“The worse than expected GDP data for the fourth quarter of 2019 confirms that not only did the South African economy experience a ‘technical recession’ in the second half of 2019, but that growth in 2019 as a whole was also only 0,2%.”

“The budget confirms the extent to which the South African economy still finds itself in a bad space, requiring a strong emphasis on measures to boost job-rich growth.”

Prof Danie Meyer, director of the TRADE research focus area at the North-West University (NWU), and Roan Neethling, a doctoral student, discuss the main themes from president Cyril Ramaphosa’s fourth state of the nation address (SONA) that was delivered on 13 February 2020.

Thokozane Zulu is a man with a plan. This final-year student in Public Governance at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark has his sights set on parliament, and if his recent performance in the SABC reality show, One Day Leader, is anything to go by, then his dream is sure to be realised.

“The wide-ranging state of the nation address (SONA) delivered by president Cyril Ramaphosa to Parliament recognised the grave socio-economic challenges currently faced by South Africa, especially its low growth and high unemployment.”

In recognition of the excellent work done by Prof Wilma Viviers in the North-West University’s (NWU’s) TRADE research entity under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Chairs Programme over the past few years, the WTO has agreed that the Chair will continue to be hosted by the NWU after its initial four-year run, with Prof Viviers remaining the Chair holder.

Three students from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng recently represented Southern Africa at the Asia Pacific Leadership Summit that took place in Brisbane, Australia from 4 to 9 February 2020.

The latest publication by Statistics SA on the electricity generated in the country was released on 6 February 2020 and indicated that electricity generation decreased by 4,0% year-on-year from December 2018 to December 2019.

At the start of 2020 the South African economic outlook seems dire. According to economist Prof Danie Meyer, director of the TRADE research focus area at the North-West University (NWU), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that economic growth will be set at below 1% for the year.

“Although the implementation of Brexit tonight, 31 January 2020 obviously marks an historic fork in the road in the economic relations between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (UE), not much will change in the immediate future.”