Daily Maverick - 2 April 2020 by Shakespear Mudombi (TIPS Economist)

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Business Day - 30 March 2020 by Neva Makgetla (TIPS Senior Economist)

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RESPONSE TO COLUMN

Letter in Business Day - 1 April 2020 by Prof Ivan Turok (Human Sciences Research council)  

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The South African economy is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through:

• The sharp fall in growth initially in China and then in Europe and the US as a result of measures to contain the virus; and
• The increasing pressure to exercise social distance and lock down households and businesses to slow the spread of COVID-19, including in South Africa (from 26 March 2020) as well as all its major trading partners.

These measures brought an extraordinarily sharp decline in global production and
employment, especially in the US and Europe, over the past month. The result will likely be a global recession, with very uncertain prospects for recovery despite the adoption of extremely large stimulus packages in the US and much of Europe.

This briefing note first outlines the progress of the pandemic internationally and in South Africa. It then summarises key economic consequences, which have led to (widely varying) projections for global and South African growth. A final section reviews international and South African economic policy responses to the sharp slowdown.

The economic impacts of COVID-19 are changing rapidly. Information in this briefing note is valid as of 26 March 2020.

Download a copy or read the policy brief online.

This fourth quarter report of the Import Tracker is in two sections. The first section focuses on import trends for the fourth quarter of 2019, similar to previous reports. The second section of the report provides a brief review of some of the major trends for 2019. The review focuses on the major imports in both Rand and quantity terms.

Business Day - 16 March 2020 by Neva Makgetla (TIPS Senior Economist)

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Mining Journal - 16 March 2020 

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Although many issues affect the water and sanitation sector, this Working Paper focuses on the access to those services. An in-depth assessment of the progress made in providing water and sanitation services can help inform various stakeholders and decision-makers about the need for renewed effort towards universal access. Against this backdrop, the objective is to meaningfully understand the extent of access and the quality of access to water and sanitation services at the household level in South Africa. 

To avoid a one step forward, two steps backwards scenario, which would erode gains already made, the situation demands renewed effort, coordination and collaboration by various stakeholders, supported by significant resources targeted towards the unserved as well as paying attention to those already served. It is imperative to focus on both the quantity and quality of access to water and sanitation services, as neglect of one will further reinforce the overall backlog. This is particularly relevant with the increasing need to prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases and the spread of new and less known pathogens and diseases such as coronavirus disease (COVID-19). These demand well-functioning water and sanitation systems that allow proper washing of hands as well as cleaning of contaminated items and spaces. In this regard, embracing the systems and multidimensional view on access to water and sanitation will contribute to improved, appropriate, and sustainable access to water and sanitation services for all.

To assist in improving the regulatory environment for small business, the Department of Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation and Department of Small Business Development requested the Employment Promotion Programme contract Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies to conduct a study on the national regulatory burdens on small business. The broad objectives of the research project are to identify practical and viable ways to reduce the effective costs of legislation and regulations for small businesses; and to understand broader stakeholder and departmental positions on relevant laws and regulations.

Specifically, TIPS was tasked:

• To research the administrative burden on small business,
• On that basis, to identify viable changes in rules and systems in order to reduce the regulatory burden on small business, and
• To indicate the main costs, benefits and risks to other stakeholders of the proposed changes.

The report was produced with support fom the University of Cape Town Employment Promotion Programme.

Monitoring for Quarter 3 of 2019 identified 16 new investment projects. Investment values were reported for 11 of these projects with a total of R10.2 billion for the quarter. Employment data was available for five projects with 2 096 permanent jobs recorded. Two projects were updated: Ford Motor Company Southern Africa will be adding a third shift to the company’s plant in Silverton and increasing the number of employees at the plant; and MSC Cruises South Africa will be starting construction of the Durban Cruise Terminal.

Business Day - 11 March by Lynley Donnelly

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