General
Publications & Data
Join the conversation
Social Links
Social Links
South Africa’s fiscal position is stabilising in defiance of global turmoil, but it may not be sufficient to achieve another sovereign credit rating upgrade next month. This story first appeared in the Financial Mail on 29 October 2026
Read MoreSouth Africa’s Treasury has strengthened confidence in the public finances by achieving a likely peak in the government debt ratio and maintaining fiscal targets despite weak growth and spending pressures. This progress created an opportunity for a stronger, more durable fiscal anchor than the principles-based framework currently proposed, writes Lisette IJssel de Schepper. This column first appeared in News24 on 26 October 2026
Read MoreIn a shock-prone world, forward guidance may be harder to finesse, but it is not dead yet. The public needs to understand the logic of central bank decision-making now more than ever. This article first appeared on News24 on 12 October 2026.
Read MoreThis column considers how AI may affect South Africa’s labour market, arguing that the first effects could appear through slower hiring and fewer entry-level opportunities rather than mass retrenchments.
Read MoreFor South Africa, a relatively modest acceleration in long-term growth could produce a bigger reduction in poverty than an ambitious reduction in inequality. Getting the economy growing again should therefore be a top priority, writes Prof Servaas van der Berg.
Read MoreA once-off BER survey suggests that rising prices may be making us miserable and that inflation carries an emotional cost beyond the loss of mere purchasing power. This article, written by Nicolaas Van der Wath, first appeared in News24 on August 31
Read MoreWhile South Africans tend to think of ours as a middling country that muddles along in an average sort of way, in fact, the economy has been performing well below average for the past decade and has now sunk to near the bottom of the class.
Read MoreHeadlines matter, but a forecaster's task is to separate signal from noise, temporary disruption from a lasting shift in direction, and resilience from genuine acceleration.
South Africa faces challenges with failing municipalities. But unlike the well-established system of appointing curators for failing banks, municipal interventions are hampered by complex legal frameworks and political constraints, often leading to inefficient outcomes. This article first appeared in News24 on 20 July 2026
Read MoreCities and towns across South Africa are failing after years of underspending on infrastructure and maintenance. If left unchecked, the country faces a growing risk of systemic municipal failure with profound social and economic consequences
Read More
