News

Water use quotas a THREAT to agriculture

In this week's newsletter from the Centre For Risk Analysis, we look at the government's proposed water licensing rules and their impact on the commercial agricultural sector.

[Letter] Zondo’s state capture assessment is correct

Zondo has seen no changes to protect the country from rampant corruption.

Maternal healthcare improves, but more can be done

Over the past ten years, South Africa’s institutional maternal mortality ratio (IMMR) has declined.

[Opinion] President Ramaphosa’s Phala-Phala controversy: A deceitful manoeuvring of South Africa’s judicial processes

President Cyril Ramaphosa and Parliament pulled a fast one on us; twice, if you consider the investigation into alleged corruption at Eskom.

[Video] War in Ukraine | US lawmakers want SA punished for non-aligned stance

South Africa may be punished for its non-aligned stance on the war in Ukraine. A bipartisan group of 4 US lawmakers see the stance as support for Russia. They have since asked Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, to move the AGOA summit from the country. AGOA allows for duty-free exports from Sub-Saharan Africa to the economic giant. We get more on this from Chris Hattingh from the Centre for Risk Analysis.

[Letter] SA should be very worried about US Congress’s Agoa letter

Taking the Agoa Forum from SA can be seen as a first rung on a ladder of options that will escalate in terms of severity for the economy.

[Opinion] Flush Out Injustice: South Africa’s Urgent Call for Sanitation Equality

In a nation that is working to advance and develop, it is depressing to realise that a significant portion of South African homes still do not have access to adequate sanitary facilities.

[Letter] Crises are a result of state policies

Business should not be afraid to walk away from partnership.

[Opinion] South Africa’s Ports: A significant barrier to trade

The numbers are in and they do not look pretty. South Africa’s ports plumb the depths of the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence’s 2022 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), reveals Chris Hattingh.

[Opinion] Global headwinds mean SA must get basics right

The very basics of trade infrastructure need to function correctly if South Africa and indeed the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are to succeed.

[Letter] SA should at least practise its nonalignment preaching

A Reserve Bank report points to the possibility of SA’s ‘neutral’ stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine being ‘perceived as unconvincing

[Video] Threat of national electricity grid collapse

eNCA discusses the risk of a nationwide blackout with Chris Hattingh from the Centre for Risk Analysis.

[Opinion] The sorry state of SA’s mining policy can’t be turned around overnight

A commitment to fixing at least some of the basics would put SA on the path towards improving appetite and desire to invest in the sector.

[Opinion] Shifting blame

When Eskom warned in 2007 about the end of the electricity surplus, the state delayed building necessary infrastructure and the state banked on the private sector. Mantashe blames the private sector for not ‘taking interest'.

[LETTER] Believing the incentives that led to state capture won’t be abused again is naïve

The ANC remains committed to ideas and policies that will further extend the mixing of state with party.

[Video] US-SA relations | Russian arms claims could hurt SA trade ties

The Presidency says US allegations that South Africa supplied weapons to Russia is concerning. Ambassador Reuben Brigety says there is proof a Russian ship docked in Simon's Town left with ammunition. For more, we are joined by Chris Hattingh, from the Centre for Risk Analysis.

[Opinion] Private sector a solution to SA’s infrastructure issues

A lack of road expansion will result in congestion and limited mobility, translating into serious costs for the economy.

[Opinion] NHI not a credible fix for ailing public healthcare

Having said that, it is paramount to understand that while there is an urgent need for reform in South Africa's public health system, the NHI's primary goal is not to enhance healthcare, but rather to extend state control over all aspects of healthcare to a minute level.

[Opinion] ROB ROSE: Smart money braces for stage 8

Since the beginning of 2023, there has been only a single 24-hour period free of rolling blackouts in South Africa,” wrote CRA director Chris Hattingh. “Eskom’s latest energy outlook [up to March 20] suggests this is likely to continue, with the state electricity company being unable to meet the demand for electricity during any week through to at least March 2024.

[Video] SA is playing with fire and putting relations with Western nations at risk – Chris Hattingh of CRA

The Head of Policy Analysis at the Centre for Risk Analysis Chris Hattingh told BizNews that South Africa was playing with fire and says buzzwords like non-alignment and neutrality might not be enough for Western nations to continue giving South Africa access to their markets through agreements like the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

The REAL state of healthcare

In this week's newsletter from the Centre For Risk Analysis, we look at the current state of healthcare in South Africa.

[Letter] LETTER: Time to cut import tariffs

SA could pursue state support for certain industries or goods on a carefully considered and precise basis.

[Opinion] Affirmative action failures: Malaysia’s warning for South Africa

Centre For Risk Analysis analyst, Gerbrandt van Heerden expands on the failures of affirmative action policies in Malaysia, and warns of the possibility of similar consequences in South Africa.

[Letter] Credibility gap

SA’s risk premium has increased exponentially over the last few years. The government’s preference for control was most recently concretised in the signing into law of the Employment Equity Amendment Bill, indicating a preference for even more state power over the economy and society.

[Opinion] Cash fears in energy crisis

His sentiments were echoed by Centre for Risk Analysis policy analyst Chris Hattingh, who said that while a total grid collapse was improbable, it was not impossible. He said the effects of load shedding had already been devastating.

[Opinion] South Africa Faces Social Unrest Risk on Lingering Power Crisis

The state has fumbled South Africa’s crises, Hattingh said, citing its decision to roll back a national state of disaster declared in response to the electricity crisis “with nothing to show for it,” as well as plans to temporarily exempt Eskom from disclosing irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

Water use quotas a THREAT to agriculture

[Letter] Zondo’s state capture assessment is correct

Maternal healthcare improves, but more can be done

[Opinion] President Ramaphosa’s Phala-Phala controversy: A deceitful manoeuvring of South Africa’s judicial processes

[Video] War in Ukraine | US lawmakers want SA punished for non-aligned stance

[Letter] SA should be very worried about US Congress’s Agoa letter

[Opinion] Flush Out Injustice: South Africa’s Urgent Call for Sanitation Equality

[Letter] Crises are a result of state policies

[Opinion] South Africa’s Ports: A significant barrier to trade

[Opinion] Global headwinds mean SA must get basics right

[Letter] SA should at least practise its nonalignment preaching

[Video] Threat of national electricity grid collapse

[Opinion] The sorry state of SA’s mining policy can’t be turned around overnight

[Opinion] Shifting blame

[LETTER] Believing the incentives that led to state capture won’t be abused again is naïve

[Video] US-SA relations | Russian arms claims could hurt SA trade ties

[Opinion] Private sector a solution to SA’s infrastructure issues

[Opinion] NHI not a credible fix for ailing public healthcare

[Opinion] ROB ROSE: Smart money braces for stage 8

[Video] SA is playing with fire and putting relations with Western nations at risk – Chris Hattingh of CRA

The REAL state of healthcare

[Letter] LETTER: Time to cut import tariffs

[Opinion] Affirmative action failures: Malaysia’s warning for South Africa

[Letter] Credibility gap

[Opinion] Cash fears in energy crisis

[Opinion] South Africa Faces Social Unrest Risk on Lingering Power Crisis

[Letter] Moving the goalposts

[Audio] Uganda se streng teen-gay-wetgewing veroordeel

[Opinion] The shutdown that wasn’t

[Letter] Tiny state handouts no cause for celebration