The unanimous decision by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) to cut interest rates by another 25 basis points (bps) was the right one.

Prof. Raymond Parsons, economist at the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says the MPC decision of 20 November is the result of a number of recent favourable financial developments. It created the space to further ease borrowing costs for business and consumers, which he says is encouraging.

Economists and policy experts attending the North-West University (NWU) Business School Pitso on the 2025 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) commended the disciplined fiscal stance and renewed transparency of the government, but cautioned that the benefits of the new inflation target and spending reforms will take time to materialise.

The widely expected decision by Standard & Poor’s to upgrade South Africa’s investment rating for the first time in nearly two decades is welcome news for the economy.

Prof. Raymond Parsons, economist from the NWU Business School, in commenting on the decision by global agency Standard & Poor’s to upgrade South Africa’s credit rating, says it recognises the extent to which certain recent positive economic developments have improved South Africa’s fiscal position and growth outlook, which has strengthened investment sentiment.

The broad economic and fiscal strategies outlined in the 2025 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) are realistic and credible given South Africa’s challenging economic context.

In commenting on the 2025 MTBPS that Finance Minister Enoch Godwanga presented to Parliament on 12 November, Prof. Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, believes it represents a visible turning point in advancing the priorities of a stable, growing, competitive and inclusive economy. 

The North-West University (NWU) Business School is proud to announce the extraordinary appointments of Dr Yuanyuan (Gina) Cui and Dr Patrick van Esch, both from the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration at the Coastal Carolina University. Their appointments bring exceptional expertise, research leadership and global academic distinction to the NWU Business School community.

By Prof Joseph Sekhampu

By Gofaone Motsamai

The decline of ArcelorMittal’s operations represents more than a corporate failure; it is a warning of the fragility of South Africa’s productive capacity and the urgent need to restore the country’s industrial base and get back to producing steel.

The North-West University (NWU) Business School proudly announces that it will host the 2026 International Conference on Green and Sustainable Development (ICGSD) from 8 to 12 March 2026 at the Protea Hotel, Stellenbosch, Cape Town.

Themed “Reimagining innovation pathways for sustainability: research, practice and policy”, the 2026 ICGSD will bring together researchers, policymakers, innovators and thought leaders from across Africa and the world to engage in transformative dialogue on advancing sustainable development.