South Africa faces unprecedented economic challenges. Some, such as the billions of Rands scurried away by those bent on emptying the state coffers, have been self-inflicted; others, such as the devastating effects of COVID-19, are imported. When Statistics South Africa released its latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the three months to March 2020 (this […]
A tale as old as time: the electricity blackouts story Load shedding has now become a very important aspect of our electricity supply. It is an integral part of our daily planning and even when it’s unexpected it is somehow expected. Lately the concept has been used interchangeably with the disconnection by Eskom of electricity […]
As the pandemic enters new phases in different parts of the world, it is possible to begin to discern some of the patterns that have emerged during this time. We have been confronted by the systemic roots of the stark inequalities that ravage the lives of millions, the enduring legacy of undisguised racism, and the […]
South Africa’s economy and business environment consists mainly of energy intensive industries including manufacturing, transportation, mining, and agriculture. These are some of the main contributors to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and to economic growth. There is a series of connections linking most of these industries – and their abilities to achieve economic growth […]
Family Digest 33 310720
In July 2019, during the Presidency Budget Vote, President Ramaphosa identified the “pattern of operating in silos” in government as a challenge which led to “lack of coherence in planning and implementation and has made monitoring and oversight of government’s programme difficult.”1 In August 2019 a new approach called the District Development Model (DDM)was adopted […]
The ongoing power crisis and questionable interventions: where do our priorities lie? Following the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions for most businesses and operations during level 3, Eskom warned about the return of loadshedding. This was due to the unreliability and unpredictability of the grid, as alluded to by Eskom’s group CEO, Mr Andre […]
Mobile children and youth are a particularly vulnerable group within an already fragile community of displaced persons. In recent weeks the way in which the COVID-19 pandemic has further destabilised their situations has become a cause of heightened concern. The phrase ‘at high risk’ has been used to describe them. The risks range from greater […]
Towards the end of June 2020, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr Antonio Guterres, published a short but very insightful policy brief on the coincidence of two major forces presently shaping our reality, namely the COVID-19 pandemic and the peak in the numbers of people on the move; and on the fallout from […]
