State Capture disguises the devastation by anti-business policies: Bafana-Bafana fared better than the economy

The anger because of billions lost through corruption and state capture comes at an enormous opportunity cost. The focus on the Zuma-Gupta-axis acts as blinkers that prevent a focus on the massive cost of adhering to failing economic policies and strategies – a cost far greater than the billions swindled away through corruption.

Three figures show clearly that the economic malaise is much deeper than the damage caused by corruption parasites and that the impact of poor policies started long before corruption landed under Government privilege at Waterkloof. Blaming the economic ills of South Africa on State Capture is a massive over-simplification.

Continue reading “State Capture disguises the devastation by anti-business policies: Bafana-Bafana fared better than the economy”

If you thought the S&P and Fitch downgrades scare investors away… Government’s security & protection deficit prevents a million local would-be entrepreneurs from investing

Whilst the downgrading of investor status by Standard & Poor and Fitch already drives foreign investment away from South Africa with capital flight from the JSE, at the local front ineffective crime prevention by the Government is one of the largest disincentives for enterprise investment:  a million people would have considered home-based businesses were it not for criminality. Continue reading “If you thought the S&P and Fitch downgrades scare investors away… Government’s security & protection deficit prevents a million local would-be entrepreneurs from investing”

If monopolies are the problem, start dismantling the worst: the State-owned Enterprises

Rating agenciesWith Moody’s soon to announce their assessment of SA’s credit risk, Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba made it clear that a white minority was controlling the economy through a monopoly and that was now to change.  Gigaba, speaking mostly in isiZulu, said “The economy is controlled by a minority; they are a monopoly. There are a lot of companies owned by very few people and the services and products on offer enrich these few people.” (Gigaba: It is time to put us first ).

Addressing an ANC Youth League event in Pinetown, Gigaba remarked that there was an agreement in 1993 that white people would continue to have a say in the economy.  The ANC stayed committed to this, “but now has come a time for change. It is time to put us first.Continue reading “If monopolies are the problem, start dismantling the worst: the State-owned Enterprises”

With Gordhan out of the way Gigaba seems keen to embark on an anti-growth and anti-poor strategy

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Malusi Gigaba (GCIS)

One would expect Malusi Gigaba as new Minister of Finance to consider avoidance of further down-grades by rating agencies as his top priority. Policy confusion and instability coupled with growth unfriendly strategies already caused the Fitch and the Standard & Poor downgrades. However, Gigaba’s comments yesterday indicated that he is more concerned about growing black owned enterprises than about growing the economy or receiving value for public money. Continue reading “With Gordhan out of the way Gigaba seems keen to embark on an anti-growth and anti-poor strategy”