Tag: job creation

Investors should use mental models to find stillness in the midst of volatility. With gold reaching all-time highs and the JSE All-Share Index posting major gains, global markets remain full of activity. US fiscal concerns and ongoing geopolitical tensions add even more uncertainty. At present, there is rarely a dull moment for markets. However, this constant volatility generates mental noise.

Most small business owners I meet share a similar story. They began with a brilliant idea and invested their energy and capital in building a brand. They fought hard to win their first customers. But somewhere along the way, between juggling sales, operations, HR, marketing and finances, their customers’ voices faded into the background.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of South Africa's economy. They contribute more than R5 trillion in turnover and account for roughly 34% of the country's GDP. SMEs also employ 11.4 million people. These vital economic engines drive innovation, create jobs and fuel growth across the nation.

South Africa’s businesses pay billions in skills levies. Yet the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA’s) administration signals a crisis that could derail our economic future. This retains the original intent but adds urgency.

In a video clip that has gone viral on social media, a South African TikToker by the name of "Voice of RSA" (the Voice hereafter) aims at what he calls the dominance of "trickle-down economics". The TikToker argues that economic growth during the presidencies of Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki was essentially jobless

South Africa’s National Fresh Produce Markets (NFPMs) generate over R20 billion in sales per year. This sector contributes significantly to both job creation and food security. However, without adaptation to transformation and development strategies, the NFPMs risk not realising their true potential.

South Africa’s unemployment figures are not abstract statistics. They are the lived reality of millions of parents unable to provide, of young people whose talents lie dormant, and of communities yearning for hope. We must move beyond analysis to action.

South Africa stands at a pivotal moment. The transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) now intersects with the urgent need for economic revitalisation. While AI holds immense promise, particularly for the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector, realising this potential requires a strategic and united effort.

Google is betting big on South Africa’s digital future. It is projecting R90 billion in economic output resulting from its new Johannesburg cloud region.

After the false start of 19 February, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tabled the 2025 Budget on 12 March. The main tax policy proposals include raising the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate by 0.5% in each of the next two years. This will bring VAT to 16% in 2026/2027. It will be accompanied by no inflationary adjustments to personal income tax brackets, rebates, or medical tax credits.