Administrator
Ipeleng Motau
Ipeleng Motau joined TIPS in 2015. She has a Diploma in Business Management and Entrepreneurship. She completed a facilitation course followed by a Business Development course with the University of Pretoria in 2013.
She started working as a voluntary administrator and programme assistance for a community development NGO known as Angels of Glory and then became an administrator.
Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP)
TIPS undertook several sectors studies for the department of trade and industry (the dti) to assist with inputs into the Industrial Policy Action Plan. The sector studies look at a number of data points (i.e. trade, production, employment, etc) in these sectors, as well as market demand and industry dynamics.
Current TIPS Projects
Trade and Industry
Department of Trade and Industry
TIPS is working on several projects with the dti and continues to support some of the department’s sector desks, including the automotive, agro-processing, chemicals, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals desks.
In the automotive sector TIPS is working on a project to support the dti with the review of the automotive incentive. The current research for the agro-processing sector includes a review of abalone, a feasibility study on cassava for industrial uses and developmental food systems. Support is ongoing with the other sector desks and comprises data support and research.
Another important project that TIPS is working on with the dti is Regional Value Chains. This follows the completion of a joint project between TIPS, CCRED at the University of Johannesburg, and CSID at the University of the Witwatersrand, with involvement from research organisations in Zambia and Zimbabwe. This research looked at three value chains: the mining capital equipment value chain in South Africa and Zambia; the soy value chain in South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe; and the construction value chain in Mozambique and South Africa. The current project will expand the number of regional value chains that are reviewed and part of the work includes identifying possible projects for collaboration between South Africa and other countries in the region. This project will be undertaken in partnership with CCRED and, similar to the earlier project, research organisations in other African countries will form part of the team.
Industrial Development Research Programme
TIPS is providing support for the roll out of a research programme on key industrial development issues gripping the country. This project is being undertaken in partnership with the dti and the United Nations Development Programme.
Manufacturing Circle
TIPS has established a partnership with the Manufacturing Circle and provides support for its quarterly bulletin that reviews the status of the manufacturing sector. The findings of the survey are released to the public and also presented at a quarterly TIPS Development Dialogue. The bulletin provides important insights in the challenges and progress of manufacturing firms.
National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC)
Over the past few years TIPS has undertaken several research projects for NEDLAC, presented to NEDLAC Chambers as well as partnered with NEDLAC on jointly hosting a Development Dialogue. Currently TIPS is completing a research paper for NEDLAC that looks at regional industrialisation.
Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) in the Presidency
DPME has developed an approach for government departments to review proposed legislation that looks at the planned as well as unintended consequences of legislation. The approach is intended to strengthen new legislation coming out and take social and economic factors into consideration; and was adopted by Cabinet as a requirement for new legislation. TIPS has been providing support to DPME as they roll out the programme and will also assist with the development of a Community of Practice to support the effective implementation of SEIAS (socio-economic impact assessment system).
Sustainable Growth
Electricity War Room
The Electricity War Room was set up to address the electricity challenges facing the country in early 2015. In addition to the economic research that TIPS undertook for the War Room, support is being provided for a research project to assessing possible options for the electricity sector going forward.
Green Economy Project for the Department of Trade and Industry
This project involves the development and design of instruments to better understand the transition of South African industries towards a low-carbon trajectory.
City of Johannesburg Solar PV
In partnership with WWF-South Africa, TIPS is assisting the City of Johannesburg and City Power with a research project to look at the possibility of greater use of solar PV by CoJ. TIPS and WWF are conducting a regulatory, policy, technical, financial and institutional review of all possible options for CoJ and City Power to increase the role of solar PV in the municipality.
Department of Science and Technology Baseline for Green Economy Research
TIPS is finalising a pioneering project for the DST with the aim of establishing a baseline of both the public and private R&D investments in support of a green economy.
Inequality and Economic Inclusion
Economies of Regions Learning Network
TIPS provides ongoing support to the ERLN programme (www.erln.co.za).
Industrial Policy Action Plan
The Industrial Policy Action Plan reflects work that has been undertaken by the dti and other government departments and is mostly ready for implementation. It has three main components. A range of sectoral actions, including:
Fast-track implementation of the four lead sectors that have emerged from research and intensive interactions with stakeholders:
- Capital/Transport equipment and Metals;
- Automotives and Components; Chemicals, Plastic fabrication and Pharmaceuticals;
- Forestry, Pulp and paper, and Furniture.
