Dr Roelof Botha

The extravagant media publicity surrounding South Africa’s hosting of the 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg has masked the reality of a country in desperate need to grow its economy at rates commensurate with lowering an alarmingly high unemployment rate.

The proceedings of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, more commonly known as the Madlanga Commission, bear a resemblance to a horror story.

On Balance, by Dr Roelof Botha, deliberately emphasises positive news, which often highlights the resilience of the South African economy and the immense scope for new business opportunities.

The ill-timed visit to Iran by the Chief of the South African National Defence Force and the comments made by him have been widely condemned as reckless grandstanding at a time when sensitive negotiations are underway to maintain sound trade relations with the US and, very importantly, prevent job losses in key export industries.

Several high-profile executives in the public sector have recently been suspended or placed on cautionary leave, whilst lifestyle audits have been ordered for many of the employees of the Independent Development Trust.

Statistics SA published South Africa’s GDP dataset for the first quarter of 2025 in June. Although year-on-year economic growth remained positive, the performance was disappointing, with a fifth successive GDP growth rate of less than one per cent being recorded.