Sithole

This week, the IMF approved a funding request for South Africa under its Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) programme.A number of concessions have applied, ranging from the annual quota allowed to the terms of engagement.In the RFI programme, the IMF indicates no contentious conditions are attached to it, even though a road map towards repayment is…

There was an expectation that essential services would resist the temptation to engage in questionable behaviour during the lockdown.It is therefore difficult to reconcile the conduct of Dis-chem - a supplier of healthcare products - during the current crisis.The company has nonetheless decided to appeal a R1.2 million penalty imposed upon it for price gouging.A…

The dilemma of running a balanced public budget is inevitable where there is a divergence of economics and politics.Economics calls for sacrifices and trade-offs, while politics is committed to a quest for re-election.A lack of consensus among the political elite leads to a loss of legitimacy. Inadequate allocations in key areas may result in a vicious…

Taxi commuters are facing a pay hike.An increase in transport costs isn't linked to an increase in wages, so a hike in transport costs deepens the wedge between wages and take-home pay. Where spatial planning and lack of infrastructure development leave limited viable transport options, consumers are the ones who lose out. The journey from…