BLUNT INSTRUMENT

There is no question that tariffs are very much back in vogue, courtesy of US President Donald Trump. South Africa, too, is looking to tariffs to shore up industries that are under extreme... 

FEELING BULLISH

The gold bulls are definitely having their day. The upward price trend has been in place since late 2022 and there are no signs yet of a reversal. This, despite the fact that the precious metal has... 

BRATTISH

Active moves by President Donald Trump to exclude South Africa from the G20 gathering in Miami might not rank at the top of recent outrageous actions by the US leader, including his vulgar gesture... 

PRESSURE COOKER:

The list of trouble spots around the globe that carry the potential for dragging the world into war is growing. Worryingly, this also comes at a time when the international and institutional... 

TO-DO LIST

The South African economy is definitely showing signs of recovery. However, there is a long way to go to truly break free from the low-growth shackles created by years of sub-optimal governance,... 

GETTING OLD

The shadow created by the ‘flood the zone’ strategy implemented when President Donald Trump took office in late January extended across the world and was highly unsettling, especially on the trade... 

CONFIDENCE BOOST

The success of the G20 against the backdrop of well-founded scepticism about whether a decaying Johannesburg could pull off its host-city status, was not only a relief but also a confidence... 

BLUE LIES

Among the astounding revelations made during the Madlanga Commission has been testimony stating that cars owned by Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala’s security company were unlawfully registered as Ekurhuleni... 

SCRAP CONTINUES

The fight over South Africa’s scrap metal policy is set to continue. Following a review, the International Trade Administration of South Africa, or Itac, made only modest changes, lowering the... 

WEAK LINK

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) is being called upon to makes some increasingly complex regulatory calls as the country steadily shifts towards a more open and competitive... 

THE B WORD

The world economy is on a roller-coaster ride that includes sharp and unpredictable tariff twists, gut-dropping geopolitical dips and violent turns. Yet the stock markets have floated above the... 

RED CARPET TREATMENT

There are definite signs across Johannesburg that the struggling city aims to put its best foot forward when hosting the G20 Leaders’ Summit, and related meetings, during November. Most of the... 

UNDER PRESSURE

The pressures faced by the South African steel industry have been well documented throughout the year. The lack of domestic demand growth, coupled with rising electricity and logistics costs... 

WRECKING BALL

Allegations of corruption have always dogged the Gauteng health department, but the latest Tembisa Hospital revelations have highlighted the scale of the looting. If R2-billion can be stolen from... 

DODGING & WEAVING

The final countdown to the G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa is truly under way. What should have been something of a crowning moment for the country – the first African nation to host the event... 

MIND BLOWING

The subconscious mind is that part of one’s awareness that influences thoughts, feelings, and actions without one being fully conscious of that influence. It’s not entirely clear whether it was... 

DRIP FED

The water crisis being experienced in many parts of South Africa, including in metropolitan areas of Gauteng, has replaced loadshedding is the biggest problem and anxiety confronting residents. But... 

BOARD FALLOUT

Developments at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, or Necsa, have been explosive of late. Disquiet, disagreements and even legal action over the way remuneration policies had been... 

SHOCKING

When the latest round of electricity tariffs were announced earlier this year, Eskom immediately raised questions about whether the methodology had been applied correctly. Once the reasons were... 

ON TRACK

Significant progress has been made in opening the Transnet rail network to private train operating companies (TOCs). Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has announced that 11 TOCs that applied... 

PERILOUS RIDE

While the US tariffs on automotives and automotive components have piled on the pressure, South Africa’s domestic industry is at a dangerous crossroads as it faces multiple threats. Besides a... 

SURGERY VS CONVENTION

It would be fantastic if, through dialogue, South Africans could genuinely unite behind a common vision and programme. However, the National Dialogue is at odds with the prevailing national mood,... 

TRADING SPACES

South Africa’s objective of diversifying its export markets in light of a rise in protection, prompted primarily by US President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda, is a correct one.... 

HAIR RAISING

The impact of the tariffs being imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration on most countries, including South Africa, will probably not be felt immediately. Over time, however, the costs to... 

REFORM WRANGLES

Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busisiwe Mavuso offered this scathing assessment of Transnet following a recent decision by S&P Global to downgrade its credit rating: “S&P is calling out what... 

FRAYING LINE

Recent developments in the South African Police Service and the political ecosystem that surrounds it are not entirely surprising. Organised syndicates that seem to abound locally will always seek... 

DIALOGUE KNOT

Few truly have much hope that the National Dialogue will yield the solutions needed to put out the fires associated with the country’s paltry growth and deep-rooted social problems. It has also now... 

WORRYING SIGNS

A recent Human Sciences Research Council survey showed that most adults are concerned that political parties are being influenced by donations from wealthy elites. This, despite low levels of... 

HOWZAT

South Africa’s Proteas made history at Lord’s in London last month when Temba Bavuma led his team to an historic victory over their Australian rivals, who were strongly favoured to win the one-off... 

FACTS & STATS

While it is not certain whether the renowned American writer Mark Twain really said: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics”, the following quote is also often attributed... 

FUTURE IMPERFECT

The immediate threat of the so-called ‘gas cliff’ may be mitigated through a proposed move by Sasol to divert some methane rich gas, produced synthetically from coal, to industrial consumers until... 

METRO MESS

For those living in South Africa’s largest cities, the latest report by the Auditor-General of South Africa was no surprise. Only the City of Cape Town received a clean audit, pointing to ongoing... 

CONFLICT & DRAMA

Reality shows such as Survivor and The Apprentice, which Donald Trump coproduced, thrive on conflict and drama. South Africans had a front row seat as the now President Trump turned his Oval Office... 

ON THE EDGE

South Africans have become almost numb to our extreme unemployment scourge. News about the latest deterioration in the official unemployment rate to 32.9% in the first quarter failed, therefore, to... 

TRADE TUSSLES

The most extreme tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump on ‘Liberation Day’ have been paused and some bilateral ‘deals’ have been struck. Nevertheless, the trading environment is tighter... 

ACTION

It may be the third attempt, but crafting a Budget that meets the expansionary aspirations of some, the demands for cuts by others, while remaining within the debt limits desired by just about... 

NEW PERIL

South Africa was hoping to begin breaking free from its low-growth trap this year. It avoided what would have been another self-inflicted wound by allowing the spat over VAT to break up the... 

STEEL ECHOES

The similarities in the debate over the future of British Steel, in Scunthorpe, England, and ArcelorMittal South Africa’s Newcastle Works, in KwaZulu-Natal, are striking. While production and jobs... 

WREAKING HAVOC

WREAKING HAVOC: President Donald Trump’s supporters continue to insist he has a coherent and workable economic vision and plan. Economists are sceptical, however, and markets, which admittedly tend... 

EXTREME RIDE

Those in business who previously believed that President Donald Trump’s most extreme instincts would be tamed by stock market reactions and/or unfavourable polls have been rudely awakened by his...