Thomas Johnson - The Blog

Almost 20 years ago, as an unemployed honours economics graduate, I wrote to Wesgro (and others) offering to work for free in exchange for experience. I was prepared to work in any capacity no matter how junior, and told them so. I had six years experience in consulting engineering, so was already a highly competent professional. I was invited to an interview where the head of research I think was openly sceptical and even hostile of my intentions. "No one works for free", he said. Well I would, I was desperate. He appeared more interested talking about his MBA. Although he said there were openings for someone with my qualifications, I never heard from them again. Since then I'm wary of Wesgro - they can't see an opportunity if it bit them on the nose. During the last quarter of 2014 both Wesgro's Tim Harris and Western Cape economic opportunities MEC Alan Winde separately warned the "skills shortage was harming the regional economy" and the need ...

In an op-ed article in the Cape Argus (October 22) "Top research helps Wesgro develop and sell the Cape" (October 22), the Western Cape's research and development agency Wesgro's Tim Harris and Jacyntha Twynam write: "(Wesgro's research team) provide bespoke reports in response to queries from citizens of the province, and respond within three days to the majority of these requests". Interesting.  A year ago, around the time Harris was appointed Wesgro (acting) CEO, I wrote to them, the Western Cape department of economic opportunities, Cape Chamber of Commerce and UCT's Saldru requesting credible research evidence for their oft stated views the so-called skills shortage was harming the regional economy. Except a secretary of economic opportunities replying a panel would respond, I never heard from them.  Harris and Twynam cannot claim they were not aware of my request and references to Wesgro because I mentioned it in letters ...

I have still not found a satisfactory mattress. At least, not one I can afford. In October I went to Sanders and tried their Black Forest and top-of-the-range Schramm Divina. Both are available in different weight ranges and offer multi-zone support. The Schramm has a a shoulder cavity for side-sleepers that cushions the body just so. Both were comfortable; the luxurious Divina like lying on a cushion of air. However, the Divina is out of my bracket. I had reservations about the Black Forest, though. Although in the premium price range compared to locally manufactured mattresses, but of superior technical standard, it lacked something for the price asked, specifically, natural fabrics like some wool or cotton in its construction. Having investigated mattresses for three months, I find I won't settle for anything less than a quality product, but at a reasonable price. I looked on the internet at Treca Interiors Paris, Hypnos Beds, Visprings, Schramm and others and their pr...

Ernst & Young UK recently announced it would not be necessary for job applicants to have minimum academic qualifications because there was no proof having a degree enhanced the performance of a candidate in their professional career. In Moneyweb (October 7) South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) executive Mandi Olivier said: “(Their) model is different to ours. In the UK you can study whatever you want, and then be trained as an accountant thereafter. In South Africa, accounting is strictly a graduate degree profession”. However, Olivier did not explain why, historically, Saica's model is better than the UK's or, for that matter, the US'. In the US 47% of graduates surveyed by job site CareerBuilder work in fields unrelated to their academic studies (Business Times, 'Learning from Pep boss Wiese', October 25). Compared to these global financial centres, South Africa is an insignificant outpost. So why are we in South Africa so fixated on ...

PhDs and other post-graduates struggle to find work.  But, they say, there’s a skills shortage in South Africa.   This compares with my job hunting experience of "hundreds of highly qualified people applying". I've been unable to find credible evidence of the shortage, except anecdotal. Cape Chamber of Commerce, Wesgro and Western Cape’s department of economic opportunities – a ministry of hot air, if ever there was one – predicted dire consequences and those skills must be imported to avert economic disaster.  However, none replied when I asked for evidence. In June the University of Pretoria’s Dr Amaleya Goneos-Malka published a study that showed PhDs – post-graduates in all disciplines really – faced 'grim job prospects'.  Employers deemed them overqualified, earned too much and frustrated in jobs beneath them. ( Financial Mail: 'Why bother forging a PhD?') Stats SA's quarterly labour surveys do not list employment/unemployment by s...

We often hear that South Africa exports its raw materials and then re-imports value-added goods made from the materials at a net negative cost to the trade balance. The reasons why we are not making these goods – termed “beneficiation” – are complex. However, exacerbating the problem – or its cause – is the decline in manufacturing to its lowest point in decades - 12% of GDP in 2013 – because of a variety of structural and political reasons. If we no longer make things, and are net importers, we will not develop the economy and create jobs and opportunities. The decline of the rand and near-recession GDP growth are evidence of this. But to government, unions and business with its single-minded obsession with a one-size-fits-all economic approach, beneficiation implies heavy industry – huge factories consuming electricity and environmental resources the country is short of and employing fractious and poorly skilled union workers. The motor industry, which relies on export subsidies pai...