The North-West University (NWU) attended the recent launch of a new initiative to promote digital health innovation in Africa. This initiative aligns with the strategies of the WHO and national governments across the world in promoting universal access to quality, affordable healthcare to all people.

It is a pass. That is the conclusion of a panel of experts that was hosted by the North-West University (NWU) Business School on whether the 2022 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) should receive a “fail” or a “pass” rating.

On Wednesday, 26 October, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered the MTBPS, with generally favourable reactions.

“Against the background of difficult global and domestic economic circumstances Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana generally delivered a realistic and credible fiscal message in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) today.”

In commenting on the MTBPS, Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the Business School of the North-West University (NWU), says South Africa’s public finances have now been put on a much more sustainable basis.

He points out that both expenditure and revenue are good-news stories that help to build economic resilience.

The statement by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) on 22 September conveyed an understandably hawkish message about the inflation outlook in the economy in the midst of several global and domestic uncertainties.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the Business School of the North-West University (NWU), says the majority view was for a 75 basis-point rise in order to progressively re-anchor inflationary expectations. Significantly, two members of the five-person MPC wanted a 100 basis-point hike.

On 11 August 2022, the North-West University (NWU) Business School launched its Internationalisation Africa Outreach programme in Botswana with the theme “Water is life: sustainable water management in Southern Africa”.

The launch was attended by NWU Business School alumnus, Minister of Land and Water Affairs in Botswana, Dr Kefentse Mzwinila, and the NWU principal and vice-chancellor, Dr Bismark Tyobeka. 

The Business School of the North-West University (NWU) proudly launched its first formal African outreach initiative on 11 August in Gaborone, Botswana. Some 80 delegates from the Botswana government, the formal business sector and staff from various universities attended this glamorous event. The first Business School alumni chapter was also formally launched during the function.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s plan to resolve the long-standing electricity crisis in South Africa could be the tipping point in turning around the country’s ability to more successfully meet its energy challenges.

It was unavoidable that a further increase in borrowing costs for business and consumers had to be implemented.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the Business School of the North-West University (NWU), points out that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided with a divided vote to raise interest rates by another 75 basis points on 21 July.

The North-West University Business School's Prof Raymond Parsons interviews Minister Naledi Pandor and unpacks the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s (DIRCO’s) vision and mission in Africa and to examine whether the relationship between DIRCO and business can be strengthened for this purpose.

To this end the role of diplomatic missions on the continent and their interaction with South African business has been interrogated in this video to see in what ways South Africa’s economic interests in Africa can be further promoted and expanded.

“The slightly better news on the unemployment front is a welcome trend, as it comes after a prolonged period of persistent deterioration in South African employment levels in recent times.”

In commenting on the latest unemployment figures for the first quarter of 2022, Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the Business School of the North-West University (NWU), says to a large extent this development follows South Africa’s strong economic recovery in 2021 from the pandemic lockdowns, and should be viewed in the light of the inevitable time lags.