• Proposed compliance codes will require not only assessments of human pigmentation but endeavours to detect the colour of money and assign a racial identity to shares. p 1

• Whereas 41.6% of more skilled workers were women in 2001, in 2005 women constituted 44.8%. p 2

Five-year forecasts p 3

Fast stats pp 4-8

• Whilst HIV/AIDS threatens to decimate the breadwinners of African families, emigration is funnelling out the most productive generation of whites. p 1

• Available data show striking idiosyncrasies in the structures of each of South Africa’s four major population groups, with important roles being played by HIV/AIDS and emigration. pp 2–7

Fast stats pp 8–12

• South Africa’s tuberculosis epidemic, riding on the back of a high rate of HIV infection, is heightened by multidrug resistance at current levels of 2.7%. p 1

• Our statistics provide an update on HIV/AIDS and TB statistics. pp 2–3

• An updated profile of the major crime categories. pp 4–7

• Despite a buoyant economy, the gap between the rich and the poor in South Africa is clearly widening. p 1

• Our statistics provide a comprehensive profile of incomes and poverty in South Africa. pp 2–11

Fast stats pp 12–16

• The 805% increase in natural deaths of prisoners since 1995 is attributable to HIV/AIDS  and associated diseases. Prisoners should have the right to be tested, and those who test  negative should have the right to be separated from others. p 1

• Statistics on the prison population. pp 2–4

• Scenario of the main sociopolitical issues and trends likely to influence the business environment in 2006–2008. pp 5–7

Fast stats pp 8–12

• Proposed legislation will leave all South Africans more vulnerable to dirigiste interventions in their private lives and liberties, both personal and commercial. p 1

• The truth of the assertion made in 1998 that ‘There is going to be interference by government in every sphere of life in South Africa’ has become ever more apparent as proposed legislation threatens to curb judicial independence. pp 2–5

• A profile of South African judicial personnel. pp 6–7

Fast stats pp 8–12

• Key to unlocking capital in low cost housing is title and a state that acknowledges the value inherent in private property rights. p 1

• Although African households own some two thirds of all brick houses, inadequate figures make it difficult to estimate the asset value of this sector. pp 2–4

• What crime is costing us, in human and economic terms. p 5

Five-year forecasts p 6
Employment p 7
Fast stats pp 8–12

• In an address to the conference of the Congress of South African Trade Unions on globalisation, sovereignty, and the role of the state, John Kane-Berman argued that globalisation benefits consumers and outlined some of the lessons that South Africa should learn from other emerging markets. pp 1–6

• Ireland’s spectacular economic performance since 1995 has far outstripped other ‘catch up’ economies in the OECD. p 7

Fast stats pp 8–12

• While social security grants reduce the incidence of extreme poverty, joblessness has grown some 30%–40% in the past decade. p 1

• Our comprehensive yet compact analysis of the national budget. pp 3–7

• Africa needs economic policies that stimulate private initiative, mobilise domestic savings, and attract foreign investment. South Africa’s economic growth rate of 3.7% in 2004 lags behind virtually all other emerging markets in the world and is below the African average. pp 2–3

Fast stats pp 8–12

• The current agricultural climate presents a daunting challenge for all farmers. The harsh conditions facing established farmers are bound to prove even more difficult for emerging farmers and those trying to make the transition from subsistence farming. p 1

• A survey in tabular form of agricultural production, services, employment, and farm schooling facilities.pp 2–7

Fast stats pp 8–12

• Comparative data in tables and graphs offer rare insights into farming in the ten former homelands and former RSA (previously the supposedly ‘white’ area). Earlier and later figures are combined to give our readers a comprehensive picture of a sector where this information is scarce. We also give the latest figures on violent crime on farms and stock theft. pp 1–7

• Starting with this issue of Fast Facts, we are expanding our regular and popular Fast Stats pages from four to five. There is a new page dealing with property, including house and other property price trends, and office vacancy rates. More information is given on various labour trends, including unit labour costs and real and nominal wages. Our investment index has also been expanded to embrace quarterly data on foreign investment as well as data showing investment growth by main economic sector. We trust our members will find these improvements useful. pp 8–12