DP growth figures for the first quarter of 2023

According to Prof Raymond Parsons from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, the good news is that GDP growth of 0,4% in the first quarter of 2023, following on the revised -1,1% growth in the fourth quarter of 2022, has enabled the South African economy to avoid a technical recession – in other words, two consecutive quarters of…

Latest Monetary Policy Committee decision inevitably raises risk of “overkill” in the economy

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously decided on 25 May to increase interest rates by a further 50 basis points (bsp), citing risks to the inflation outlook as still being on the upside. The MPC’s major concerns continue to revolve around the possible second-round effects of higher headline inflation and exchange rate risks.

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Another international accreditation awarded to the NWU Business School

The North-West University (NWU) Business School recently received its accreditation from the Association of African Business Schools (AABS). The NWU Business School was represented at the 2023 AABS Connect Conference, hosted by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in Accra, by the senior manager for Accreditation…

Act NOW to stop loadshedding, say experts to mark Sputla’s 100 days

South Africa’s power crisis, exacerbated by frequent power cuts, came under the spotlight as the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Business School invited experts to mark the new electricity minister’s 100 days in office.

President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Kgosientsho “Sputla” Ramokgopa to the new post to focus on loadshedding. The…

Energy challenge is the biggest threat to economic performance

The rise in the annual consumer price inflation from 7,0% to 7,1% in March was contrary to market expectations, which had been that the consumer price index (CPI) might by now have shown a modest decline to about 6,7%.

According to Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, food prices are the…

Study investigates higher education mergers

A recent study conducted by a PhD graduate and staff member of the North-West University (NWU) Business School, Dr Lungile Ntsizwane, looked at integrating administrative systems and processes in mergers within South African higher education institutions.

She says higher education institutions go through a complex change management…

Extent of increase in borrowing costs is surprising

Contrary to the consensus view expressed by many economists that the repo rate would be raised by only 25 basis points (bsp) on 30 March, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) decided by a 3:2 vote to raise interest rates again by 50 bsp.

In commenting on the decision to increase the repo rate,…

Cabinet reshuffle will be judged by outcomes

“The long-awaited decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to reconstitute his Cabinet and also fill existing key ministerial vacancies will be judged by the outcomes achieved in the period ahead.”

In commenting on the Cabinet reshuffle that was announced on 6 March, Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU)…

Panellists ponder post-Budget recession risks in South Africa

If the elevated fiscal risks outlined in the Budget speech on 22 February 2023 were to materialise, the South African economy could well drift into a recession later this year, said a panel of experts in discussing the Budget in an NWU Business School Pitso today. Questions put to the panel were whether the 2023 Budget responded adequately to a…

Greylisting dents South Africa’s investment profile

South Africa’s heightened global risk status due to greylisting unfortunately dents an investment profile already grappling with factors such as the negative impact of aggressive load-shedding, lack of energy security, ongoing junk status and other uncertainties.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU)…