Crude steel production in South Africa faces a structural crisis as a consequence of stagnant domestic and export demand combined with rapidly rising costs at AMSA, South Africa’s only integrated steel producer. The discussion will explore options for revitalising the steel value chain over the next five to ten…

Main Bulletin:  The Real Economy Bulletin - First Quarter 2025 Main Bulletin: The Read Economy Bulletin - First Quarter 2025 In this edition GDP: The GDP barely grew from the fourth quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025. It inched up at an annual rate of only 0.1% in annualised terms, with actual growth for the quarter at a barely perceivable 0.025%. Most sectors actually shrank, with a 0.3% contraction in annualised terms in non-agricultural GDP in the first quarter of 2025. Read more. Employment: Employment grew in the year to March 2025, although it continued to lag expansion in the working-aged…

Akhona Myataza is an Economist: Sustainable Development at TIPS. She has expertise in financial economics, macroeconomic research, and renewable energy policy advisory. She holds a Master of Philosophy in Economics (with distinction) from the University of Pretoria, with advanced knowledge of econometrics and financial market modelling. Akhona has worked as a consultant for ED Platform, supporting economic development components of renewable energy bids under South Africa’s REIPPPP, and as a macroeconomic researcher at SARS, where she contributed to policy briefs and model-based economic forecasts. She has also served as a part-time lecturer and econometrics tutor at Nelson Mandela University. Her…

Sinazo Ntsonge holds a PhD in Economics from Rhodes University, where her research focused on evaluating the socioeconomic impact of environmental public employment programmes. She also has an MSc in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from Rhodes University and a Graduate Certificate in Gender Analysis in Economics from the American University in Washington, D.C. Before joining TIPS, Sinazo worked as a consultant with The Presidency, collaborating with the World Bank, to contribute to the coordination and communication strategy for the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) and youth employment policy. She also supported programme design for the PYEI’s National Pathway Management…

TIPS industry studies aim to provide a comprehensive overview of key trends in leading industries in South Africa. They aim to provide background for policymakers and researchers, and to strengthen our understanding of current challenges and opportunities in each industry as a basis for a more strategic response. This study…

TIPS industry studies aim to provide a comprehensive overview of key trends in leading industries in South Africa. They aim to provide background for policymakers and researchers, and to strengthen our understanding of current challenges and opportunities in each industry as a basis for a more strategic response. This study…

Foreign direct investment (FDI) remains a critical source of capital and technology transfer for South Africa. As of 2023, the top five sources of FDI are the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United States, and Germany. These countries collectively account for over R1.4 trillion in inward FDI stock. This…

TIPS industry studies provide a comprehensive overview of key trends in leading industries in South Africa. They aim to provide background for policymakers and researchers, and to strengthen our understanding of current challenges and opportunities in each industry as a basis for a more strategic response. This study on sustainability…

TIPS industry studies aim to provide a comprehensive overview of key trends in leading industries in South Africa. They aim to provide background for policymakers and researchers and strengthen our understanding of current challenges and opportunities in each industry, thereby enabling a more strategic response. This industry study examines technological…

Zamaswazi Shabalala has over a decade of experience as a project coordinator and administrator across higher education, non-profit, and international development sectors. She has a proven track record in stakeholder management, project management and programme implementation, data management, logistics, budget management, and event coordination. She holds a Diploma in Office Management and Technology (majoring in Business Administration) from the University of South Africa (Unisa), and a Diploma in Information Technology (NQF 5) from Jeppe College of Commerce and Computer Studies. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration (majoring in Business Management) at Unisa. She has completed short courses in Project…

Bongeka Ngcobo holds a degree in Social Science and an Honours in Social Science (Public Policy), both from the University of KwaZulu Natal. She has over five years of experience in donor-funded programmes. She also has an extensive background in administration , community development, youth empowerment and stakeholder relations. 

TIPS industry studies aim to provide a comprehensive overview of key trends in leading industries in South Africa. They aim to provide background for policymakers and researchers and strengthen our understanding of current challenges and opportunities in each industry, thereby enabling a more strategic response. This industry study examines global…

This report is a summary of a feasibility study that explores the potential of promoting timber in South African construction by addressing challenges and leveraging benefits. It emphasises capacity building and demand creation deliverables to unlock timber’s environmental, economic, and social benefits in various construction industries. The study was prepared…

The aims of this study were to review current policies and initiatives in the cosmetics sector, including funding support; developing a cosmetic sector strategy over the short- and long-terms; and defining funding and technical models to support the implementation of the strategy. It comprises a brief literature review, analysis of the…

This paper is intended to contribute to the discussion on how to build a broader framework to respond to the EU CBAM and engage in diplomacy with the EU to support South Africa and Africa’s “just energy transition”. With South Africa being the Presidency of the G20 in 2025, this…

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A SERVICE PROVIDER TO CONDUCT RESEARCH ON THE IMPACT OF DESIGNATING WORKING WATERBORNE VESSELS (INCLUDING SHIPS AND BOATS) FOR LOCAL MANUFACTURING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), on behalf of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), invites interested Service Providers to submit proposals to conduct research on the impact of designating working waterborne vessels (including ships and boats) for local manufacturing. The purpose of the project is to appoint a Service Provider to conduct a comprehensive research and review the impact of the designation for local manufacturing…

TIPS industry studies aim to provide a comprehensive overview of key trends in leading industries in South Africa. They aim to provide background for policymakers and researchers and strengthen our understanding of current challenges and opportunities in each industry, thereby enabling a more strategic response. Horticulture is a subsector of…

South Africa maintained a positive trade balance in the first quarter of 2025, though the surplus fell to R28 billion, from R64 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024. Year-on-year, the surplus grew from R11 billion from the first quarter of 2024, rebased by CPI to the first quarter of 2025.…