Hang Kei Ho

As Covid-19 keeps people indoors and online, many businesses are hurting — and some disproportionately. In this pandemic, as in every global crisis, it is readily apparent that small businesses everywhere are being put under unbearable pressure, and for many, it will be too much. That’s why our firm has deployed $8.5m to support small businesses around the globe.

As SA holds its breath to find out how Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba plans to fund free higher education when he delivers his budget speech on Wednesday, it is important not to lose focus on the key issues facing the education system. How will increased access to education translate into increased employment to drive growth?

SA’s youth are disillusioned, discouraged and jobless. If something drastic is not done to tackle the challenge of youth unemployment, the issue is set to implode in the near future. There are people working to fix the problem and many helpful interventions are under way, including those that take care of work readiness. With 27.7% unemployment in the second quarter of 2017, SA’s unemployment rates is one of the highest in the world.