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[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.

[Letter] Moving the goalposts

Eskom and Transnet exemptions have more to do with influence and cadre deployment than solving a crisis.

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

Uganda’s anti-LGBTQ Bill condemned.

[Opinion] The shutdown that wasn’t

Couched in the language of revolution, the EFF must rely on events such as ‘national shutdowns’ to both test the general national mood of political change, and to try and figure out where its own support levels lie.

[Letter] Tiny state handouts no cause for celebration

Forced dependence upon meagre handouts cannot be seen as anything but a tragedy.

[Opinion] National Shipping Company Won't Fix Basic Trade Flaws

Is a national shipping company good or bad news for the South African economy and trade in general? CHRIS HATTINGH has his doubts about whether it can be a positive development…

[Opinion] Warning lights are flashing

The SARB’s 0.3% GDP growth estimate reinforces the fact that South African businesses and citizens need to prepare accordingly for yet more tough times ahead.

Discussion: Increase of pupils at independent schools

CRA’s Gerbrandt Van Heerden speaks on ENCA about school vouchers.

[News] Load shedding is now threatening South Africa’s food supply

If outages continue at those levels, said Chris Hattingh, head of policy analysis at the Centre for Risk Analysis, South Africa’s GDP growth this year will likely be capped at 1.5%.

[News] An Energy Crisis Is Seeping Into South Africa’s Food Supply

The most severe power cuts ever experienced in South Africa are threatening food and water supplies and disrupting the lives of millions of people, including chicken farmers.

[Video] SA's Electricity Crisis | No energy for energy action plan

In July last year, the government outlined a ten-point power plan to address power cuts. Some of the details included buying power from independent producers, scrapping licensing requirements for private energy projects, and 'importing' electricity from Botswana and Zambia. South Africa then went on to have its worst year of blackouts to date, around 200 days. Right now, the situation doesn't look like it will get any better. Let's find out what went wrong with Senior Research at the Centre of Risk Analysis, Chris Hattingh.

[Letter] No health service without enough specialist nurses

That bureaucracy and regulatory confusion are stifling the training of specialist nurses in SA bodes ill for the planned National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.

[Opinion] SA outlook: citizens are resilient in the face of crisis

Although it’s a constitutional responsibility of the state to ensure that the country is secure, the paradoxical reality of South African citizens staying on while things fall apart is to make sure that they are “state secure”, says Chris Hattingh from the Centre for Risk Analysis (CRA).

[Opinion] Expanding’ SARB’s mandate won’t cure SA’s woes

But despite these utterances and desires, it is unclear how precisely expanding the central bank’s mandate – to, for example, dictate looser monetary policy and lower interest rates (in a higher inflation context) – will cure the myriad ideological and policy wounds the governing party has inflicted on the economy.

[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

[Opinion] National Shipping Company Won't Fix Basic Trade Flaws

[Opinion] Warning lights are flashing

Discussion: Increase of pupils at independent schools

[News] Load shedding is now threatening South Africa’s food supply

[News] An Energy Crisis Is Seeping Into South Africa’s Food Supply

[Video] SA's Electricity Crisis | No energy for energy action plan

[Letter] No health service without enough specialist nurses

[Opinion] SA outlook: citizens are resilient in the face of crisis

[Opinion] Expanding’ SARB’s mandate won’t cure SA’s woes

[Opinion] 2023-Quo Vadis?

[Letter] This is why SA is a risk for Sub-Saharan Africa

[Letter] Transnet: no surprise there were so few takers

[Opinion] No end to rolling blackouts anytime soon

[Letter] Grandiose shipping project a waste of resources

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