Macro Review

Macro Review

The Macro Review is a monthly report providing insight into the current trends shaping a specific social, environmental, economic, or political risk in South Africa. This report unpacks the numbers to indicate how political risks are evolving, and the way in which this may impact the business environment and social stability in South Africa.

ANC on a knife-edge

The latest edition of the Macro Review from the Centre For Risk Analysis provides new polling data on voter preferences ahead of South Africa's local government elections.

Publication description

The report includes a comprehensive analysis of:

  • Voting intentions
  • Public support for political leaders
  • Voter attitudes towards corruption
  • The CRA's call on the election

All Politics is Local

The latest edition of the Macro Review from the Centre For Risk Analysis examines the state of local government in South Africa.

Publication description

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of:

  • Municipal electoral performance
  • Municipal financial performance
  • Public perceptions and actions

Criminal State

Publication description

Key takeaways:

  • The true extent of crime in South Africa is possibly concealed by underreporting.
  • Short-term trends indicate an uptick in violent crime.
  • The extended Covid-19 lockdown has contributed to an escalation of violent protests.
  • The police continue to be plagued by corruption, criminality, and limited resources.
  • As public confidence wanes, South Africans are resorting to private security and vigilantism.

Business Unusual

The June edition of the Macro Review from the Centre For Risk Analysis explores South Africa's hostile business environment.

Publication description

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of:

  • Changes in business conditions across various industries
  • Business and consumer confidence 
  • Energy supply constraints
  • The labour market

Profiling South Africa’s provinces

This edition of the Macro Review from the Centre For Risk Analysis provides comparative data on South Africa’s nine provinces across key areas: demographics, the economy, education, health, social security, living conditions, as well as crime and security.

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The long Lockdown and the South African consumer

This edition of the Macro Review from the Centre For Risk Analysis (CRA), entitled The long Lockdown and the South African consumer, revisits the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on consumer behaviour, first explored in July 2020.

Publication description

Key takeaways:

  • Household consumption expenditure, at 59.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP), is a key driver of South Africa’s economy.
  • Consumer confidence recovered slightly in the first quarter of 2021 but remains very low.
  • Debt levels are rising, with households increasingly struggling to meet their debt obligations.
  • Household spending has diminished, as seen in poor retail and new vehicle sales.
  • Online activity remains strong, despite the easing of lockdown restrictions.