South Africa is heading towards failed state status at a rate of knots, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. The country is destined for the ash heap of history, a once hopeful and optimistic place destined for a new dawn following the first democratic elections in 1994 will be reduced to nothing but a small line in the books of record of what might have been.
That’s the view many will have you believe is the one true roadmap for South Africa’s future but that simply cannot be the case for a country that has overcome so much in such a short space of time.
Stellenbosch University professor, Johan Fourie gives some light to a dark conclusion, that poverty in South Africa is inevitable. Fourie argues in his piece for Fin24 that that simply is not the case and points to his work as an economic historian to show that while indeed all the numbers are moving in the wrong direction – inflation, surging fuel prices, load shedding, and economic outlook – we are still in a better position than we have been before.
Business Day argues that whether it was the right or wrong decision for the monetary policy committee of the SA Reserve Bank to increase the repo rate by 50 basis points last week, one thing is for certain – the reserve bank governor wants to tame inflation.
And Stephen Grootes analysis former ANC treasury general and former health minister Zweli Mkhize’s prospects of becoming the next ANC president when the party meets for its elective conference at the end of the year.
Mkhize is still living under the scandalous cloud of the Digital Vibes saga and he still might be criminally charged for his role in the deal but he has been trying to muster support for a presidential bid of late to challenge the incumbent, Cyril Ramaphosa.
Grootes argues that Mkhize’s road to the top job is littered with obstacles and potholes along the way that would make it extremely difficult for him to secure the party’s presidency.
Here’s a round-up of opinions, editorials, and in-depth articles we’re reading:
Fly the flag for our existing heritage sites — remember those? – Sunday Times Daily (subscribe to read)
SAM MKOKELI: Mthethwa’s flag project highlights a monumental flaw in our politics – Financial Mail
STUART THEOBALD: Higher rates give bankers a reason to smile – Business Day (for subscribers)
BUSISIWE MAVUSO: Fighting inflation is a pro-poor intervention – Business Day (for subscribers)
Adriaan Basson | Stellenbosch: Reconciliation can’t replace justice, but both are important – News24 (for subscribers)
ANALYSIS | The future of SA’s labour movement at stake at critical Saftu conference – News24
Inside ANC finance committee meeting: ‘Zondo has diverted attention away from us’ – The Citizen (for subscribers)
