insert_link Business / Economics In S.A, Financial Stability Review Highlights Growing Strain on Households S.A's Reserve Bank's latest Financial Stability Review reveals growing financial stress among households and small-to-medium enterprises. High interest rates, ageing global conflicts, infrastructure failures, and South Africa's graylist status contribute to the strain. Reserve Bank’s head of financial stability department Nicola Brink, says non-performing loans surged from 257-billion-rand in March 2023 to 304-billion-rand in July 2024: todayDecember 2, 2024 15
insert_link Business / Economics Expert Discusses Financial Challenges Facing Local Authorities Business and economics researcher Josef Sheehama addresses the financial struggles of local authorities. He points out concerns about poor financial management, inadequate service delivery, and emphasizes the urgent need for improved governance and accountability. Meanwhile, residents of Katutura are intensifying their challenge against the City of Windhoek's decision to block electricity meters of unpaid clients, arguing that it is unlawful. Spokesman Shaun Gariseb comments: todayNovember 11, 2024 21
insert_link Entertainment Why musicians die in poverty – South African study reveals battle to make ends meet By Gwen Ansell, University of Pretoria Benefits and appeals were recently launched to support the medical costs of veteran South African guitarist Madala Kunene. It’s not the first time such initiatives have been necessary, nor the first time that media and politicians have expressed astonishment that a renowned musician “died in poverty”. Musicians’ dire financial circumstances are sometimes wrongly blamed on irresponsible spending; a […] todayJuly 9, 2024 21
insert_link Business / Economics South Africa’s national student financial aid scheme has helped millions but is in trouble: here’s why South Africa’s minister of higher education and training, Blade Nzimande. Darren Stewart/Gallo Images via Getty Images By Thandi Lewin, University of Johannesburg The board of South Africa’s National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has been dissolved by the country’s higher education and training minister, Blade Nzimande, and the organisation placed under administration. Nzimande made the decision because of “(the problem of) non-payment of (students’) allowances”. Thandi Lewin is […] todayMay 6, 2024 25
insert_link Business / Economics Needing to borrow money? Four tips on what’s okay and what’s not By Bomikazi Zeka, University of Canberra It’s a financially challenging time for most households. With interest rates rising, many are spending even more money on debt repayments or taking out loans to help make ends meet. A report released recently in South Africa, compiled by one of the country’s biggest banks, found that 42% of South Africans, across various income levels, cannot manage their debt. This indebtedness has caused […] todayDecember 14, 2023 7