Resolve Communications

We specialise in strategic public relations, crisis communications and public affairs.

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

The Regulatory State vs Innovation: Why South Africa is becoming harder to invest in

South Africa is desperate for investment, yet increasingly hostile to the certainty investors require.
In this week’s Resolve Insight, Paul Boughey argues that regulatory drift, policy instability and bureaucratic inertia are making South Africa harder to invest in at exactly the moment growth, jobs and innovation are needed most.

🔗 Read full article: https://t.co/MxwcHIovu2

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

Celebrating 13 years of Resolve Communications 🎊
13 years of wins, growth, and change. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has been a part of this journey - from our clients to our colleagues, current and former. We look forward to all that is to come 🥂

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

This week in South Africa: Parliament’s newly formed Phala Phala impeachment committee begins its work amid renewed scrutiny of executive accountability, while key economic indicators, including manufacturing activity, vehicle sales, fuel prices, business confidence and electricity production, provide a fresh snapshot of pressure points across the economy. Oversight of municipal governance also sharpens as SCOPA reviews Johannesburg’s deteriorating financial position, while South Africa hosts Kenyan President William Ruto for a state visit focused on trade, investment and regional economic cooperation. Against this backdrop, investors and policymakers will be watching closely for signals on reform momentum, fiscal stability and broader business confidence.

🔗 Read more here: https://t.co/2RdwrZQuMs

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

When the lights stay on everywhere else

South Africa may have stabilised load-shedding nationally, but Johannesburg’s electricity crisis is increasingly playing out at municipal level through failing substations, ageing infrastructure and chronic outages. The economic costs remain significant — even if they are now easier to ignore.

🔗 Read full article: https://t.co/nzSHKacZVf

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

This week in South Africa: Political attention turns to Parliament’s Phala Phala impeachment committee process and a series of by-elections that could offer fresh signals ahead of the 2026 local government elections. Economically, markets will closely watch the Reserve Bank’s interest rate decision, producer inflation data and private sector credit figures as higher fuel costs continue to place pressure on inflation and borrowing conditions. At the same time, Parliament will debate key issues ranging from AI policy and immigration backlogs to defence spending and labour protections, while South Africa deepens international engagement through EU diplomatic talks and industrial investment initiatives.

🔗 Read more: https://t.co/Xr72reCHf3

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

A warning against the state war on expertise and evidence

When policymaking drifts away from evidence and technical expertise, the risks extend far beyond politics. Decisions made without proper economic assessment can weaken competitiveness, delay delivery and deepen instability at exactly the moment resilience is needed most.

🔗 Read full article: https://t.co/jbET3wiQvB

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

This week in South Africa: The aviation sector takes centre stage as SAA hosts continental industry leaders to map the future of African air travel, while government participation in the World Urban Forum highlights ongoing debates around housing, urbanisation and sustainable cities. Domestically, attention turns to economic pressures with inflation, retail sales and broader consumer trends under scrutiny, alongside key parliamentary activity ranging from water legislation and communications policy to SAPS strategy and municipal financial oversight. Politically, preparations for the 2026 local government elections continue to gather pace, with mayoral candidacies emerging and regional by-elections reflecting shifting voter sentiment, all against the backdrop of rising global geopolitical uncertainty.

🔗 Read more: https://t.co/3QCr2zRQrH

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The overlooked moment when the government reveals its priorities is happening now

Departmental budget votes may receive far less attention than the National Budget, but they are where government priorities become real spending decisions. What gets funded — and what doesn’t — will shape reform, infrastructure and economic growth in South Africa long after the headlines move on.

🔗 Read full article: https://t.co/psSPQAI2hf

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

This week in South Africa: Political attention remains fixed on the Constitutional Court’s Phala Phala ruling as ANC ‘top-7’ leadership meets and Parliament considers impeachment processes, while President Cyril Ramaphosa faces oral questions in the National Assembly amid heightened scrutiny of governance and economic delivery. At the same time, key economic data releases — including unemployment figures, manufacturing output, mining production and trade-related indicators — provide a clearer picture of a slowing but evolving economy under pressure from global oil price volatility. Parliament continues its budget vote debates across major departments, while South Africa also engages internationally through BRICS diplomacy and hosts Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban.

🔗 Read: https://t.co/NHAFRO1w9o

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

𝗦𝗔 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺

In this week’s Resolve Insight, Paul Boughey explores how South Africa’s growing “polycrisis” is set to intensify as global energy shocks, rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions begin to hit home. What we’re seeing at the fuel pump may only be the first wave of a much deeper economic impact.

With weak economic growth and policy misalignment, South Africa needs urgent, forward-looking decisions to avoid being overwhelmed by a global crisis it is not prepared for.

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲: https://t.co/IrPzyuoGrt

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸:
The Economics Cluster Ministers will appear before the National Assembly on Wednesday to answer questions on key issues, including alleged corruption and irregularities at Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, ongoing rural infrastructure backlogs, agritourism development, and the Vaal Special Economic Zone.

