• South African Overview

While South Africa faces significant challenges, some of the statistical trends presented in this issue of Fast Facts show improvements. Most significant is that poverty has shown dramatically better trends than previous estimates, and this is clear evidence that the social grants system is having the desired effect. Crime, unemployment, HIV/AIDS, rising inflation, and a faltering education system do not paint such a rosy picture of our society. p1

• Survey

The Institute presents a selection of key statistics from our upcoming South Africa Survey 2007/2008. pp2-15

• Fast Stats pp16-20
  

• Housing

African home ownership has experienced unprecedented growth in the years since 1994, and the majority of African home owners have fully paid off their houses. p1

• Housing

The Institute presents the latest statistics on housing in South Africa. Housing trends are presented comparatively, and are broken down by race, type of dwelling, province, terms of occupation, average prices, formal and informal structures, buildings completed by both the private and public sectors, affordable housing, and projections to 2015. pp2-7

• Fast Stats pp8-12

• Politics

John Kane-Berman outlines the political scenario for the next few years. The scenario provides an overview of the most likely future political developments, focusing on the areas of the next presidency; the two centres of power; centralisation; stability; foreign policy; and the failures of the State. pp2–3

• Politics

In the aftermath of the xenophobic violence that swept the country in recent months, the Institute provides an in depth picture of both the causes and consequences of the violence. pp4-7

• Fast Stats pp8-12

• Crime

The Institute presents its annual review of crime trends, presenting a picture of crime trends over the last 14 years. pp2-6

• Crime

The recent police report on crime shows the latest crime figures, but also reveals a disturbing mindset amongst the police. The report seems argue that South Africa’s crime problems are not as serious as we imagine, since most crimes are perpetrated on the poor. p7

• Fast Stats pp8-12

• Economy

Why can the South African economy not grow at 8%? This was the question posed to five leading economists at a briefing hosted by the Institute. The economists broke down the constraints on growth into seven main headings: skills, infrastructure, inefficient governance, the policy environment, inflation, the current account deficit, and crime. While offering a broad range of views, the economists agreed that South Africa cannot grow at 8%, and indeed would struggle to maintain a growth rate of 4.5%. pp 2–7

• Fast Stats  pp 8-12

• Politics

The Institute argues that racial discrimination enshrined in the constitution is one of the key challenges facing the country. p 1

• Politics

The Expropriation Bill of 2008 is intended to speed up the process of land reform, but its scope is such that it puts other property rights at risk. p 2

• Politics

The Institute provides an in depth analysis of the Expropriation Bill and outlines some of the key risks to property rights that it contains. pp 3-6

• Politics

John Kane-Berman argues that the objectives of the Expropriation Bill are only in small part to do with successful land reform, and lie mostly in the ideological realm of the ANC and its alliance partners. p 7

• Fast Stats pp 8-12

Politics

• The ruling party seems to be intent on extending its power, the latest examples being an attack on the freedom of the press and the threat of expropriation of property. p 1

Provincial profile

• The Institute presents our annual statistical review of provinces, covering the areas of demographics, the economy, health, living conditions, and crime. pp 2–21

Education

• Aggregated statistics can often obscure islands of excellence in our public schooling system. Dr Gillian Godsell and Mrs Anthea Cereseto present the case for how excellence can be achieved in public schools. pp 22–23

Fast Stats pp 24–28

Politics

• The Institute presents an oath that many parliamentarians would do well to utter. p 1

Trade

• The case for trade liberalism is set out in an address given to Institute members by Dr Otto Count Lambsdorff. pp 2–5

Budget 2008

• The key indicators from the 2008 National Budget are concisely presented in these pages. pp 6–11

Energy

• In an address to Institute members, independent energy consultant Mr Andrew Kenny outlines the key challenges involved in the energy crisis and possible scenarios for the road ahead. pp 12–15

Fast stats pp 16–20

Mining industry

• Even before power shortages closed mines last month, new mining laws had sown doubt about the industry’s future. pp 2–3

Education

• Our annual survey of matric results dating back to 1980, plus other education statistics. pp 4–11

Fast stats pp 12–16

Fast stats pp 8–12

Click on the archives below to enter the section.

• Fast Facts 2007

This archive contains electronic copies of Fast Facts published in 2007.

• Fast Facts 2006

This archive contains electronic copies of Fast Facts published in 2006.

• Fast Facts 2005

This archive contains electronic copies of Fast Facts published in 2005.

• Fast Facts 2004

This archive contains electronic copies of Fast Facts published in 2004.

• Fast Facts 2003

This archive contains electronic copies of Fast Facts published in 2003.

• Fast Facts 2002

This archive contains electronic copies of Fast Facts published in 2002.