Policy will catch up if the private sector drives updated pilot projects to show how economies and social goals can thrive with less heavy-handed regulations 17 NOVEMBER 2016 – 06:29 Adjusting to SA’s political economy has become nearly as demanding for investors as negative interest rates in other regions. But it can be far more…Continue reading Private sector must sway policy with successful pilot projects

24th October 2016 The meme, “Houston, we have a problem” reflects patronage. Choosing Houston for the well funded mission-control space centre stemmed from both houses of Congress having been led by two arm-twisting Texans. One would soon occupy the White House and use his most unreserved strong-armed tactics to force through America’s historic Civil Rights…Continue reading Scrutinising treachery – morality, economics collide.

17th October 2016 President Zuma is the most powerful person in the country not because he is a visionary or a policy wonk. The pursuit of self interests through coalitions is integral to democracy and capitalism. Thus many people achieve much power in business and politics through managing factions. Jacob Zuma focuses on behind-the-scenes machinations…Continue reading Time is now. Zuma must reshuffle towards pro-growth, pro-business.

By CNBC Africa -October 14, 2016 (video is missing) Independent Strategy Adviser, Shawn Hagedorn says time is running out for South Africa to develop an economic model which meets the country’s broad development needs. He also notes that the National Development Path and the new growth plan look less capable than ever. CNBC Africa’s Onyi Sunday spoke…Continue reading Time is running out for S.A’s economy – Expert

25 AUGUST 2016 – 07:52 THE results of the local government elections have spotlighted and exacerbated the growing clash between patronage and middle-class interests. “Tenderpreneurialism” will attract intensified scrutiny. Incentives to transfer wealth to the poor and the connected will compound. Corruption and patronage are not synonymous, as some forms of patronage, such as income…Continue reading SA in perilous stalemate period and cannot afford the patronage machine

30th April 2016 SA desperately needs an epiphany. Similarly patronage-captured, resource-endowed, BRICS partner, Brazil, is also haemorrhaging politically and economically. Brazilian voters and leaders accept the need for bold shifts. Even the Saudi royal family has seen the light. Extraction focused economies have no choice but to fundamentally re-envisage their prospects and policies. Yet SA’s policy…Continue reading SA needs fundamental shift, current solutions “worse than useless”

29 MARCH 2016 – 07:39 The global economy has shown that pouring energy and resources into assets such as mines is no longer beneficial. Instead, policy shifts that allow SA to participate in the global economy by providing value-added goods and services would boost long-term prospects. Plugging into the global economy is a better option…Continue reading Outdated redress policies are failing SA

25 FEBRUARY 2016 – 07:00 SHAWN Hagedorn managed to distil, most brilliantly, in not much more than 1,000 words, the conundrum that faces us in SA 22 years after the birth of our democracy (Malaise extends far beyond Zuma, February 17). My coffee went cold as I had to reread the piece just to immerse…Continue reading LETTER: Dithering abounds

17 FEBRUARY 2016 – 07:49 SA’s interlaced political and economic difficulties are multiplied by profound shifts in the global economy. That SA’s elites are not articulating comprehensive solutions reflects decades of its universities producing specialists, while the nation’s challenges have become extraordinarily diverse. Leaders of top global universities have long maintained that business people well-educated…Continue reading Malaise extends far beyond Zuma Malaise extends far beyond Zuma