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Research Notes are more in-depth analyses undertaken by BER economists and consultants.
Brief note intended as a more regular interface with our clients.
The Impumelelo Economic Growth Lab is a unit at the BER, focussing on generating policy-relevant work and capacity building to achieve economic success in South Africa. This work is freely available to access on our website.
Professor Samodada Fikeni argues that dysfunction in South Africa’s public service is not simply the result of poor performance, but reflects a deeply entrenched “political economy of inefficiency”. New legislation to professionalise and strengthen oversight of the public service offers an opportunity to reverse the decline, but implementation and political will will be critical.
Read MoreThe ANC’s delayed decision on its Johannesburg mayoral candidate exposes a deeper problem for the party: voter loyalty can no longer be taken for granted, while internal structures remain deeply invested in factional contests over who leads. With Joburg set to be the key battleground of the 2026 local elections, the eventual choice could shape not only the ANC’s campaign, but also its post-election coalition options.
Read MoreThe Public Investment Corporation's governance crisis enters a new phase as suspended CEO Patrick Dlamini challenges his suspension in court and government prepares to appoint an interim board. While the immediate focus is on restoring stability, the episode has reignited questions about whether the PIC's governance framework requires more fundamental reform.
Read MoreThe political window to reform the South African Police Service (SAPS) is narrow, but President Cyril Ramaphosa has been handed a rare opportunity to do so. The Madlanga Commission's revelations have exposed the depth of criminal infiltration and institutional decay within the police, creating both an urgent need and a unique opening for reform.
Read MoreThe Constitutional Court has ruled Parliament’s decision to block an impeachment inquiry into the Phala Phala report unconstitutional, reviving scrutiny over President Cyril Ramaphosa’s handling of the scandal. The judgement strengthens constitutional accountability but places Ramaphosa and the ANC under renewed political pressure.
Read MoreGrowth is back on the agenda for the Democratic Alliance (DA), as it transitioned to a new, youthful leadership core at its elective congress over the weekend, with the party’s new federal leader, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, unequivocal about ensuring that the DA becomes the largest party in SA.
Read MoreCyril Ramaphosa’s second term as ANC president ends in December 2027. Historically, the election of the ANC president was the single most important political event watched at home and abroad to determine the country’s prospects. This comment explains the state of play in ANC succession politics and why the race for the party presidency could mark a significant shift from established practice within the party, driven by electoral concerns.
Read MoreThe City of Johannesburg is ground zero ahead of the upcoming local government election. The battle for political dominance in the country’s economic heartland will be brutal and could again culminate in messy coalitions
Read MoreDemocratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen formally announced his withdrawal from the party’s succession race during a media briefing in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday. The move has been long in the making, with talks around Steenhuisen’s potential exit beginning toward the end of 2025. The key question is whether a refresh in the upper echelons of the DA leadership can, first, reignite support from its base and, second, attract new voters to the party.
Read MoreThe last two local government elections in SA took place against a backdrop of elevated internal and external political uncertainty, a trend expected to continue into the 2026 local government election . We therefore begin the year’s client commentary with a political risk assessment by our newly appointed political analyst, Natasha Marrian, examining current political dynamics and key risks ahead of the upcoming election.
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