Not unexpectedly, the latest unemployment figures for the second quarter of 2024 rose to 33,5% against the background of previous weak economic data that negatively influenced job creation.

In commenting on the release of the Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the second quarter of 2024 by Statistics SA, Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says the gross domestic product (GDP) growth figures in recent quarters have been disappointing.

She is renowned for her legal acumen and dedication to her profession. She has a list of accolades and accomplishments as long as the horizon, but after 22 years of dedicated service, Prof Christa Rautenbach is stepping down from her current role as editor-in-chief of the Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal (PELJ). It is known as the Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad (PER) in Afrikaans.

The North-West University (NWU) has received eight nominations for this year’s prestigious NSTF-South32 Awards. It is another feather in the University’s cap in its pursuit of excellence without boundaries.

The NSTF-South 32 Awards, also known as the ‘Science Oscars’, is the largest, most comprehensive and one of the most coveted national awards.  It recognises outstanding contributions in science, engineering and technology (SET) and innovation by individuals, teams and organisations.

The NWU is proud of this year’s nominees, who include:

A multi-authored book edited by renowned economist Prof Raymond Parsons, from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, aims to encourage and empower voters to make informed choices in this critical election year.

“There is no going back, and the options have dwindled. In the grand scheme of things, South Africa is no longer at the proverbial crossroads, but rather at a T-junction,” says Prof Parsons.

He edited and co-authored the book Tipping Point ─ turmoil or reform? South Africa’s political economy after 2024, which has been published by Jacana Media.

A continued downward trajectory is the only possible forecast for South Africa’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) if political appointments in SOEs continue to take precedence over expertise.

This is according to Prof Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU). Prof Tyobeka says this is not only an inescapable truth, but a gross dereliction of duty by those in key positions, which serves to hamper economic growth to the detriment of the country’s struggling citizens.

In the face of a daunting combination of economic and fiscal imperatives, Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana in his Budget Speech on 21 February gave a realistic assessment of the socioeconomic and fiscal challenges confronting South Africa, including a “high sovereign credit risk”.

This is the view of Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School.

There is still much “unfinished business” on the national agenda, including a more coherent overall economic plan for much higher job-rich inclusive growth.

In commenting on the 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA), Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, points out that, as expected, prior to the 2024 elections the SONA was inevitably largely a party-political statement and also took stock of the government’s achievements over the decades.

The decline in the third quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth to -0,2% from 0,5% in the second quarter of 2023 was worse than expected.

Stats South Africa released the GDP growth figures for the third quarter on 5 December. Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says negative factors have clearly dominated the positive ones to a greater extent than anticipated in that period.

As was widely anticipated, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) by a unanimous vote decided at a third consecutive meeting (and its last meeting of the year) to again keep interest rates unchanged, with the repo rate staying at 8,25%.

Post-apartheid South Africa continues to have many unresolved problems and unfulfilled promises, despite significant progress in certain areas. A recently published book on the work of the late anti-apartheid activist and intellectual, Mzala Nxumalo, aims to make important contributions to the intellectual work that lies ahead for South Africa in current troubling times – particularly in the context of contemporary leftist politics.