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For 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.
Economic expansions do not begin when conditions are perfect; they begin when enough people believe the future will be better than the present. Right now, many businesses appear to be waiting for a reason to believe again.
Read MoreSouth 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 MoreReliable infrastructure, working municipalities and less red tape will do more for employment than chasing the "right" industries. This article, written by Helanya Fourie and Claire Bisseker, first appeared on News24 on 6 July 2026
Read MoreThe latest iteration of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC)’s industrial policy, called the Industrial Development Strategy, proposes taxes on minerals to encourage domestic beneficiation. But beneficiation is, arguably, not the right strategy as the mining sector is struggling with a more basic problem: getting minerals out of the ground in the first place
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