Gravel roads in a wetter future: a call for road upgrades

South Africa’s road network is mostly gravel, meaning that it is mostly unsurfaced/unpaved roads made up of gravel and fine gradients, like silt or clay. It is also, undeniably, in poor condition. The country’s road network is 750,000km long, but only about 21.08% of the road network is paved, while the majority of about 78.92% […]

South Africa’s green growth through trade

South Africa aims to leverage its green economy to emerge as a leader in sustainable economic development. Building up to the G20 Summit to be hosted in South Africa in November 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa has highlighted the country’s vision of “environmental stewardship, economic advancement, and social equity, positioning South Africa as a key player […]

Urbanisation waits for no man – transport costs in South Africa

Driving to work can be a real pain. Traffic, minibus taxis, and morning radio music – you don’t need an economist to tell you that it’s not always fun. However, it may be useful to recall that the infrastructure and policies supporting these commutes are crucial components of an economy. Transport is a fundamental requirement […]

The threat of US tariffs for South Africa

Donald Trump’s election as the President of the United States has significant global importance. South Africa, like many other countries, may face considerable impacts from Trump’s decisions, particularly those regarding international trade. The American President’s “America First” trade policy of trade protectionism for the US, aimed not only at promoting investment and development within America […]

Renewable Energy and Employment – Measuring the Impact of Green Jobs

The impact of renewable energy development on employment is uncertain and depends on a combination of direct effects, within the renewable energy sector, and the wider implications across other sectors of the economy.  In a new DNA blog post Vincent van der Westhuizen highlights the need for further economy-wide studies and continuous monitoring and evaluation to guide South Africa’s national RE and employment policies and to ensure that RE generation does ultimately contribute to employment creation.

Escaping the EKC hypothesis – South Africa’s problematic choice

The EKC hypothesis believes that developing countries will find themselves facing a trade-off between pursuing economic growth and environmental sustainability. For South Africa, this hypothesis seems to hold, placing the country in a very difficult position given its economic circumstances. In this blog, we discuss how South Africa finds itself facing this EKC dilemma