The Oxford Handbook of the South African Economy

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Economic History ◽  
Economic Policies ◽  
The South ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Strategic Issues ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Depth Analysis

While South Africa shares some characteristics with other middle-income countries, it has a unique economic history with distinctive characteristics. South Africa is an economic powerhouse with a significant role not only at the southern African regional and continental levels, but also as a member of BRICS. However, the country faces profound developmental challenges, including the ‘triple challenges’ of poverty, inequality and unemployment. There has been a lack of structural transformation and weak economic growth. Ongoing debates around economic policies to address these challenges need to be based on rigorous and robust empirical evidence and in-depth analysis of South African economic issues. This necessitates wide-ranging research, such as that brought together in this handbook. This volume intends to provide original, comprehensive, detailed, state-of-the-art analytical perspectives, that contribute to knowledge while also contributing to well-informed and productive discourse on the South African economy. While concentrating on the more recent economic challenges facing the country, the handbook also provides historical and political context, an in-depth examination of strategic issues in the various critical economic sectors, and assembles diverse analytical perspectives and arguments that have implications for policymaking.

Challenges and Complexities of the South African Economy

2021 ◽  
pp. 2-25
Author(s):  
Fiona Tregenna ◽  
Arabo K. Ewinyu ◽  
Arkebe Oqubay ◽  
Imraan Valodia
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
The Political ◽  
Economic Data ◽  
Growth Path ◽  
The South ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Policy Context ◽  
Key Characteristics

This chapter discusses the key characteristics and core challenges of the South African economy in the post-apartheid era. South Africa shares some commonalities with other African and middle-income economies, yet has a unique history and some distinctive economic features. South Africa’s economic complexities and challenges are discussed here with reference to six comparator countries. We examine South Africa’s growth path, considering the low rates of economic growth as well as the lack of structural transformation and the unsustainable and non-inclusive nature of this growth. The ‘triple challenges’ of poverty, inequality, and employment are both a manifestation of the nature of this growth path and a constraint on overall growth. This is also briefly evaluated in the context of the political economy and policy context of growth and development in South Africa. The chapter reviews South African economic data, with a focus on microeconomic survey data.

scholarly journals The Participation of Children with Intellectual Disabilities: Including the Voices of Children and Their Caregivers in India and South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6706
Author(s):  
Shakila Dada ◽  
Kirsty Bastable ◽  
Liezl Schlebusch ◽  
Santoshi Halder
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
South African ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
African Languages ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Child Reports ◽  
Children’S Participation ◽  
Child Assessments ◽  
Children's Participation

There is a shortage of research on the participation of children with intellectual disabilities from middle-income countries. Also, most child assessments measure either the child’s or the caregiver’s perceptions of participation. Participation, however, is an amalgamation of both perspectives, as caregivers play a significant role in both accessing and facilitating opportunities for children’s participation. This paper reports on both perceptions—those of children with intellectual disabilities and those of their caregiver, in India and South Africa. A quantitative group comparison was conducted using the Children’s Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE) that was translated into Bengali and four South African languages. One hundred child–caregiver dyads from India and 123 pairs from South Africa participated in the study. The results revealed interesting similarities and differences in participation patterns, both between countries and between children and their caregivers. Differences between countries were mostly related to the intensity of participation, with whom, and where participation occurred. Caregiver and child reports differed significantly regarding participation and the enjoyment of activities. This study emphasises the need for consideration of cultural differences when examining participation and suggests that a combined caregiver-and-child-reported approach may provide the broadest perspective on children’s participation.

scholarly journals Developing And Validating A Measure Of Monitoring And Evaluation For The South Africa Skills Development Context

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 225-238
Author(s):  
Maelekanyo Christopher Tshilongamulenzhe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Skills Development ◽  
The South ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Development Context ◽  
Skills Shortages

