Empowerment by Degrees

According to the Labour Force Survey, available through Eighty20’s Data Portal, the level of education achieved by South African women has improved remarkably over the past decade. More specifically, the number of women with a tertiary education has increased by 62% from 2013 to 2023.

Analyse this data yourself on the Eighty20 Data Portal

Rhino Slaughter

So far this year, 231 rhinos have been killed for their horns in South Africa, a decline of 28 animals (11%), compared with last year’s statistics. This left Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Barbara Creecy feeling optimistic.

Figures show that poaching has continued its trend of moving away from Kruger National Park to provincial and private reserves in KwaZulu-Natal.

The other measures being taken to combat poaching include dehorning, erecting and repairing a fence around the Hluhluwe/iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal and providing a designated prosecutor to facilitate rhino cases in that province.

www.sagoodnews.co.za foot note: This is ‘good news’ but just to point out the decline in population in the Kruger from 10 000 animals to 1500 needs to be taken into account. I was in Kruger of five days last week, not a Rhino to be seen.

THE WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX

Annually, Reporters without Borders ranks 180 countries on Press freedom as ranked by Journalists worldwide

The table below gives the positions of South Africa, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Hong Kong, USA, and China in terms of their positioning on the World Press Freedom Index

Position	15	25	26	27	45	140	179
Country

We invite you to place the countries in the box that reflects their global ranking.

The answers using Roman Numerals: United Kingdom (XXVI), Hong Kong (CXXXX), Australia (XXVII), South Africa (XXV), USA (XXXXV), China (CLXXIX), Canada (XV)

Countries with the highest number of US$ millionaires leaving

As it has for the past decade, China continues to lose the largest numbers of dollar millionaires each year to migration.

Net exit number 2023;

1st China 13 500; 2nd India 6500; 3rd UK 3200; 4th Russia 3000; 5th Brazil 1200; 6th Hong Kong 1000; 7th South Korea 800; 8th Mexico 700; 9th South Africa 500; 10th Japan 300

Source Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2023,

Economist Global Measures – Interesting comparisons

Annually the Economist publishes ‘Pocket World in Figures’ ranking 188 countries on a range of measures; some surprising; some unusual; some depressing; some amusing!

Here are four comparisons of Global Positionings that may surprise you

Economist Global Measures – Interesting comparisons

Annually the Economist publishes ‘Pocket World in Figures’ ranking 188 countries on a range of measures; some surprising; some unusual; some depressing; some amusing!

Here are four comparisons of Global Positionings that may surprise you

Economist Global Measures

(Guess the Answers!)

Week 22 May (Tourism)

Annually the Economist publishes ‘Pocket World in Figures’ ranking 188 countries on a range of measures; some surprising; some unusual; some depressing; some amusing!

Here are four questions with three possible answers, comparing SA to 188 countries.

1. SA’s tourist arrivals are ranked a) 18^th ; b) 28^th; c) 38^th largest globally;
2. SA’s tourism growth is predicted at a) 2.6%  ; b) 4.6% ; c) 7.6% annually for the next 10 years; https://wttc.org/news-article/south-africas-travel-and-tourisms-growth-to-outpace-the-national-economy-for-the-next-10-years
3. SA’s tourism receipts are ranked a) 5^th ; b) 10^th ; c) 15^th largest in Africa;
4. Pre-COVID how many people visited SA annually a) 10m; b) 12.5m ; c) 17m?

Answers: 1) c); 2) c); 3) a); 4) c)

Economist Global Measures

(Guess the Answers!)

Week 15 May (Leisure)

Annually the Economist publishes ‘Pocket World in Figures’ ranking 188 countries on a range of measures; some surprising; some unusual; some depressing; some amusing!

Here are four questions with three possible answers, comparing SA to 188 countries.

1. SA’s Cinema attendance in total visits is ranked a) 10^th ; b) 25^th; c) 45^th globally;
2. SA’s beer consumption, litres per person is ranked a) 1^st  ; b) 20^th ; c) 30^th globally
3. SA’s tobacco use is ranked a) 5^th ; b) 12^th ; c) 20^th globally
4. SA’s Cannabis use is a) 15%; b) 7.5% ; c) 3.5% of the population

Answers: 1) b); 2) c); 3) c); 4) c)

Economist Global Measures

(Guess the Answers!)

Week 8 May (Social measures)

Annually the Economist publishes ‘Pocket World in Figures’ ranking 188 countries on a range of measures; some surprising; some unusual; some depressing; some amusing!

Here are four questions with three possible answers, comparing SA to 188 countries.

1. SA’s ‘Media Freedom’ is ranked a) 25^th ‘Freest; b) 45^th Freest; c) 85^th Freest globally
2. SA’s divorce rate is a) 17% ; b) 27%; c) 47% of the married population
3. SA’s Prison population is the a) 6^th largest; b) 12^th largest; c) 18^th largest globally
4. SA’s urban population living in shanty towns is ranked a) 24^th highest; b) 54^th highest; c) 74^th highest globally

Answers: 1) a); 2) a); 3) b); 4) c)

Economist Global Measures

(Guess the Answers!)

Week 1 May (Commodities)

Annually the Economist publishes ‘Pocket World in Figures’ ranking 188 countries on a range of measures; some surprising; some unusual; some depressing; some amusing!

Here are four questions with three possible answers, comparing SA to 188 countries.

