The South African Economy Archives - Page 17 of 22

ARTICLE: THE SACP AND R2 BILLION ADD VARIETY TO POST-DECEMBER SCENARIOS

2017-07-26

There are basically three post-December 2017 scenarios.

The first is a Dlamini-Zuma victory (“NDZ”), after which the ANC will probably split – and struggle to secure 50% at the polls in 2019. Following which, corruption will persist and economic growth will remain low.

The second is a Ramaphosa victory (“CR17”), after which the ANC could split, but probably not – and where getting 50% at the ballot box could be a little easier. Further, corruption will be tackled and the economy will slowly improve.

The third is the “unity scenario”, whereby there will be either a loser Deputy President and the ANC will paper over the cracks (and struggle at the ballot box), or a compromise candidate may be elected as President, with new possibilities for anti-corruption initiatives, as well as the economy.

ARTICLE: MISSION RESCUE: GIGABA-STYLE

2017-07-17

The pomp with which Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba announced his 14-point plan on 13 July 2017 went down like the proverbial damp squib.

ARTICLE: SOUTH AFRICA IN A POST-BELL POTTINGER AGE

2017-07-13

For many in South Africa, Bell Pottinger has become a swearword, much like Gupta. References to both are now synonymous for what ails South Africa – corruption and state capture.

ARTICLE: THE ANC POLICY CONFERENCE: THE REAL AND THE IMAGINED*

2017-07-11

In a week that saw the media quarantined from delegates and delegates turn on factions within the ANC, Zuma’s frail proclamation at the closing of the Party’s 5th National Policy Conference, “there are no losers or winners at the conference, there is only the ANC”, rang hollow.

ARTICLE: MAJORITY OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN BREACH OF THE CONSTITUTION

2017-06-29

Section 152 of the Constitution describes the objectives of local government as providing democratic and accountable government, ensuring the provision of services, promoting social and economic development, and promoting a safe and healthy environment. Section 195 offers a set of basic values and principles governing public administration, amongst these a high standard of professional ethics, the effective use of resources, and accountability.

The most recently-released Report by the Auditor-General (AG) on the local government sector paints a bleak, and in many instances, deteriorating picture of the state of financial management and oversight, one that is wholly inconsistent with the laudable and enforceable principles of the Constitution. This comes after 23 years of democratic government and repeated appeals by the AG to local politicians and officials to get their house in order. Local government is the lens through which ordinary South Africans experience constitutional guarantees – and failure of local government erodes public trust in the constitutional state.

ARTICLE: PUNCH-DRUNK AND STAGGERING, BUT ON COURSE …

2017-06-09

One cannot blame South Africans for feeling a little punch-drunk and perhaps even despondent. It seems like there is no more good news in the media. The prospects for the country and the rand do not look good and reportedly, the emigration agents are making good money with South Africans seeking greener pastures (not that Britain looks so green following the terror attacks in public places – it’s a lot safer even on Johannesburg’s streets).

There are two broad reactions to this state of affairs – some (like former president of the Free State, Jan Brand) say “everything will be alright”. “Zuma is on his way out one of these days and then everything will be set to rights again.” Others (like those who choose to emigrate) say with conviction “all is lost – the country will never recover from the damage inflicted by Zuma”. However, neither of these two reactions is 100% correct. As with many other things, the truth lies somewhere in between.

ARTICLE: POLITICS OF THE STOMACH

2017-05-24

The last few months, if not years, have witnessed confusion, political grandstanding and outright unconstitutional references and threats in relation to the land question.

ARTICLE: AN ABOMINATION – AGAIN

2017-05-08

Playing Fast and Loose with State Resources

While some would call it a confession, others have referred to it as a disclosure. Newly-minted Energy Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, revealed to a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on 2 May 2017 that South Africa’s strategic oil reserves were sold and not ‘rotated’ by her predecessor Tina Joemat-Pettersson, leaving the country reeling, yet again.

When the story broke almost six months after the sale of the 10 million barrels of crude in December 2015, then Energy Minister Joemat-Pettersson dismissed media enquiries as silly nonsense and that ‘rotating’ old stock of crude oil had a precedent way back when. There was little more concrete information forthcoming from her before she tossed the Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF), a unit of the Central Energy Fund (CEF), into the fray. The Department of Energy, as the largest shareholder of the CEF, was simply following the orders of its principle, the Minister.

ARTICLE: AN ABOMINATION – AGAIN

2017-05-08

While some would call it a confession, others have referred to it as a disclosure.

View Archived Content

ARTICLE: THE SACP AND R2 BILLION ADD VARIETY TO POST-DECEMBER SCENARIOS

ARTICLE: MISSION RESCUE: GIGABA-STYLE

ARTICLE: SOUTH AFRICA IN A POST-BELL POTTINGER AGE

ARTICLE: THE ANC POLICY CONFERENCE: THE REAL AND THE IMAGINED*

ARTICLE: MAJORITY OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN BREACH OF THE CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE: PUNCH-DRUNK AND STAGGERING, BUT ON COURSE …

ARTICLE: POLITICS OF THE STOMACH

ARTICLE: AN ABOMINATION – AGAIN

ARTICLE: AN ABOMINATION – AGAIN

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