A newly published academic paper offers something of a valuable signpost for African policymakers as they grapple with the problem of needing to add new electrical capacity at scale in a context of... 

The focus in South Africa’s electricity sector has shifted in recent times from a debate on the future system design – particularly the role of renewable energy, gas and nuclear in the generation... 

There is now absolutely no question that the country’s toxic politics is dragging the economy down and that most, if not all, the pain is self-inflected. There is also no doubt that, because the... 

The stomach-churning #GuptaLeaks revelations have demonstrated in dismaying detail just how far President Jacob Zuma and his allies have veered off the path laid so painstakingly by struggle icons... 

A significant shift in emphasis from behaviour to structure appears to be at the heart of proposed changes to South Africa's Competition Act. Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel has... 

The narrative in South Africa about the possible implications of the UK leaving the European Union (EU) has focused mainly on the possible additional market-access opportunities, particularly for... 

So what precisely is radical economic transformation? The answer, in an era of factional African National Congress (ANC) politics, depends very much on the speaker and the audience. Indeed, the... 

Government processes for setting the yearly Budget are well established and are held in high regard both domestically and internationally. On one measure – transparency – South Africa consistently... 

Two core attributes of South Africa during apartheid were State illegitimacy and political and social and intolerance. To recall just how illegitimate the apartheid government was, it is worth... 

The dichotomy between the negative political and economic narrative in South Africa – precipitated by the March 30 Cabinet reshuffle and the subsequent ratings downgrades by S&P Global Ratings and... 

Before compiling the National Development Plan (NDP), the drafters diagnosed South Africa’s socioeconomic predicament as follows: widespread poverty and extreme inequality persist; too few South... 

Unless and until the pall of political uncertainty is lifted, it seems almost futile to debate the changes required to elevate levels of growth and realign the country’s economic structures such... 

The decision by President Jacob Zuma to retain in his Cabinet Bathabile Dlamini and Faith Muthambi (albeit with the latter in a new role as Public Service and Administration Minister) brought to... 

Nearly every day there is news about a new innovation in electricity generation, storage or efficiency as researchers respond to the pressing challenge of securing more energy, while producing less... 

When reflecting recently on the state of the UK economy, S&P Global chief European economist Jean-Michel Six likened the optimistic post-Brexit-vote economic commentary to a person jumping out of a... 

While much of 2016 was dedicated to junk avoidance, the risk of a downgrade persists, with both Fitch Ratings and S&P Global to decide this year whether to designate the country as ‘stable’, or to... 

Few would deny that national and global affairs are more unsettled than they have been for years. Typically, people point to the Brexit vote, or the shock election of President Donald Trump as the... 

The new Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPFA) regulations, which will take effect on April 1, have the potential to provide a significant stimulus to small business development in... 

Like a Mamelodi Sundowns striker against a hapless Orlando Pirates defender, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan skilfully took the gap left by President Jacob Zuma in defining what is meant by... 

While the recent chaos-ridden State of the Nation address was long on rhetoric and short on detail (as well as new ideas), President Jacob Zuma nevertheless arguably succeeded in placing the... 

The closure and possible liquidation of an Eastern Cape wind-tower manufacturing facility only four years after it opened raises serious questions about whether business can truly rely on... 

The backlash against globalisation and scepticism over the benefits of free trade is currently so strong that there is a real risk that countries could retreat into ill-considered and destructive... 

Those who have always been cautious about believing what they read arguably possess a genuine edge in this era of ‘alternative facts’ and ‘post-truth politics’. Our skills of discernment are being... 

Much attention is rightly being given to the composition of South Africa’s future electricity generation mix. Warts and all, the much-delayed process of updating the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)... 

The delicate balancing of the factional interests within the African National Congress (ANC) was a significant feature of the National Executive Committee’s 105th anniversary statement. It was even... 

Few South Africans are likely to look back on 2016 with much fondness. Nevertheless, it has arguably been an important year for the country and the evolution of democracy. The greater assertiveness... 

South African Reserve Bank (SARB) governor Lesetja Kganyago does little to hide his frustration about the lack of progress in pursuing the structural reforms required to improve South Africa’s... 

First the good news. The Department of Energy (DoE) has, finally, released the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) base case for public comment and consultation. Despite what has been an... 

The fast-moving nature of developments at Eskom following the November 2 release of Thuli Madonsela’s ‘State of Capture’ report, have left many of us expecting the unexpected. To steal a phrase... 

Much has been written about the initial response of the Eskom board, its chairperson, Dr Ben Ngubane, and its CEO, Brian Molefe, to the contents of the Public Protector’s ‘State of Capture’ report.... 

Since the shocking events of the 9/12 last year when President Jacob Zuma made the fatal error of removing – seemingly with the prior knowledge of his friends outside of government – Finance... 

A line from American folk singer Bob Dylan’s 1964 classic ‘The Times They Are a-Changin'’ has deep resonance for the position the domestic and international electricity supply industry currently...