Abstract As nations around the world grapple with the deepening challenge of skills crunch, policies, strategies and interventions are being devised to develop and retain a competitive workforce. South Africa is not spared from the global talent war, and the persistence of skills shortages across most economic sectors makes the country vulnerable economically and socially. Legislative instruments and strategies were formulated and implemented to ameliorate the situation, but scientific evidence suggests a looming crisis due to poor monitoring and evaluation systems regarding the success of these instruments and strategies. This study develops and validates a monitoring and evaluation (ME) scale for the South African skills development context. A quantitative nonexperimental cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data from 557 participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software (version 23.0). The findings show that the ME scale is scientifically valid and reliable and can be used with confidence in the South African skills development context. The findings provide scope for a validation study on an independent sample, and an evaluation of structural invariance of the ME scale across sample subgroups.

scholarly journals The Economic Cost of Smoking in South Africa, 2016

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Micheal Kofi Boachie ◽  
Laura Rossouw ◽  
Hana Ross
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Tobacco Control ◽  
South African ◽  
Healthcare Costs ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Productivity Losses ◽  
Premature Deaths

Abstract Introduction Chronic, noncommunicable diseases are on the rise globally, with tobacco consumption being an important contributing risk factor. These increases result in significant economic costs due to increased healthcare costs, productive lives lost, and productive days lost due to illness. Estimates of these economic costs are scarce in low- and middle-income countries. Methods Drawing on a diverse range of data sources, direct healthcare costs, and productivity losses due to illness and premature deaths were estimated using the cost-of-illness approach. The present value of lifetime earnings was used to estimate productivity losses from premature deaths. Results We estimate that 25 708 deaths among persons aged 35–74 in 2016 are smoking-attributable. The economic cost of smoking was R42 billion (US$2.88 billion), of which R14.48 billion was for healthcare costs (hospitalization and outpatient department visits). The economic cost of smoking amounted to 0.97% of the South African GDP in 2016, while the healthcare cost of smoking-related diseases was 4.1% of total South African health expenditure. The costs are lower for women because of their lower smoking prevalence. Conclusion The economic burden of smoking calls for a further scaling-up of tobacco-control interventions in South Africa. Implications This article addresses the paucity of research on the detailed economic costs of smoking in low-and middle-income countries, including South Africa. Our calculations, based on an extensive range of recent data, provide the most detailed estimate to date and include quantification of the direct and indirect costs of smoking in South Africa. We found that the magnitude of the costs related to smoking in South Africa is larger than in the previous estimates and that for every Rand received in the form of cigarette tax, society loses 3.43 Rands. This article provides an economic case for evidence-based tobacco control in South Africa.

scholarly journals Industry strategies in the parliamentary process of adopting a sugar-sweetened beverage tax in South Africa: a systematic mapping

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Safura Abdool Karim ◽  
Petronell Kruger ◽  
Karen Hofman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Public Consultation ◽  
The South ◽  
African Region ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Industry Response

Abstract Background In 2016, the South African government became the first in the African region to announce the introduction of an SSB tax based on sugar content as a public health measure to reduce obesity. This tax was introduced against the backdrop of South Africa having a large sugar production and SSB manufacturing industry, as well as very high unemployment rates. The introduction of fiscal measures, such as a SSB tax, has been met with well-coordinated and funded opposition in other countries. Methods The aim of this study is to describe and analyse the arguments and strategies utilised by industry during policymaking processes to oppose regulatory actions in LMIC. This study analyses arguments and strategies used by the beverage and related industries during the public consultation phase of the process to adopt the South African SSB tax. Results Industry opposition to the SSB tax was comprehensive and employed several tactics. First, industry underscored its economic importance and the potential job losses and other economic harms that may arise from the tax. This argument was well-received by policymakers, and similar to industry tactics employed in other middle income countries like Mexico. Second, industry discussed self-regulation and voluntary measures as a form of policy substitution, which mirrors industry responses in the US, the Caribbean and Latin America. Third, industry misused or disputed evidence to undermine the perceived efficacy of the tax. Finally, considerations for small business and their ability to compete with multi-national corporations were a unique feature of industry response. Conclusions Industry opposition followed both general trends, and also introduced nuanced and context-specific arguments. The industry response experienced in South Africa can be instructive for other countries contemplating the introduction of similar measures.

