Because enquiring minds want to know.
A middle power does not have to choose between its principles and its markets. It does have to be deliberate about which is which, negotiate on the national interest rather than on sentiment, and widen the number of doors its goods can walk through.
Statistics South Africa reported that GDP declined by 0,2% in the second quarter of 2026, ending a run of six consecutive quarters of growth. Mining, trade and manufacturing drove the decline, while a sharp rise in imports and weaker investment weighed on demand.
Every unprocessed document is a citizen unable to work, study, open an account or travel. Every delayed permit is a decision made for South Africa by default. It is time to treat administrative failure as the economic drag it is.
Argued from evidence, signed by the desk, and answerable to the strongest case against it. If you want to argue back, write to the editor.
Everything filed under Opinion →Comment and analysis. The views here are the writers' own. Our reporting carries no such label.
Original, evidence-led South African journalism that explains the country to itself - reported fairly, in plain language, without an agenda.
How we work →