Star 2025-09-09

A new report by the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) on Monday said that South Africa’s economic growth has deteriorated significantly in recent years. Economists have echoed similar sentiments. The report said that South Africa experienced a remarkable economic growth deterioration between 2005 and 2025. “This report uses a growth accounting framework to show that productivity shrunk and investment stagnated. Post-pandemic, productivity has recovered but not investment.” The report added that in short: a collapse in productivity growth led by inefficient state-owned enterprises which consumed a large share of savings without any benefit to the economy. “This largely reflects the impact of South Africa’s state-capture decade, in the years after 2010. This crowded out private sector investment, which has remained stagnant in real terms at around R500 billion a year…

Ambitious plan finalised by Afreximbank and Infrastructure SA at IATF2025 South Africa’s ambitious infrastructure development agenda received a significant boost on Monday with the establishment of a $5 million (R87 million) Joint Project Preparation Facility (JPPF). This initiative was formalised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) during the week-long Intra-African Trade Fair 2025 (IATF2025) in Algeria. This collaboration is expected to accelerate the preparation and delivery of high-quality, bankable infrastructure projects crucial for the country’s growth. The JPPF is set to mobilise resources effectively, enhance technical capabilities, and stimulate private sector participation—essential measures for addressing the chronic infrastructure investment gap facing South Africa, which is projected to reach R1.6 trillion by 2030. The initiative will prioritise the preparation of projects in critical sectors including energy,…

The MultiChoice Group, the parent company of satellite television DStv, has firmly rejected calls from Ghana’s Minister for Communications Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, for a 30% reduction in subscription fees. This comes as George characterised DStv’s pricing in Ghana as unfair, highlighting the stark contrast between the premium bouquet price of $83 (R1 461) in Ghana compared to $29 (R510) for the same package in Nigeria. On Sunday, MultiChoice South Africa's corporate affairs executive, Litlhare Moteetee-Muranda, referred to a statement that further clarified the group's position where MultiChoice Ghana acknowledged the establishment of a Working Committee aimed at resolving the discrepancy but stressed that no agreement had been reached regarding price reductions. "We continue to engage with the Minister in a bid to find an amicable solution that…

Altvest Capital plans to rename itself Africa Bitcoin Corporation after an announcement on Monday that it will become the first Bitcoin Treasury company on the continent. The AltX-listed black-owned and managed SME financing and financial services company also announced an equity capital raise through the issue of 1 million Altvest shares at R11 per share. The share price fell 2.08% to R4.70 on the JSE on Monday morning after the release of the announcement. Other Bitcoin Treasury companies in the world include the US-based MicroStrategy, Tesla, and Marathon Digital Holdings. In February, the company told shareholders it had acquired 1.00464 Bitcoin (BTC) as part of its long-term treasury strategy, and that it would monitor its Bitcoin holdings in light of market conditions and regulatory developments. The aim of the purchase…

In today’s world, influence is a form of currency. Young people often trust social media influencers more than traditional advertising or even official government communication. They see them as relatable, aspirational and authentic. This trust has turned influencer marketing into one of the most powerful tools of persuasion in the modern era. But when influence is left unchecked and accountability is missing, the same platforms that inspire dreams can also create danger. South Africa is now facing this reality. The latest controversy is the Russian “Alabuga Start” programme, which was promoted on social media as a chance for young South Africans to study and work abroad. Behind the glossy Instagram reels and persuasive TikTok videos, however, are disturbing allegations of human trafficking and forced labour. For a country where youth…

The last two decades have seen an explosion of corporate reporting. Annual reports, sustainability disclosures, ESG scorecards and integrated reports now fill board packs and investor portals. For many organisations, these reports have become the visible evidence of governance. Yet the question remains: are these documents proof of genuine sustainable value creation, or simply outputs that reassure stakeholders without changing the underlying reality? King IV reminds us that the purpose of governance is outcomes. Ethical culture, good performance, effective control and legitimacy cannot be delivered through documents alone. Principle 3 emphasises responsible corporate citizenship, and Principle 4 highlights the need for organisations to create value in a sustainable manner. Reporting is important, but it is only one part of the accountability cycle. True governance requires that boards ensure value is…