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ActionSA has updated its live GNU Performance Tracker platform to display the most vital statistical data, accurately reflecting South Africa’s true socio-economic status beyond the PR spin. 

Importantly, this platform serves as a crucial tool in ensuring that accountability and transparency underpin our approach to holding the GNU accountable as a constructive opposition.

The changes made relate to several key indicators, reflecting quarterly or annually updated figures supported by government data and reputable sources.

THE ECONOMY

Rising food prices impact the most vulnerable parts of society the hardest and using the metric of annual inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages allows us to assess whether the government is prioritising the livelihoods of all South Africans. 

Small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) are crucial for South Africa's economic growth, as they drive job creation, stimulate innovation, and contribute significantly to the country's gross domestic product (GDP). To measure government’s efforts to support small businesses, we use the number of small businesses supported through loans from the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA). 

The GNU has committed to pursuing rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and by tracking the annual GDP growth rate, we can evaluate the government’s economic reforms, fiscal strategy, and infrastructure investment. 

Examining government debt management by tracking how many cents of every Rand collected in tax revenue is paid as interest on outstanding debt is a critical tool to monitor the government’s ability to borrow responsibly and invest wisely.

Global competitiveness measures South Africa's ability to provide a conducive environment for businesses to thrive, attract local and foreign investment, and foster innovation. 

INFRASTRUCTURE

ActionSA believes that efficient ports are critical to trade, which directly impacts economic growth. The World Bank Global Container Port Performance Index measures the operational efficiency of container ports worldwide and by tracking the performance of Cape Town and Durban harbours, we can see how well the government is managing key logistics infrastructure.

EDUCATION

The "real" matric pass rate tracks the percentage of learners who complete Grade 12 relative to the cohort that initially entered high school. Unlike the official matric pass rate, which only reflects the learners who sit for and pass the exams, this metric offers a clearer view of education outcomes by factoring in those who drop out. 

The student support metric tracks the number of students funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). This metric is crucial for assessing the government's commitment to expanding access to higher education, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds. ActionSA believes that NSFAS must support

ActionSA has updated the tracker to include expanded metrics, significantly enhancing South Africans’ ability to stay informed about the performance of the GNU. These updates ensure that, being easily accessible, South Africans now have an objective measure to fact-check government performance claims against real and objective data.

Issued by ActionSA Parliamentary Leader Athol Trollip