US Dollar under pressure
During March, the fortunes of the US dollar took a turn for the worse, with virtually every currency of note gaining lost ground against...
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Food for Thought
Dr. Roelof Botha
Mar 30, 20233 min read
Construction industry needs a boost
Construction sector activity in South Africa has recovered well from the debilitating effects of the Covid pandemic, but a need clearly...
300
Dr. Roelof Botha
Mar 23, 20233 min read
SA Banks should be safe from new financial turmoil
Silicon Valley Bank’s demise represents a worst case scenario of the dangers that lie in wait for banks all over the world, due to the...
210
Dr. Roelof Botha
Mar 16, 20233 min read
DMRE obstructing mining development
South Africa’s mining sector has enjoyed a satisfactory start to 2023, with January’s total mineral sales of R63 billion matching the...
1540
Dr. Roelof Botha
Mar 8, 20232 min read
Capital formation urgently required to sustain GDP growth
Cynics that had predicted negative GDP growth for 2022 will have to wait at least another 12 months to see whether their pessimism may...
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Dr. Roelof Botha
Mar 3, 20232 min read
Employment gains continue in 4th quarter
The South African economy continued its impressive job creation performance in the 4th quarter of 2022, adding another 169,000 new jobs....
301
Dr. Roelof Botha
Feb 23, 20234 min read
Budget 2023/24 – emphasis on renewable energy & tax breaks
The 2023/24 national budget delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has been met with a favourable initial response by...
1140
Dr. Roelof Botha
Feb 16, 20233 min read
Energy crisis takes its toll on the Rand
On 13 February, the rand breached the $18-level again, recording its weakest level since mid-November. This decline follows hot on the...
120
Dr. Roelof Botha
Feb 9, 20233 min read
The Global Economy | The gloom starts to lift
What a difference a couple of weeks can make! Early in January, the World Bank published its latest global economic outlook, which is a...
90
Dr. Roelof Botha
Feb 2, 20232 min read
Tourism recovery on track
In December, the number of overseas travellers visiting South Africa jumped to its highest level since February 2020 (which was just...
60
Dr. Roelof Botha
Jan 25, 20233 min read
Pressure mounting on consumers
In recent weeks, the general mood amongst South Africans from all walks of life has become palpably sombre, mainly as a result of the...
120
Dr. Roelof Botha
Jan 4, 20233 min read
Emphatic victory for ANC's reform agenda
Against the background of intimidating headwinds, including low economic growth, load shedding and a vociferous and retrogressive RET...
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Dr. Roelof Botha
Dec 5, 20222 min read
New formal employment hits the 1-million mark
The upward trend in new job creation continued unabated in the 3rd quarter of 2022, with total formal sector employment rising by more...
330
Dr. Roelof Botha
Nov 23, 20223 min read
Wholesalers priming retail for shopping spree
A rampant wholesale sector has been busy laying the tables of retailers for the inevitable shopping spree that is associated with Black...
180
Dr. Roelof Botha
Nov 11, 20223 min read
Pressure mounting on the US Dollar
The surge in the value of the US dollar since the beginning of the year may be coming to an end. Immediately after the publication of...
60
Dr. Roelof Botha
Nov 2, 20223 min read
Moody's & Mini-Budget Provide Some Cheer at Eskom
October ended on a high note for South Africa’s embattled electricity utility, with two welcome windfalls in quick succession. The first...
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Dr. Roelof Botha
Oct 25, 20223 min read
South African farmers excel in food security
In the midst of the frustration with electricity rationing, higher inflation and a global economic slowdown, South Africans can find some...
110
Dr. Roelof Botha
Oct 17, 20223 min read
Grey-listing likely to be avoided
The debate on the omnibus General Laws Amendment Bill has spread to the public domain and is becoming quite heated, with an apparent...
80
Dr. Roelof Botha
Oct 4, 20223 min read
Monetary policy will hurt the economy for no good reason
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is making a habit of overreacting whenever the rate of...
130
Dr. Roelof Botha
Sep 22, 20223 min read
Mining sector to ease Eskom's woes
The global business mood is decidedly downbeat and South Africa is no exception. In recent months, most consumers and businesses have...
221
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