As South Africa observes Child Protection Week from May 29 to June 5, 2025, attention turns to one of the country’s most vulnerable groups—children with special needs. While Child Protection Week traditionally focuses on raising awareness around child abuse and neglect, attention is increasingly being drawn to an often-overlooked issue:…
Week 21 – Water and Sanitation Snapshot
Clean Water Still a Struggle for Millions in South Africa What the General Household Survey (GHS) 2023 says about access to water and what it means for you. Every South African deserves access to clean, safe water. But according to the latest General Household Survey (GHS) 2023, that is still…
Week 20 :A Decade of Youth Job Struggles
In the last ten years, finding work has become even harder for South Africa’s youth. Many young people are stuck at home—jobless, not studying, and losing. The problem is exacerbated by the mismatch between skills mismatch and demand. Key Facts from Q1 2025: Youth unemployment (ages 15–34): has increased from…
Week 19 : Underemployment
“What is Time-Related underemployment?” While unemployment often gets the headlines, time-related underemployment is another silent struggle facing many working South Africans. What Does It Mean? Time-related underemployment happens when people have jobs, but: These are workers who are not fully unemployed, but their income and productivity are limited because they…
Week 18: Missing Link – Small Business Marketing
South Africa’s economy is powered in large part by its small and micro businesses. These enterprises are often the first step for entrepreneurs, offering job opportunities and driving local economic development. Yet despite their significance, many small businesses struggle to survive beyond the first few years. A key reason? The…
Week 18: Missing Link – Small Business Marketing
South Africa’s economy is powered in large part by its small and micro businesses. These enterprises are often the first step for entrepreneurs, offering job opportunities and driving local economic development. Yet despite their significance, many small businesses struggle to survive beyond the first few years. A key reason? The…
Week 17: Smaller families – falling fertility rates (TFR 2.41)
Over the past 30 years, South Africa has undergone significant demographic shifts. Families are smaller, people are living longer, and more individuals are moving to urban areas like Gauteng and the Western Cape. Immigration is on the rise, and the economy is gradually recovering from challenges such as the COVID-19…
Week 16: Inflation : Fuel relief, but food still burns your pocket.
In March 2025, South Africa’s headline inflation dropped to 2.7% — the first decline in five months. While that’s a welcome sign, don’t celebrate just yet. Everyday essentials like maize meal, coffee, and alcohol are still hitting your wallet hard. According to Stats SA, the inflation picture is mixed —…
Week 16: Inflation : Fuel relief, but food still burns your pocket.
In March 2025, South Africa’s headline inflation dropped to 2.7% — the first decline in five months. While that’s a welcome sign, don’t celebrate just yet. Everyday essentials like maize meal, coffee, and alcohol are still hitting your wallet hard. According to Stats SA, the inflation picture is mixed —…
Week 15 -Hidden Costs VAT Matters for Small Business
The Hidden Cost of Staying Informal: Why VAT Matters for Small Businesses in South Africa. In South Africa, informal businesses are a lifeline for millions — with nearly 1.9 million people running small, non-VAT registered businesses as of 2023. These businesses make up about 19.5% of all jobs in the…