After the Department of Health’s presentation to parliament three weeks ago and the medium-term budget statement last week, NHI is back in the headlines. Let’s see if we can come to grips with where we’re at. It’s a complex topic, so we’re spending a little bit more time on it than usual. For more about JP, and to read his newsletter, please visit his website.

In this episode, JP makes a case for his belief that South Africa has over the last five years shifted from being – or trying to be – a developmental state, to being a partnership state, where government and the private sector work together to build the country’s systems and structures. It is co-ordinated from the Presidency by what is called Project Vulindlela, which translates as “open the way”. For more about JP, and to read his newsletter, please visit his website.

In a speech a few weeks ago, the outgoing CEO of Capitec cast doubt on the accuracy of the country’s recognition of the informal sector, and therefore the unemployment rate. In this episode, we look at how StatsSA arrive at their figures, and how that compares with international best practice. For more about JP, and to read his newsletter, please visit his website.

Both South Africa's budget and the president's visit to the White House got a lot of air time recently. After the dust has settled, where do we stand? For more about JP, and to read his newsletter, please visit his website.

Up to now, South Africa’s parliament could only vote yes or no to a budget prepared by Treasury. They had no say over the nitty gritty. This time round, that has changed. It’s all in their hands. Which way will they decide: cut the expenditure cloak to fit the cloth of diminished income, or borrow more and incur a heavier debt burden? For more about JP, and to read his newsletter, please visit his website.

We look at two momentous developments on the same day: the passing of the fiscal framework with a paper-thin majority, and Donald Trump's trade tariffs against friend and foe. For more about JP, and to read his newsletter, please visit his website.

South Africa faces a deepening water crisis as water boards go unpaid and supply to customers is interrupted. This episode discusses how the system works, where it breaks down and what is being done about it. The good news: a lot is happening and has happened to secure the bulk supply. Municipalities remain the weakest link, but there too things are shifting. For more about JP, and to read his newsletter, please visit his website.

In just 40 days in office, Donald Trump has change the world order fundamentally – for the worse. What does this mean for South Africa, and what is the best response? For more about JP, and to read his newsletter, please visit his website.

AMSA’s closure of its long steel operations has caused a furore. It fits into a global picture a decade or more in the making, and it illuminates a hard policy choice for our government, like all governments: protect an industry and make the product more expensive, or let the industry find its way and define a different focus for your industrial policy. For more about JP, and to read his newsletter, please visit his website.

Turning South Africa into one big construction site is the expressed ideal of ministers from both the ANC and the DA. What is the state of play and what are the prospects? For more about JP, and to read his newsletter, please visit his website.