HSF Briefs

Local Government Impact On Health - What Do We Know?

This is the second of a four brief series on health expenditure in the public and private sectors. The first brief discusses commonly ignored components of health expenditure: provision in workplaces, and medical expenditure financed from the Compensation Fund and the Road Accident Fund. This brief considers the impact of local government on health. The third brief sets out information on the pattern of health expenditure from 1 April 2019 to the 31 March 2020. This forms the baseline for examining the implications of the 2021 Budget for health expenditure over the medium term, the topic of the fourth brief.

Occupational Health And Safety And Fund Payments For Treatment Of Injury And Disease - What Do We Know?

This is the first of a four brief series on health expenditure in the public and private sectors. It discusses commonly ignored components of health expenditure: provision in workplaces, and medical expenditure financed from the Compensation Fund and the Road Accident Fund. The second considers the impact of local government on health. The third brief sets out information on the pattern of health expenditure from 1 April 2019 to the 31 March 2020. This forms the baseline for examining the implications of the 2021 Budget for health expenditure over the medium term, the topic of the fourth brief.

Why Is Burger King Proving a Hard Sell?

This brief explores the legal basis for the Competition Commission prohibiting the purchase of Burger King by Emerging Capital Partners, and argues that it was borne out of an incorrect interpretation of the Competition Act.

Output, Employment, The Minimum Wage And Covid-19

This brief advances an explanation of the divergence between the growth of output and the growth of employment, between the first quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2021. In a brief published on 6 April 2021, I argued that the explanation lay in new methods of data collection – here I advance another explanation.

Amending Section 25 of the Constitution to include expropriation without compensation - the latest developments, and reflections of a more general nature on the implementation of Government policies

This brief looks at the latest developments in the process to amend Section 25 of the Constitution, specifically regarding expropriation without compensation. Against the background of land reform requirements, it then goes on to reflect on the implications of insufficient institutional capacity within Government to implement large complex projects.

Ace Magashule v the ANC or How not to use the Courts to Settle Political Scores

This brief considers the principles at play in the legal battle between ANC Secretary-General, Ace Magashule, and his party. In his court application, Magashule attempts to overturn his suspension and in turn suspend ANC President, Cyril Ramaphosa.

Conflict between Minister and National Commissioner raises concerns about Minister’s role in appointments process

This brief examines the role played by the Minister of Police in senior appointments in the police service and asks whether this role is constitutionally appropriate.

Department seeks to amend the legislation governing the public service, but squanders the opportunity for meaningful reform

This brief examines the Department of Public Service and Administration's proposed amendments to the legislative scheme governing the public service. It is argued that the amendment bills fall short of what is required to professionalise the public service and end corruption.