Tag: COVID-19

To date, policymakers, regulators, the scientific community and even consumers have had to step in to close the economic gap between the hydrocarbon energy system and the low-carbon system. This transition is an energy system transition, not a supply-centric one, and it is distinguished by placing decarbonisation at the core.

It’s been proven time and again: diversified businesses do better. McKinsey’s 2020 diversity report shows there’s a robust relationship between diversity at executive level and the likelihood of financial outperformance. There’s no doubt that women make an outstanding contribution to the financial services sector, but global trends indicate the industry’s transformation is slow.

For those who survived the initial shock of the COVID-19 crisis, the question is: Now what? Since there is no going back to business as usual, it is time for companies to turn the page and concentrate on planning for mid- to long-term priorities.

The proposal for a universal basic income grant (BIG) has been on the table for almost 20 years. It was first recommended by the Committee of Inquiry (Taylor Committee) into a Comprehensive System of Social Security for South Africa in 2002, after a number of civil society organisations had petitioned for it on account of persistent poverty and structural inequality.

Lingering after effects of COVID-19 which persist for more than six weeks have been deemed 'Long COVID-19' by the World Health Organisation – and those holding down jobs need to manage their symptoms while being expected to return to work.

South Africa’s third wave of COVID-19 saw healthcare professionals put in tragic circumstances where they must, in some cases, choose which patients to try and save. Effectively who lives and who dies. For healthcare professionals forced to make unenviable decisions about how to allocate clinical resourcing, this trauma is sadly compounded by the potential risk of being prosecuted for unlawful killing after being forced to make such decisions.

Operating conditions in the first half of 2021 were better than we expected at the start of the year. This was evident in upward revisions to GDP growth, vaccine rollouts gathering pace and positive developments on key reforms in SA.

Encouraging public sector organisations to become more innovative has always been important. However, doing so has likely never mattered more as the world wrestles with the challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak and recovery.

According to Peter Attard Montalto (head of Capital Markets Research at Intellidex) the violence and looting that took place in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in July 2021 cost the national retail sector R5 billion, 800 non-shopping centre stores were looted, 100 stores were burnt out, and 200 shopping centres were looted, and many destroyed. How can the country recover from such devastation - and when still enduring more than a year of lockdown and a pandemic? The answer must lie in economic and individual freedom.

Many South African’s feel the economic impact of the pandemic, which has ultimately affected their pocket. People are forced to make difficult decisions in order to rearrange their finances to suit their current financial constraints.