𝗔𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀:
• Absa will release the April PMI, expected to show continued manufacturing contraction.
• New vehicle sales and export data for April will be published, likely reflecting weaker demand.
• Government will launch the “Working on Infrastructure” initiative in Durban.
• The NCOP will debate municipal service delivery and the state of local government.
• Stats SA will publish March 2026 electricity generation and availability figures.
• Parliament will table first readings of several key bills, including procurement and electoral law amendments.
• The SARB will release South Africa’s gold and foreign exchange reserves data.

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://t.co/BxUPL7cYsF

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

The case for VAT exemption isn’t made in spreadsheets

VAT isn’t just a fiscal lever — it’s felt in everyday decisions about food, nutrition and affordability. Policy debates that stay in spreadsheets miss the reality households face and the role narrative plays in driving meaningful change.

🔗 Read full article: https://t.co/2emkVyHMb1

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

This week in South Africa: Freedom Day is marked as the country reflects on democracy and rights, the Reserve Bank’s leading indicator offers early signals on economic direction, Deputy President Paul Mashatile convenes GNU coalition talks, key departments and committees conduct oversight visits across transport, defence, correctional services and home affairs, and major data releases including producer inflation, trade figures and credit growth provide insight into economic pressures building from global oil price volatility. The week concludes with Workers’ Day.

🔗 Read: https://t.co/yFiRVCputH

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

Staying on Message: Lessons from the Zille Campaign and Beyond

Helen Zille’s campaign highlights a basic but often neglected truth: clear messaging only works when it is repeated relentlessly over time. Whether through attention-grabbing moments or everyday engagement, the core message on service delivery and infrastructure stays consistent.

Many organisations and public initiatives lose impact not because the message is wrong, but because it changes too often or is not repeated enough for it to land. Effective communication is less about novelty and more about discipline.

🔗 Read full article: https://t.co/ClRZGEK9fm

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

This week in South Africa: Parliament returns with a heavy oversight agenda, including scrutiny of state-owned entities and education funding, senior police officials appear in court, business sentiment and monetary policy outlooks come into focus, Operation Vulindlela reports on reform progress, inflation and retail sales data are released, and Freedom Day is commemorated as the country reflects on its democratic transition.

🔗 Read: https://t.co/DQDGFN2HTm

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

It’s South Africa’s follow through that is failing its game

South Africa doesn’t lack plans — it lacks execution. From agriculture to infrastructure, delays in decisions and delivery are compounding economic pressure and holding back growth where it matters most.

🔗 Read full article: https://t.co/9LgPNM8xKq

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

📰Resolve Quarterly Q1 2026 is out now!

🔗Download: https://t.co/HJzYg5pNHz

The first quarter of 2026 finds South Africa on a firmer footing, but with little room to manoeuvre. Inflation has eased to target, financial conditions improved, and the Government of National Unity (GNU) has maintained fiscal discipline. Yet growth remains constrained by structural bottlenecks, uneven confidence, and continued dependence on reform delivery.

At the same time, rising pressure on state capacity, coalition fragility, and mounting geopolitical tension — from diplomatic strain with Western partners to renewed global conflict — are narrowing the country’s margin for error and exposing its vulnerability to external shocks.

𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
• Chairman’s Insight
• CEO’s Perspective
• Economic Landscape
• Political Dynamics
• In defence of the cheeseburger
• Children and their educational issues need a voice every month of the year
• When Hubris Trumps Alliances – Panic at Davos
• Industry needs to talk government’s language to be heard before it’s too late
• Government says ‘jobs’ — then kills one of SA’s biggest local economies
• South Africa Is Winning the Loadshedding Battle — and Losing the Jobs War
• The fedora, the budget and the fiscus
• Strategy in an era of constant crisis
• Standard Bank needed to be simpler, faster and more visible
• When businesses have to teach economics, something is wrong
• Another fuel hike, another step towards deindustrialisation
• Perils of the interview in Interview Magazine and word to the wise on the new media

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

This week in South Africa: the DA elects new leadership at its federal congress, mining production data provides a read on sector momentum, a by-election in the Eastern Cape tests local political support, business confidence data signals sentiment across the economy, and Paul Mashatile addresses the Human Resource Development Council summit.

🔗 Read: https://t.co/RdxqGK8RK4

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

Strategy & Stewardship > Flags & Footprints

NASA’s Artemis II mission shows that influence isn’t asserted — it’s built. Through narrative discipline, collaboration and strategic messaging, leadership becomes something others choose to follow.

🔗Read full article: https://t.co/cvVcqcJJ9v

[Resolve Communications @ResolveComms]

This week in South Africa: the country observes the Family Day public holiday, S&P Global PMI data provides a fresh read on manufacturing conditions, government leaders brief on property management in the Western Cape, foreign exchange reserves and manufacturing output data are released, and the DA holds its federal congress to elect new leadership.

🔗 Read: https://t.co/U8fVmLbgOe