Our Research

We highlight 10 factors which could shape the SA telecoms sector in 2021.

In our weekly updates, we summarise key statistics in the spread of Covid-19 in South Africa.

We quantify the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Consumer Wallet and estimate the wage income may have been lost in 2020. In 2021, we expect the partial recovery of jobs lost in 2020 and resumption of full pay could result in the total wage bill increasing. Along with Eskom's clawback of tariffs, the normalisation of transport costs and Social Grants could partly dilute gains in wage income. We believe consumers' funds available for retail and discretionary spend could grow by 7.8% in 2021. Beyond the immediate negative impact of the pandemic, we highlight themes which could have longer-term consequences on the consumer wallet.

In this note we assess the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, its role in SA higher education landscape and the possible implications of changes in its funding policy.

In our weekly updates, we summarise key statistics in the spread of Covid-19 in South Africa.

We think that there is a high probability that there could be further delays of the spectrum auctions. Based on our discussions with a legal expert it seems as though the legal challenges are weak, but nevertheless require ICASA to clarify various issues including the composition of the opt-in spectrum lots, and detail the migration plan and usage conditions subsequent to an operator successfully being awarded spectrum. ICASA will also need to provide some guarantees to the existing license holders (the broadcasters) that they will be able to continue using their currently assigned spectrum until they are migrated to a viable alternative band.

Following the tumultuous 2020 year that saw cuts to higher education budget allocations and COVID-19 related disruptions to academic calendars, we engaged former University of Cape Town Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price about the state of SA’s higher education.

In our weekly updates, we summarise key statistics in the spread of Covid-19 in South Africa.

In our weekly updates, we summarise key statistics in the spread of Covid-19 in South Africa.