1. SA’s production of Orange Juice is ranked) 5^th  largest; b) 15^th largest c) 25^th largest globally
2. SA’s production of Gold is ranked) 5^th largest; b) 10^th largest; c) 15^th largest globally
3. SA’s production of Platinum is ranked a) 1^st largest; b) 5^th largest c) 15^th largest globally
4. SA’s production of Coal is ranked a) 7^th largest b) 12^th largest c) 17^th largest globally

Answers: 1) a); 2) b); 3) a); 4) a) 

Economist Global Measures

(Guess the Answers!)

Week 24 April (Economic measures)

Annually the Economist publishes ‘Pocket World in Figures’ ranking 188 countries on a range of measures; some surprising; some unusual; some depressing; some amusing!

Here are four questions with three possible answers, comparing SA to 188 countries.

1. SA’s economic growth is ranked a) 125^th  lowest; b) 145^th lowest c) 185^th lowest 2009-2019 globally
2. SA’s debt to GDP ratio at 70% is a) 18^th largest; b) 28^th largest; c) 48^th largest globally
3. SA’s Gold Reserves in US$ rank a) 15^th largest; b) 25^th largest c) 35^th largest globally
4. SA’s Big Mac Index representing over/under value of the Rand currency against US$ at a) -24%; b) -34%; c) -54%

Answers: 1) b); 2) c); 3) c); 4) c) 

Economist Global Measures

(Guess the Answers!)

Week 17 April (Economic measures)

Annually the Economist publishes ‘Pocket World in Figures’ ranking 188 countries on a range of measures; some surprising; some unusual; some depressing; some amusing!

Here are four questions with three possible answers, comparing SA to 188 countries.

1. SA’s economy, as measured by GDP is the a) 38^th largest; b) 56^th largest c) 108^th  largest globally
2. SA’s economy, as measured by PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) is the a) 23^rd largest; b) 33^rd largest; c) 53^rd largest globally
3. SA’s GDP per Capita is a) US$ 2055; b) US$ 5055; c) US$ 7055 per capita
4. SA’s Corporate Tax rate is a) 12^th; b) 26^th; c) 45^th highest as a %

Answers: 1) a); 2) b); 3) c); 4) c)

Economist Global Measures

Annually the Economist publishes ‘Pocket World in Figures’ ranking 188 countries on a range of measures; some surprising; some unusual; some depressing; some amusing! As Hans Rosling in his book “Factfullness” reminds us; what we often assume to be correct we often get very wrong! “Forming your worldview by relying on the media would be like forming your view about me by looking only at a picture of my foot.” 

In this series I will ask four questions with three possible answers, comparing SA to 188 countries.

1. Geographically SA is the a) 24^th largest; b) 36^th largest c) 69^th largest globally
2. SA’s population is the a) 12^th largest; b) 24^th largest; c) 48^th largest globally
3. SA’s population growth is a) 10^th fastest; b) 40^th fastest; c) 60^th fastest globally
4. SA’s population grew 2022/2021 by a) 2.24%; b) 1.28%; c) 0.88%

Answers: 1) a); 2) b); 3) c); 4) c)

Safer Travels

In 2022, the number of road fatalities over the Easter period in South Africa decreased by 31% YoY to 162. While most provinces recorded a decline in fatalities, the Western Cape and Mpumalanga recorded increases of 31% and 28% respectively.

Income from tourism accommodation rose by 55,8% y/y in January after a 60,5% gain in 2022 to R22bn.

SA’s support for the very poor is well-developed compared to many countries in our middle-income category. Actually that is a massive understatement. The support net has increased from around three million beneficiaries in 1995 to about 18 million now who currently receive state welfare grants, while a further 11 million get the state’s Covid-19 grant, now transformed into a general social relief grant. That is nearly half the population of the country.

SA spends about R200-billion a year on the social grant system, and a further R44-billion on the social relief grant, which is at the moment around R350 a month.

Estimated Tax Freedom Day (TFD) – the day after the country has earned enough money to pay for government – will be on May 14 this year. That is 2 days later than last year’s prediction.

The prediction is based on the intended level of tax collection for central government mentioned in the Budget Speech. Typically, the actual figure – which is the general government revenue as a percentage of GDP from the Reserve Bank Quarterly – turns out to be 30% more than the intended figure for central government.

South Africa has approximately 5.59 million people over the age of 60, about 9% of the population.

It is estimated that this will grow to 17.5% by 2050 due to decreasing fertility rates and increasing longevity. Just under half have high blood pressure, 16% have diabetes and 14% have arthritis.

Coalition government in SA

There 24 coalition governments around the country (which the DA is part of). Most of these are functional, stable, and delivering to residents. They easily outperform the average ANC-led municipality.

Two key factors driving their stability and success are size and core values. Coalitions work best when there are just two or three parties involved, and when those parties share the same core values, even if they differ markedly on other issues.

Less disastrous disasters

Despite the significant increase in the number of global natural disasters over the past 30 years, the number of deaths has decreased from an annual average of 61,086 deaths between 1991-2020, to 14,442 in 2021.

Source: one

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

‘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)

South Africa’s new vehicle market shows resilience in the face of economic constraints

Johannesburg, 1 March 2023: Despite odds seemingly skewed against the South African consumer, new vehicle sales continued improvement in performance month after month, and again in February. Total vehicle sales of 45 352 units were 2.6% better than the figure for the same month a year ago. Year-to-date sales are up 4.3% which is encouraging.

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.