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[Opinion] Expanding’ SARB’s mandate won’t cure SA’s woes

But despite these utterances and desires, it is unclear how precisely expanding the central bank’s mandate – to, for example, dictate looser monetary policy and lower interest rates (in a higher inflation context) – will cure the myriad ideological and policy wounds the governing party has inflicted on the economy.

[Opinion] 2023-Quo Vadis?

All in all a dynamic environment for the foreseeable future but with adversity comes opportunity and taking on these challenges is part of South Africa’s DNA, especially if businesses, communities, and civil society organisations can work together.

[Opinion] Flattering legislation highly deceptive

There might well be surface-level overtures that cadre deployment will be changed. But at base, the party’s guiding ideology requires precisely such tools. It would no longer be the ANC if it abandoned cadre deployment at the first opportunity.

[Opinion] Headwinds on the horizon

Mining and agriculture have been two of the few bright lights for the South African economy, but with the possibility of declining or at least somewhat lower commodity demand and prices, the country cannot hedge all its future growth on these areas.

[Opinion] South Africa's welfare dilemma

Despite South Africans’ high dependency on the welfare system, the government seems unable or unwilling to turn the situation around. It now is considering making the temporary, special Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant more permanent.

[Opinion] Lessons from Kganyago

“On this point, Kganyago said: “Trying to deal with social needs simply through more spending, more debt and higher tax doesn’t really cure the patient, but rather limits the pain while accepting continued decline.“

[Opinion] State capture likely to happen again

In early September Chief Justice Raymond Zondo delivered the keynote address at an event organised by News24. In speaking on the topic of state capture, and whether he thinks something similar could happen again in the future, the Chief Justice indicated that he thought there was a high likelihood the ANC would once again fail to use its majority in parliament to deal with it.

[Opinion] Economic freedom in our lifetime?

Wishing differently doesn’t change reality; all the pronouncements of the state cannot just force wealth creation into being. With less economic freedom comes more dependence on the state – a necessary feature, not an accident, of the ideology that is the National Democratic Revolution (NDR).

[Press Release] South Africa’s dysfunctional municipalities – why the decay?

The latest Macro Review, a report published by the Centre For Risk Analysis (CRA), details the current state of South Africa’s municipalities. It finds that most of South Africa’s municipalities are in serious financial trouble. They also lack the capacity to adequately deliver services, feeding into increased protest action, and negatively impacting investment and economic growth.

[Opinion] The end of social compacts?

This inevitably means that, when a party such as the ANC is in charge of state organs and tools, the default will be toward policies that increase centralisation, taxation, and power maximisation – all of which have wrought havoc on the economy, with a record-high unemployment rate and lower foreign direct investment flows as the prime examples.