private sector and being the director and full-time partner of specialist regulatory economics consultancy Econex, Cobus joined the BER as a senior consulting economist in 2012. At the BER, he manages the macro service. He has extensive experience in economic impact assessments, tourism, telecoms and medical economics sectors.

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

Fun fact: In response to the question, Hayek or Keynes, Cobus responded:” Hayek obviously! Who’s the other guy?”

jlcv@sun.ac.za

Nicolaas van der Wath
Economist

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, the commodity prices forecast, processing the survey results 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

Katrien Smuts
Economist

Katrien joined the BER as a PhD scholar in March 2022, after which she assumed an economist position in August 2023. She takes responsibility for the Other Services Survey and the international assumptions for the BER’s quarterly forecasts. Before joining the BER, she worked as a research officer at the IMF for three years, researching monetary policy and the macro implications of food insecurity across the globe. Katrien enjoys being a macroeconomist because of the big-picture thinking it affords. Her ongoing PhD work explores the drivers of inflation expectations in South Africa.

Katrien holds a Master’s of Economics from Stellenbosch University.

Fun fact: If Katrien were to compete in the Olympics, she would compete in the sport of “who can smile the longest.”

ksmuts@sun.ac.za

Tracey-Lee Solomon
Junior economist

Tracey-Lee joined the BER in 2020 as a trainee economist. Her responsibilities include the Building Cost Index quarterly forecast and report as well as monitoring developments in the oil sector.

Tracey-Lee holds a Master’s of Economics degree, Stellenbosch University.

Fun fact: If it was up to Tracey-Lee to decide what she could be in another life, she would like to be an astronaut.

tsolomon@sun.ac.za

Romano Harold
Junior economist

Romano assists with the BER’s econometric modelling and forecasting and BER Weekly review. He will also gain further experience with the BER’s surveys and data publications

Romano holds an Master’s degree in Econometrics (cum laude), University of Pretoria.

Fun fact: Romano’s favourite food is pizza, so Italy would be his first stop on a trip around the world.

rharold@sun.ac.za

Ntombizanele Bakaqana
Technical officer

Ntombi is responsible for the BER’s data collection and various data publications for both in-house use and for clients. She is also responsible for the compilation of the summary of survey results and assists in updating client presentations. Ntombi co-ordinates the BER’s trainee programme including recruitment and mentoring.

Ntombi holds an Honour’s degree in Statistics, Stellenbosch University.

Fun fact: In another life, Ntombi would be a professional dancer.

bakaqana@sun.ac.za

Tumelo Mononyane
Trainee economist

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

Tumelo holds an Honour’s degree in Econometrics, University of Johannesburg. .

Fun fact: If Tumelo had to compete in the Olympics, she would play netball.

mtumelo@sun.ac.za

Annelie van Niekerk
Trainee economist

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

Annelie holds an Honour’s degree in Economics, North-West University.

Fun fact: : Annelie claims she can recite approximately 300 PI (p) numbers – although we still have to test her on that!

annelie@sun.ac.za

Derone Nyathi
Trainee economist

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

Derone holds a Masters degree in Economics, University of Pretoria.

Fun fact: If Derone had to compete in the Olympics it would be in Athletics due to the endurance required and the competitive nature of the sport.

derone@sun.ac.za