Risk Alert

Risk Alert

The Risk Alert is a weekly two-page analysis of emerging political and economic risks. It provides guidance on how topical events, both locally and globally, will influence South Africa’s business and investment environment. The Risk Alert, presented in both PDF and audio formats, is published every Monday morning, — helping CRA clients to begin each week armed with the latest analysis of key events.

Risk Alert | The Public Protector and the balance of power in the ANC

22 March 2021 - In this week's exclusive client Risk Alert, Bheki Mahlobo and Frans Cronje reflect on the significance of last week’s vote in Parliament on the fitness to hold office of the Public Protector.

Publication description

What does this vote say about the balance of power within the ANC and the prospects for policy reform in the country?

Cronje and Mahlobo also dissect the ongoing delays to South Africa’s Covid-19 vaccination programme and whether this may increase the likelihood of a ‘third wave’ of infections.

Risk Alert | Three big tests for the ANC

16 March 2021 - In this week's exclusive client Risk Alert, Bheki Mahlobo and Frans Cronje identify three ‘referendums’ to determine the ANC’s potential for reform.

Publication description

Will the private sector move on vaccines amidst ongoing delays by the state, they ask?

Mahlobo and Cronje conclude by discussing the prospects for the US Dollar and the South African Rand.

Risk Alert | Have SA’s courts been compromised?

8 March 2021 - In this week's exclusive client Risk Alert, Bheki Mahlobo and Frans Cronje highlight the risk to the integrity of South Africa’s judiciary.

Publication description

Ongoing wage negotiations with public sector unions seem likely to undermine the Finance Minister’s plans to curtail spending, they argue. 

What do ongoing delays with South Africa’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout say about the relationship between private healthcare providers and the state, they ask?

Risk Alert | South Africa’s fiscal quagmire

In this week's exclusive client Risk Alert, Bheki Mahlobo and Frans Cronje discuss National Treasury’s economic growth, deficit and debt outlook for South Africa.

Publication description

The country’s low growth outlook will undermine prospects for any recovery in employment levels, while poor school outcomes continue to hinder labour absorption. 

Is the global economy entering a period of sustained recovery?

Risk Alert | Is the global economic recovery underway?

22 February 2021 - In this week's exclusive client Risk Alert, Bheki Mahlobo and Frans Cronje look beyond South Africa to determine the key trends influencing the global environment.

Publication description

As the world emerges from the rubble of the Covid-19 crisis, Cronje and Mahlobo explore the drivers of the economic recovery.

What factors could derail the recovery, they ask?

Risk Alert | The SONA and the policy soul of the government

15 February 2021 - In this week's exclusive client Risk Alert, Bheki Mahlobo and Frans Cronje look beyond the State of the Nation Address and peer into the “policy soul” of the ANC government.

Publication description

Cronje and Mahlobo examine six key indicators to determine the policy and ideological orientation of the government.


These indicators reveal a policy framework increasingly hostile to investment and growth in the country.