scholarly journals The Role of Social Support in Participation Perspectives of Caregivers of Children with Intellectual Disabilities in India and South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (18) ◽  
pp. 6644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shakila Dada ◽  
Kirsty Bastable ◽  
Santoshi Halder
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
South African ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
The Social ◽  
Children’S Participation ◽  
Children's Participation

Caregivers are an intrinsic component of the environment of children with intellectual disabilities. However, caregivers’ capacity to support children’s participation may be linked to the social support that they, as caregivers, receive. Social support may increase participation, educational, psychological, medical and financial opportunities. However, there is a lack of information on social support in middle-income countries. The current study described and compared the social support of caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities by using the Family Support Survey (FSS) in India and South Africa. The different types of social support were subsequently considered in relation to participation, using the Children’s Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE). One hundred caregiver–child dyads from India and 123 from South Africa participated in this study. The data were analysed using non-parametric measures. Indian caregivers reported greater availability of more helpful support than did the South African caregivers. Social support was associated with children’s participation diversity (India) and intensity (South Africa). The child-/caregiver-reported participation data showed different associations with participation. Results from this study suggest that perceived social support of caregivers differs between countries and is associated with their child’s participation. These factors need to be considered when generalising results from different countries.

scholarly journals Rethinking and researching transformation in higher education: A meta-study of South African trends

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Petro Du Preez ◽  
Shan Simmonds ◽  
Anné Hendrik Verhoef
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Urgent Problem ◽  
South African Journal ◽  
The South ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
African Journal ◽  
The Way

Transformation is often loosely defined. We argue that the reason for this is its inherent complexity. Paradoxically, its lack of definition is an asset, which provides an opportunity to rethink and research transformation in higher education, rather than an urgent problem to be solved. In this article, the possibilities for researching and rethinking transformation are based on an exploration of transformation in higher education and the policy directives that influenced its development in South Africa. A meta-study was used to determine the national publishing trends in the South African Journal of Higher Education and the way transformation in higher education is situated in some of the articles in this journal. The population of the study comprised 1050 articles published between 2005 and 2015 in the South African Journal of Higher Education. These were analysed to determine the broad national publishing trends. Thereafter, an in-depth analysis was conducted on 30 of these articles to determine the approach to transformation in higher education and the context in which it was discussed. Based on the findings of the analysis, we recommend future directions for rethinking and researching transformation in higher education.

scholarly journals The scope of childhood cancer in South Africa: A response to ‘Childhood cancers in a section of the South African private health sector – Analysis of medicines claims data’

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaques Van Heerden ◽  
Mariana Kruger
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Childhood Cancer ◽  
South African ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Paediatric Oncology ◽  
The South ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Medical Aid ◽  
Childhood Malignancies ◽  
Private Health Sector

Childhood cancer is an under resourced medical field that is emerging as a great healthcare concern in low- and middle-income countries such as South Africa. Therefore, reporting data in this field that may inform policymakers should be representative of the subject matter. This article aims to discuss why medicines claims as an indicator for incidence, as per an article published in 2020, is not representative of childhood malignancies in the South African setting. Literature to support the commentary were sourced using Pubmed, Google scholar, and data presented by members of the South African Children’s Cancer Study Group (SACCSG). Private medical aid coverage in South Africa between 2002 and 2018 varied between 15.5% and 18.2%. Of these, 9.5% were children under 18 years and 3.5% were under the age of six. Only 13.5% of children were treated in private paediatric oncology units during 2015. The limitations in the study were the variable medical aid coverage, the disproportionate age representation, and lack of reliable indicators for measurement and calculation of incidence. Utilising one medicines claims database to evaluate the incidence of childhood cancer in South Africa is not representative and cannot inform policy.Contribution: This article highlights the importance of accurate registration of childhood cancer diagnoses, especially when data and conclusions based on these results inform policy. The study highlights the limitations of extrapolating general conclusions based on data representing only a small sector of the childhood cancer landscape in South Africa.

