South African equities appear set to extend recent gains, following a 1.10% rise in the JSE FTSE Top 40 Index on Friday, which closed at 84,383.47 points. Market breadth was positive, with 13 of 20 sectors ending higher. The health technology sector led with a 4.17% gain, while transportation and technology services rose 2.14% and 1.79%, respectively. The rebound was supported by improved global sentiment as earlier concerns around U.S. tariffs eased. However, losses in utilities (–2.43%) and industrial services (–2.14%) reflected continued pressures in select sectors.

Ranked | Beer Consumption by Country

Real GDP Per Capita Growth by Country (2014-2024) SA -.63% in 2024

How China Overtook the U.S. in Global Trade (2000–2024) 🌎

World Water Day – The Stats

World Water Day is held annually on 22 March to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
 
“Statistics regarding access to clean water is staggering “According to the World Health Organization (WHO)

• one in ten people globally lacks access to clean water.
• 40% of the global population is affected by water scarcity,
• 80% of wastewater is released untreated, contaminating the very same resource required for drinking and hygiene.

 

Furthermore, according to stats by Development Bank of Southern Africa South Africans use more water than the global average.

• South Africans currently use 234 litres of water per person daily,
• The global average of 173 litres.
• Billions of litres of poorly treated or untreated sewage, industrial and pharmaceutical wastewater are spewed into our rivers and oceans.
• 56% of the country’s 1,150 treatment plants are ‘in poor or in critical condition’.

Clover Mama Afrika’s Mama Afrikas take water conservation seriously and encourage practical water use at their centres. Some of the MamaAfrikas have shared some of their water conservation tips and stories:

Click Here to view Mama Afrikas share top tips for water conservation this World Water Day

SA 0,3% of world debt

Top 10 Blood Donation Schools in the Western Cape in 2024

Western Cape – January 2024 – The Western Cape Blood Service (WCBS) recognises and celebrates the outstanding achievement of the Top 10 schools that collected the highest number of blood units during 2024. These schools and their learners have proven that age is no barrier when it comes to making a life-saving difference.

Each year, WCBS partners with educational institutions across the province to host blood donation clinics, with most schools holding a clinic once every term. These clinics are consistently well attended, showing the remarkable commitment of young donors. This year they collectively contributed an impressive 16,768 blood units. Among these, the top-performing schools led the way, collecting the highest number of units and setting an inspiring example for others to follow.

Leading the change for the second consecutive year is Outeniqua High School from George, which claimed the top spot by donating an outstanding 421 units. Langenhoven Gimnasium came in second place with 355 units, and in third place, it is H.S.Drostdy with 325 units.

Congratulations to all schools to the top 10 schools.
Outeniqua High School- 421
Langenhoven Gimnasium – 355
H.S.Drostdy – 325
Protea Heights Academy – 319
The Settlers High School – 275
Emil Weder High School – 272
Hoërskool DF Malan – 258
Fish Hoek High School – 242
Worcester Gimnasium – 225
South African College High School – 195
“We are immensely proud of these schools for their commitment to saving lives through blood donation,” said Michelle Vermeulen, Head of Marketing and Public Relations. “Young donors play a critical role in ensuring a sustainable blood supply. Their selflessness and compassion remind us that heroes come in all ages.”

‘Official’ Unemployment

The ‘Official’ (my emphasis) unemployment rate dipped slightly to 32.7%, from 32.9%, which should be relatively encouraging if you were to leave it at that.

But of the 169,000 jobs created in the last quarter of 2022, the DA was quick to point out that 167,000 were in the Western Cape.

(I remind readers the ‘official’ unemployment rate does not take account of what is happening in the informal sector which some commentators say employs 10 000 000 people)

February 21, 2023 Fact: #3410 SONA 2023
During the 2023 State of the Nation Address, the President announced that 163 out of the 257 South African municipalities are dysfunctional or in distress due to inadequate governance. For the year ending June 2021, only 41 municipalities received clean audits, which was an increase from 33 the previous year.

Sources: one, two

NADA Comment: South Africa’s new vehicle sales start on a positive note in 2023

“The strong headwinds of loadshedding, inflation, political instability, rising interest rates and fuel prices did not put a dampener on new vehicle sales in January and total sales of 43 509 units showed an encouraging improvement of 4.8% on the figure for January 2022,” commented Mark Dommisse, Chairperson of the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA), after studying the latest sales figures distributed by NAAMSA

Of the ~70,000 visits to the famous Table Mountain Aerial Cableway during the festive season, ~34,000 (48%) came from people who live more than 1,000 km away.

Popular car rental company, Europcar, situated at Cape Town International Airport saw a 46% YoY increase in local visitors and an increase of over 1,000% in international visitors for December 2022.