insert_link South Africa AfriForum Challenges Eskom’s Tariff Hike Proposal In S.A, AfriForum has opposed Eskom's proposed 36.15-percent power tariff hike at Gauteng's public consultation today. AfriForum's Morné Mostert emphasised that consumers, particularly low-income households, cannot bear the burden of Eskom's mismanagement. Mostert confirms that AfriForum has submitted a petition to further challenge the increase: today5 December, 2024
insert_link Business / Economics Economist Urges Reforms as South Africa’s GDP Shrinks by 0.3% In S.A, North-West University Business School economist, Raymond Parsons, has called for urgent economic reforms following the disappointing gross domestic product growth figures for the third quarter, when it decreased by 0.3-percent. Parsons calls for more investment and faster reforms from both the public and private sectors to drive job-rich growth and improve the economy: today4 December, 2024
insert_link Business / Economics FNB South Africa warns that today’s fuel price hike is a blow to holidaymakers FNB South Africa warns that today’s fuel price hike, with 95-octane and 93-octane petrol increasing by 17-cents per litre and diesel by over 50-cents, is a blow to holidaymakers. The bank attributes the rise to a weaker rand, driven by global factors like the United States elections and higher international diesel prices. FNB senior economist Koketso Mano advises citizens to revise their fuel budgets: today4 December, 2024
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: today2 December, 2024
insert_link South Africa South Africa’s Deputy President Outlines Steps to Boost Foreign Investment and Economic Reform South Africa's Deputy president Paul Mashatile says the government has implemented several steps to stimulate foreign investment including simple tax rules, and a competitive regulatory framework. He answered questions in the National Assembly yesterday on a range of issues including the economy, the water crisis, and challenges in municipalities. Mashatile says the government of national unity intends to continue with fundamental economic reform and improve the business operating environment: today1 November, 2024
insert_link South Africa Cosatu Expresses Disappointment with S.A’s Treasury’s Economic Strategies S.A union, Cosatu says it remains underwhelmed and disappointed by the Treasury’s continued approach to tackling South Africa’s deep-seated economic and governance crises. The union federation was responding to the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement. Cosatu’s, Matthew Parks, says the fundamental challenges facing the nation are a stagnant economy and a rising unemployment rate of 42.6-percent: today31 October, 2024
insert_link Business / Economics Economist weighs in on Bank of Namibia’s policy alignment Following calls for increased inclusivity in the Monetary Policy Committee of the South African Reserve Bank, we reached out to Cirrus Capital Economist, Robert McGregor for his take. today1 February, 2024
