{
  "id": 17648170,
  "title": "POLITICIANS PUMMELLED: SA’s path to ‘no future’ — former statistician-general Lehohla slams ‘performative’ politics",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/politicians-pummelled-sas-path-to-no-future-former-statistician",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-01T18:00:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-11-01-sas-path-to-no-future-former-statistician-general-lehohla-slams-performative-politics/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former statistician-general Pali Lehohla slammed South Africa's current political landscape as \"performative\" at the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation's Inclusive Growth Forum, warning that the country is on a trajectory towards \"no future\". He criticized the ANC's policies, economic inequality, and the nation's dependence on mining. Drawing upon 17 years of data from four censuses during his tenure as head of Statistics South Africa, Lehohla pointed to a stark disparity in economic prosperity between black and white South Africans. He highlighted that despite nearly 100 years of ANC rule, only 13.7% of black people have reached the highest economic tier, compared to 73% of whites. Lehohla stressed that without changing the current policies, the situation will persist for generations to come. He also criticized the government's dependence on mining, which has cost the country R5.1 trillion over the past 30 years, and warned that the extractive sector's reliance will not lead to economic growth. Lehohla called for a new framework to move forward, emphasizing the need for villagers to have access to the data to change their circumstances.",
  "summary": "Former statistician-general Pali Lehohla didn’t mince his words at the annual Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation’s Inclusive Growth Forum, warning that South Africa’s democracy is fragmenting, and condemning ANC policies, economic inequality and mining dependence.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}