As the promises wax, the ability to fulfil them wanes. Accountability has increased in some respects, but elsewhere is weakening or absent.
The future political landscape: Four leading political analysts speak about the risks facing the country at a panel discussion organised by the Institute in November. Shortened extracts of their remarks or of papers supplied to the Institute are the focus of this issue of Fast Facts. The discussion was sponsored by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty.
'Big brother' is not amused.
A government tying the country into knots.
Private scapegoats for public failures.
One of the big five?
Key economic indicators, 2010–14.
Fast Facts no 9 - September 2010
Ombudsman not broken, but we'll fix him anyway.
Economic growth and education are the keys.
Millennium Development Goals: South African progress.
Fast Facts no 8 - August 2010
Time to face the facts.
Announced priorities and other agendas: The latest list of government priorities is as interesting for what is not on it as for what is. Some priorities that are not on the list may undermine some that are.
The Institute presents our annual statistical review of South Africa's provinces.
Fast Facts no 7 - July 2010
The Institute has recently done a study on trends in race relations since 1994 sponsored by the Maurice Webb Trust.
The school is what makes the difference.
170 updated economic and social indicators and forecasts for South Africa:
Business indicators + Socio-economic and labour indicators
Investment index + Confidence count
Economic barometer + Inflation index
Latest forecasts
Fast Facts no 6 - June 2010
Excellence at risk
Public healthcare unwell
Private healthcare in pretty good shape
National Health Insurance: The healthcare remedy
No medical aid for the emerging African middle class
Economic barometer + Inflation index
Fast Facts no 5 - May 2010
Employment and unemployment over 10 years
'Rainbow Index'
The ANC sees the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow as lying in a national democratic revolution and ambitious new forms of social engineering. Liberals believe it lies rather in the maintenance of political and economic freedoms. The Institute's new 'Rainbow Index' tracks developments in ten policy areas and scores the country's performance on each. Analysis and scores for the first 15 years of democracy are contained in a new book, Chasing the Rainbow: South Africa's Move from Mandela to Zuma. These scores are also reflected here, along with the scores accorded the country in 2009/2010.
170 updated economic and social indicators and forecasts for South Africa
Fast Facts no 4 - April 2010
'Rainbow Index'
The ANC sees the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow as lying in a national democratic revolution and ambitious new forms of social engineering. Liberals believe it lies rather in the maintenance of political and economic freedoms. The Institute's new 'Rainbow Index' tracks developments in ten policy areas and scores the country's performance on each. Analysis and scores for the first 15 years of democracy are contained in a new book, Chasing the Rainbow: South Africa's Move from Mandela to Zuma. Those for 2009/2010 are to be found here and in the May issue of Fast Facts.
Fast Facts no 3 - March 2010
Our leading article suggests that sprucing up the country for the World Cup will be an exercise in deception that will leave the country's fundamental problems untouched. It also suggests that civil society must act to bring about change without waiting for the Government.
Professor Jonathan Jansen, president of the Institute, lists seven key components of the crisis facing the country. He calls on civil society and other constituencies to insist on democratic principles and hold the Government accountable.
Our annual budget analysis contains additional tables showing very long-term trends.
Fast Facts no 2 - February 2010
Local government: leader
A single approach to resolving the issues at local government level will not yield the best results for each of South Africa's 283 diverse municipalities.
Local government: protests
Municipalities were plagued by service delivery protests that wreaked havoc in many parts of the country. The reasons, demands, and activities are analysed.
Local government: Stats
The Institute provides 80 indicators for the country's 52 district and metropolitan municipalities. These are divided into 10 categories which are demographics, education, employment, employment by industry, dwellings occupied, household access levels to basic and other services, transport to work or school, social security recipients, health, and crime and security rates.
Local government: overview
South Africa's municipalities may have challenges in common, but they serve economically, culturally, and socially diverse communities
Fast Facts no 1 - January 2010
Race classification has once again become firmly entrenched in South Africa, and has become a growth industry for private-sector entrepreneurs.
Judge Richard Goldstone's recent report on conflict in the Gaza strip has been roundly criticised. Dr Anthea Jeffery argues that the same criticisms that are being aimed at the report should equally have been levelled at Judge Goldstone's previous report on political violence in South Africa.
Skills shortage
Skills shortages in the public sector continue to hamper all aspects of government-run services in South Africa. The Institute provides a breakdown of the key shortages in the public sector which paints an alarming picture of the extent of the crisis.