Tag: poverty

Education has been repeatedly identified as one of the most important ingredients to ending the majority of South Africans’ cycles of poverty. Yet it is the government’s stranglehold over education – which it maintains precisely in the name of “social justice” – that ensures general education retains a poor quality and only contributes to the cycle. South Africa should be a world leader in the liberalisation of education.

The Unaccountables skilfully profiles the large corporations and private individuals implicated in economic crime and never held to account. This book will anger many, who will be able to put names and faces to those behind some of South Africa’s biggest corruption scandals, from apartheid to state capture.

There is one serious missing link at the centre of today’s capitalism. It is a disequilibrium between increased economic interconnectedness and increased isolation/exclusion. This unique challenge in the 21st century calls for a unique solution: Ubuntu.

Women entrepreneurs are on the rise globally, with this wave sweeping over the African and Middle Eastern region. Historically, Africa has led the world in terms of numbers of women business owners, with countries like Uganda and Ghana – leading the way.

Parametric development insurance shows real impact on African continent amidst calls for increased climate finance in run up to COP27. Climate finance is a hot topic in the run up to COP27. While Africa waits for developed nations to fulfil their aid pledges, climate financing is making a difference on the continent, but more needs to be done.

The Africa Report 2022 has revealed a continent that has shown stable growth, increased innovation and consistent reform in a bid to create a competitive environment, foster free trade and improve the investment climate. For investors navigating the 54 different countries and relatively opaque market – only a few provide key economic and business data – the landscape is changing, providing greater clarity, visibility and opportunity. 

On 21 June, members of an anti-migrant group named Operation Dudula showed up at Park Station in Johannesburg vowing to shut down the station. They believed vendors operating there were not South African and therefore are taking away space from South Africans who cannot make ends meet.

The recent suggestion by PSG CEO Piet Mouton that the requirement to disclose executive pay should be made optional raises important questions about an issue that consistently attracts controversy. This follows news reports of Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman receiving R300 million in remuneration for 2021, most of which related to conditional share proceeds.

South Africa is facing a number of critical challenges. Two of the most worrying are a faltering economy and a crisis in leadership which is leaving many of our future business leaders either waiting on the side lines or, even more tragically, leaving the country.

The South African Reserve Bank increased the repo rate by 50 basis points to 4.75%, after it was previously agreed at 25bps during the May policy meeting due to the declining Rand exchange, consumers are in for a tough time. When the repo rate goes up, the lending rate goes up and the consumers' pockets are affected.