scholarly journals Health promotion capacity and institutional systems: an assessment of the South African Department of Health

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teurai Rwafa-Ponela ◽  
Nicola Christofides ◽  
John Eyles ◽  
Jane Goudge
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
South African ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Health Information System ◽  
The South ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Self Assessments

Summary Health promotion (HP) capacity of staff and institutions is critical for health-promoting programmes to address social determinants of health and effectively contribute to disease prevention. HP capacity mapping initiatives are the first step to identify gaps to guide capacity strengthening and inform resource allocation. In low-and-middle-income countries, there is limited evidence on HP capacity. We assessed collective and institutional capacity to prioritize, plan, deliver, monitor and evaluate HP within the South African Department of Health (DoH). A concurrent mixed methods study that drew on data collected using a participatory HP capacity assessment tool. We held five 1-day workshops (one national, two provincial and two districts) with DoH staff (n = 28). Participants completed self-assessments of collective capacity across three areas: technical, coordinating and systems capacity using a four-point Likert scale. HP capacity scores were analysed and presented as means with standard deviations (SDs). Thematic analysis of verbatim transcripts of audio-recorded group discussions that provided rationale and evidence for scores were conducted using deductive and inductive codes. At all levels, groups revealed that capacity to develop long-term, sustainable HP interventions was limited. We found limited collaboration between national and provincial HP levels. There was limited monitoring of HP indicators in the health information system. Coordination of HP efforts across different sectors was largely absent. Lack of capacity in budgeting emerged as a major challenge, with few resources available to conduct HP activities at any level. Overall, the capacity mean score was 2.08/4.00 (SD = 0.83). There is need to overcome institutional barriers, and strengthen capacity for HP implementation, support and evaluation within the South African DoH.

scholarly journals Reporting Incidences of Neuroblastoma in Various Resource Settings

2021 ◽  
pp. 947-964
Author(s):  
Jaques van Heerden ◽  
Natasha Abraham ◽  
Judy Schoeman ◽  
David Reynders ◽  
Elvira Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Cancer Registries ◽  
Linkage Study ◽  
Seer Program ◽  
The South ◽  
Expected Number ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Probabilistic Linkage

PURPOSE The incidences of neuroblastoma (NB) differ significantly between various resource settings because of varying quality of cancer registries and underdiagnoses. This study aimed to evaluate current regional variations as reported by international cancer registries and the theoretical and reported differences in international NB incidences and to evaluate South Africa (SA) as a case for variable reporting. METHODS A comprehensive literature review on registries reporting on NB was performed to construct incidence tables. The SEER Program incidence of 10.5/million children was used to calculate the expected number of NB cases for each country. Registry data of NB cases between 2000 and 2016 were requested from The South African National Cancer registry (SA-NCR) and the South African Children's Tumour Registry (SACTR) for comparison and to perform a probabilistic linkage study. RESULTS Internationally, incidences varied between –97.1% and +80% compared with the SEER program. SA under-reported NB cases by an estimated 74.2%. Between 2000 and 2016, the SA-NCR reported between 23 and 51 cases/year, whereas the SACTR reported between 18 and 57 cases/year for the same period. The incidence reported by the SA-NCR varied between 1.5 and 2.8/million children under 15-year per year, whereas the SACTR reported 1.74-2.6 cases/million children. Both registries reported incidences less than high-income country. A probabilistic record linkage of the two registries resulted in a combined incidence of 2.9 cases/million children. CONCLUSION As with most low- and middle-income countries, SA has either a lower incidence or underdiagnoses of NB cases. The reasons for under-reporting are not clear, but can be due to undiagnosed NB cases with spontaneous regression, missed possible cases because of lack of autopsies, and diagnosed cases not recorded in registries.

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