HSF Briefs

What Can We Expect From The Economy In 2021?
Author: Charles Simkins
Published: 11 May 2021
This brief explores what economic drivers lie behind the economic growth projections from various international organisations, South African official sources and South African commercial banks.
Economy Briefs
Understanding Cronyism
Author: Zeenat Emmamally
Published: 21 Apr 2021
This brief examines cronyism as a subtype of corruption, and argues, using the executive ethics code as an example, that frameworks do not adequately safeguard against cronyism.
Economy Briefs Governance Securing Accountability
Has Statistics South Africa Under-Estimated The Employment Recovery?
Author: Charles Simkins
Published: 06 Apr 2021
Many commentators have argued that the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a sharp increase in the unemployment rate, relying solely on Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS). But the QLFS is not the only source of information on the labour market. This brief considers the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the labour market by reviewing data from Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Employment Statistics and national accounts, as well as the National Income Dynamics Study Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey.
Economy Briefs
The Silence of the Constitutionalists
Author: Matthew Kruger
Published: 26 Mar 2021
In this brief, Matthew Kruger reflects on the suspension of democratic power and subordination of transformative goals during the last year of lockdown. After touching on the failures of our major political parties, Parliament and the media to comprehend or resist this reality, he turns his attention to civil society. In the face of this 365-day deferral of the Constitution, why have so many of our NGOs and lawyers kept silent?
Economy Briefs Governance Securing Accountability
Whom The Gods Would Destroy They First Make Mad
Author: Charles Simkins
Published: 24 Mar 2021
How to achieve redistribution with growth in a period of economic decline is difficult and the beginning of wisdom is to avoid actions which make things worse rather than better. The purpose of this brief is to identify some of them.
Economy Briefs Social Justice Governance Transformation Securing Accountability
Service Delivery in South Africa at a Glance
Author: Chelsea Ramsden
Published: 17 Mar 2021
Against the backdrop of recent discussions on service delivery in the Kgetlengrivier Local Municipality this brief will examine current reactions to service delivery failures and possible actions that aggrieved residents may take.
Economy Briefs Social Justice Governance Securing Accountability