Maintaining momentum on implementation of ASGI-SA sector priorities:
Business Process Outsourcing & Offshoring (BPO&O), Tourism and Biofuels, Implementation of other substantive sector projects in: Diamond beneficiation and jewellery; Agro-processing; Film and Crafts.
Further strategy work needs to be developed in a range of other sectors including:
Mining and mineral beneficiation; Agriculture /Agro-processing; ICT (services and products) and Creative Industries and White Goods. A set of cross-cutting actions of particular importance for industrial policy. The design and implementation of an Industrial Upgrading Programme to deepen manufacturing capabilities. A revised suite of Industrial financing instruments to support the industrial policy. Reducing input costs through competition policy and the review of import duties on a range of intermediate inputs into manufacturing.
In addition a range of industrial policy related cross-cutting imperatives are being implemented as set out in Government¹s Programme of Action. Measures to improve government¹s organisation and capacity to implement industrial policy.
Centre for Real Economy Study (Crest)
The primary objectives of the Centre for Real Economy Study (Crest) were to catalyse economic research with a sectoral focus, especially relatively under-researched service sectors, and to improve the flow of information on relevant research between the policy and academic communities.
See all research
Academic Data Access And Training (ADAT)
Economic data resources for researchers and students in South Africa are difficult and expensive to access. In some cases the reasons for this lack of access revolve around the cost of sourcing, developing and maintaining these resources. But even relatively inexpensive or public domain datasets are difficult to find in an easily accessible form. Moreover, each data source supplies the data in a different format, using a different user-interface and different modes of access.
ADAT provided access to students and researchers affiliated to any economics or related department of any South African university to a range of data sources in a consistent, powerful and easy to use online interface.
Asset Research Collaboration
Asset Research (www.assetresearch.org.za) is an economy/ecology think-tank that seeks to internalise the importance of natural assets – such as water, energy, biodiversity and fertile land – in the search for alternative development paths. It is a non-governmental organisation and public benefit organisation based at the University of Pretoria. The South African Water Research Commission (www.wrc.org.za) provided financial support for a research project on the impact of re-establishing indigenous plants and restoring the natural landscape on sustainable rural employment and land productivity through payment for environmental services. TIPS provided additional support in 2012 for the development of five policy briefs based on the findings of the research on the following topics:in 2012
Authors: Helanya Fourie, Western Cape Department of Agriculture and ASSET Research, and David le Maitre, CSIR.
An increase in tree density, or bush thickening, beyond a certain threshold may be detrimental for the ecosystem and reduce the productivity of such rangeland for agriculture and conservation. However, the woody plants in areas where there is bush thickening present at opportunity to harvest the wood as bio-fuel.
Authors: Jacques Cloete, University of the Free State and Asset Research, and Nico Smit, University of the Free State.
Market challenges for the restoration of the natural environment
ecosystems and the extent of the damage. This brief adopts an economic approach to explore some of the key market challenges.
Authors: Douglas J Crookes, University of Stellenbosch and ASSET Research, and James N Blignaut, University of Pretoria, Beatus and ASSET Research.
Urban water use
There has been a global shift in the way that water provision for urban water use is viewed. Governments are increasingly choosing to invest in environmental health. By protecting river systems, governments can reduce management costs. In this brief, examples of international case studies related to such government interventions are presented, followed by a South African case study of the Kromme River.
Authors: Alanna Rebelo, University of Stellenbosch and ASSET Research, and Katie Gull, University of Cape Town and ASSET Research.
The principle that the person or the organisation responsible for pollution or environmental degradation should be responsible for the restoration of the affected ecosystem has been established in South African law. However, what constitute successful restoration remains a contentious issue. This policy brief considers two examples and make recommendations for improving the regulatory environment.
Author: Marco Pauw, Stellenbosch University and ASSET Research.
Employment Guarantees
TIPS submitted several inputs to the South African National Planning Commission’s National Development Plan, specifically in the role of employment guarantees and small business development, inequality and economic marginalisation. (2011-2012)
Public Employment Programming
TIPS designed course materials and taught courses for the International Labour Organization on the design and implementation of public employment programming. Delegates from all over the world attended. (2012)
DPME – Migrancy and Mining in the Planinum Belt
TIPS was commissioned by the Presidency (Department of Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation) to better understand migrant labour on the platinum belt and why the community factors and living conditions were a factor that contributed to the major strikes in the platinum sector in 2010 and 2014. The study findings were workshoped with industry and government stakeholders. (2014-2015)