The purpose of this paper is to consider how the multiple projects, programmes, measures, initiatives and investments that have been proposed to support a just transition for affected workers and communities in South Africa can be used to inform i) thinking about appropriate context specific codification and tagging; and ii)…

The Import Localisation and Supply Chain Disruption study is a quarterly report that seeks to identify goods from the list of imports identified in the Import Tracker report that South Africa could possibly viably manufacture. Each quarter focuses on five manufactured items from the list of imports in the corresponding quarter's Import Tracker report. The five products in this report are:  Product 1: Self-propelled mechanical shovels, excavators and shovel loaders, with a 360° revolving superstructure Product 2: Storage units for automatic data-processing machine Product 3: Brakes and servo-brakes and their parts, n.e.s.: Other Product 4: Apple juice, unfermented Product 5: Acrylic polymers, in…

Monitoring identified 23 projects in the fourth quarter of 2021, These recorded a total pledged investment value of R128.2 billion. The Tracker further recorded 263 employment opportunities from one project, comprising 59 permanent jobs and 204 temporary employment opportunities. The majority of projects captured this quarter were announced as preferred…

A green economy includes the principles of sustainability, inclusivity, equity, efficiency and low-carbon development. References to South Africa’s commitment to and pursuit of a green economy can be found in many national policies, plans and strategies, as documented by the Green Economy Coalition’s Green Economy Tracker. To date, however. there have been few efforts to measure progress in the transition towards an inclusive green economy. This is changing with the launch of this new publication, the Green Economy Bulletin (GEB), which tracks the progress in South Africa against a selected set of economic, social and environmental indicators. Fourteen metrics have…

Following three consecutive quarters of decline, South Africa’s trade surplus increased from R61.4 billion in the first quarter of 2022 to R71.1 billion in the second quarter of 2022. Still, this surplus is about 56% lower the peak of R160.1 billion in the second quarter of 2021. Exports declined by about 0.2%…

Business Day - 26 September 2022 by Neva Makgetla (TIPS Senior Economist)

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The just transition agenda aims at ensuring that vulnerable stakeholders are not negatively impacted by the transition, but are better off through it. Three key principles underpin the just transition agenda in South Africa. Distributive justice aims to address the direct impacts of the transition, such as the loss of employment and livelihood. Restorative…

This new TIPS publication tracks South Africa's progress towards an inclusive green economy with 14 national indicators to understand the country's path to transition. Read here: Green Economy Bulletin 2022

Main Bulletin: The Real Economy Bulletin - Third Quarter 2022 In this edition GDP growth: GDP grew by 1.6% in the third quarter of 2022, an unexpectedly strong performance in light of intensified loadshedding and continuing volatility in the global economy. Agriculture grew most rapidly, at an exceptional 19%, while the rest of the economy expanded far more modestly. For the first time, the GDP has now exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Read More Employment: According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), in the third quarter of 2022 the formal sector employed around 615 000 fewer people than in the third quarter of 2019. There has,…

South Africa’s merchandise exports experienced a marginal decline in the second quarter of 2022, decreasing by 1.8% year-on-year to R514 billion, while they increased by 10.3% from the previous quarter (Q1 2022). The second quarter of 2022 saw imports increase by 27.7% year-on-year, amounting to R446 billion in constant rand…

Lucas Mthembu is a Researcher at TIPS. His research interests include industrial policy, global value chains, and socioeconomic development. He holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Social Development and Industrial Sociology and a BSocSc Honours in Social Development from the University of Cape Town. He is completing a Master's in Social Development at UCT. His dissertation explores the experiences of South African youth seeking investment opportunities through Easy Equities and contributions to their socioeconomic inclusion. 

TIPS will host its Annual Forum on Tuesday and Wednesday, 1-2 August 2023. The theme is Industrial Policy in an era of global structural change: Implications for Southern Africa. For more information and to register go to TIPS Forum 2023. TIPS FORUM 2024 - CALL FOR PAPERS Small Business, Inclusive Growth, and Industrial Policy in South Africa30-31 July 2024 Find out more or submit your paper >>>

Nondwe Majundana is a communications and marketing professional, with several years’ corporate experience in communications, public relations, and event management. Her previous roles include Communications Associate at the USAID Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub,  where she focused on capacity building, providing strategic public relations and communications guidance. She created all the content for the Hub to increase international competitiveness, intra-regional trade, and food security in Southern Africa. She joins TIPS as Communications Officer to develop its communications strategy, ensure its communications goals align with activity plans, and increase visibility and marketing of the organisation’s communication products. Nondwe has a…

In the first quarter of 2022, 33 new projects were added to the Tracker, of which 30 recorded a total pledged investment value of R79.4 billion for the period. With the exception of three investments, projects captured this quarter were announced at the South African Investment Conference held in March 2022.…

  The 2023 TIPS Forum will be held in a hybrid format allowing for both in-person and virtual participationThe in-person event will be held at the DBSA Vulindlela Conference Centre (1258 Lever Road, Midrand) - space is limited   CLICK HERE TO REGISTER   DOWNLOAD THE FORUM PROGRAMME SPEAKER AND MODERATOR BIOS   Trade…

This brief is based on the findings of a Transnet Rail Rolling Stock Localisation Study that had the following goals: To undertake an applied, independent, quantitative and qualitative research exercise to describe the prevailing economic and rail sector context; to map and analyse the existing domestic rail supply chain; to…

Business Day - 10 October 2022 by Neva Makgetla (TIPS Senior Economist)

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Business Day - 10 November 2022 by Denene Erasmus

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Engineering News - 13 October 2022 by Darren Parker 

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The Good Men Project - 15 October 2022 by Lerato Monaisa (TIPS) for Green Economy Coalition 

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