Sometimes one must shake the head in disbelief and frustration with the South African government and its inability to unlock the job-creating capacity of the economy. [Read on]

Twenty-five percent and five years. Those are the key statistics for property owners in South Africa as from now.  [Read on]

We’ve all heard the uplifting stories of down-and-out, poor people getting small chances and turning them into magical escapes from poverty for themselves and their families. I’ve often wished I could give a down-and-out, poor guy the lifeline out of his misery. But, then I would quickly shake myself out of my dream, because I thought it was just that – a dream I’m not able to act upon.  [Read on]

I’m back from a sunny holiday in my birth country South Africa and wondering what I’m doing in the grey world of Europe. This morning I stumbled on a piece about the Karoo I wrote a few years ago and I liked it so much, I thought I should point readers to it. Here it is.

Winemaker Bartho Eksteen and Hermanuspietersfontein (HPF) did it again! After being crowned Diners Club Winemaker of the Year in 2010 for his 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, the Platter Wine Guide now awarded Eksteen 5 stars for his 2010 Sauvignon Blanc. Two top achievements in less than two years – not bad.  [Read on]

South Africa’s first 15 years as a democratic country brought with it an amazing turn of fortunes for the “new electorate” – from being totally free to determine its own destiny in 1994, to the day (roughly 15 years later) it had completely lost that freedom again. In reality, if not in form, or outer appearance. [Read on]

On 26 October last year I wrote about South Africa’s property market (here) and suggested the country was sitting on a huge price bubble, which is slowly and quietly being deflated by the party who caused it in the first place – the banks. [Read on]

South Africa got a very negative mention in the Financial Times Deutschland (FTD) this morning. The topic: the SA government’s intervention in private sector deals with foreign investors. The report speculates the international investor community might be close to the point where it strikes South Africa off its list of potential investment destinations.    [Read on]