Viewpoint

We are warning against misinformation that distorts global perceptions. This follows US President Donald Trump’s Executive Order suspending foreign aid to South Africa. He also proposed resettlement for Afrikaner farmers.

The tragic deaths of children exposed to harmful chemicals from foreign-owned spaza shops have highlighted the need for regulations. As we push for more regulations, we must ensure that we do not harm ourselves in the process. Various legal philosophies shape one’s understanding and interpretation of the law.

The first notable initiative in government by the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) – South Africa’s second oldest existing federalist institution – has been to centralise spaza shop regulations under the central government. The xenophobic dimension is less surprising.

Consumer benefits in mergers should be the central consideration when evaluating whether a merger enhances or harms the market for consumers. The Competition Tribunal recently blocked a merger between Maziv and Vodacom, two major players in South Africa's telecommunications sector.

In an increasingly interconnected world, African businesses find themselves uniquely positioned amidst a complex web of economic, political and environmental challenges. From shifting global trade dynamics to environmental imperatives and rapid technological advancements, businesses today must build resilience as a core capability.

South Africa relies on a single machine to produce driving license cards, which is downright ludicrous. In November 2021, an electrical fault caused the machine to break down. Repairs took two months, increasing the license backlog by over a million.

Austerity does not need to mean suffering. Cutting public spending is urgent to address South Africa’s growing debt. Delaying cuts will only worsen debt and interest payments, making future cuts more severe. Reducing spending needn’t harm South Africans, as many wasteful expenses can be removed. In 2023, the Democratic Alliance (DA) estimated that the African National Congress (ANC)-led departments wasted around R40 billion in 2022/23 alone.

South Africans should be terrified by the continued discussion of the possible nationalisation of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). While the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) welcome the discussion, and support putting the institution under total control of government, rational individuals should be supporting more independence and autonomy for the SARB, not less.

The 2024 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) was tabled to Parliament on 30 October 2024 by South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.

As disability or incapacity consultants, we are exposed to many individuals with physical and mental conditions, which impede their quality of life. In most cases, it is often an accumulation of factors that lead to an individual being plagued by illness.