At first blush, it may seem like good news that the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) group will expand to include Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Egypt and Argentina. An 11-strong BRICS+ could be more representative of the world’s emerging economies, providing a...
South Africa is hosting the 15th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit from August 22 to 24; but in fact not all the current five leaders will attend. Russian President Vladimir Putin will only participate virtually as the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest...
Long before globalisation became a modern buzzword, more than 200 years ago British economists Adam Smith and David Ricardo acknowledged the potential of free trade to transform poor countries into wealthy states.
In explaining the benefits of free trade, Smith eloquently used the metaphor of ‘The Invisible Hand’ in his...
At a time when many democracies are under threat, it is important to highlight the success stories. South Africa may not be the first country that comes to mind as a model democracy, but it should be. In the 28 years since apartheid ended in 1994, South Africa has...
South Africa is celebrating a momentous 28-year democracy this year - a period that has been characterised by steady economic, political and social freedom, having first marked it in April 27, 1994.
The theme for the occasion: ‘Consolidate our Democratic Gains’, is a charge to the country’s people to seriously...
Every year, on April 27, South Africa celebrates Freedom Day to remember a momentous date, April 27, 1994, in its history, when its nationals of all races - black, white, Asian and colored - participated in the first democratic election that ended the reign of the racially repressive apartheid...
Agilitee Africa, a South African-based green solutions provider, is seeking to break into Ghana’s nascent automobile market, with its eco-friendly smart solutions to emerging challenges posed by fossil-fuel-powered vehicle use.
With the global automobile industry now faced with ending the era of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles by 2040, Agilitee Africa says it...
Africa is beginning to slowly “bend the curve” of COVID-19 infections as measures like mask-wearing and social distancing slow down the spread of the pandemic on the continent, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said last week Thursday.
Although the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak was slow in...
Southern Africa’s economic output will shrink by as much as 6.6% this year due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has said.
The bank’s best-case scenario sees output growth at -4.9% with a 6.6% contraction forecast under its worst-case scenario. That is against its...
Africa already in recession before pandemic
Bad debts could hit 10% as coronavirus knocks economy - BASA
That would mark highest ever level, over the 6% seen in 2009
Banks expected to have sufficient capital to handle hit
South Africa’s bad debts could hit 10% of bank lending this...