Why do some countries fail while others, in similar circumstances, develop successful economies and societies? In their quest to answer this question in their book Why Nations Fail; The origins of power, prosperity and poverty, Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson come up with a well-argued theory -- with much for present-day South Africa to think about.

Teachers and parents who would encourage children to spend time with dictionaries during the cold, long days of the upcoming winter holidays should be careful. These children might just decide, from the etymology of words, that society got the design of our education system and institutions all wrong with school and holidays arranged the wrong way round.

It is unlikely that most of the developed countries across the globe will be able to turn their debt spirals around without the pain that goes with strong austerity policies. This is one of the strongest messages contained in An Economic Outlook Report just released by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

When the Brics countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) met in India on 29 March this year, few people may have realised they were witnessing what may be the beginning of a new financial system. This new system may be first and foremost to change, but other spheres of global relations are also affected. And South Africa is right there as a frontline party in this “revolution.”

This past weekend’s judgement by the High Court in Pretoria put the implementation of e-tolling on Gauteng's highways on hold. Seemingly, the biggest positive to road-users are indications that it might even be scrapped altogether. But the bottom line of the cost implications of the judgement to the public of an improved road network is that there will be no winners. In fact, an escalation of costs has probably already started.

A remarkable implosion, and one of the most astonishing comebacks, in Super Rugby history broke the hearts of many South African rugby fans this past weekend. The Highlanders erased a 21-point deficit as the New Zealanders scored 27 points in the final quarter to beat the Cheetahs 36-33.

If statistics are the defining yardstick of excellence and winning titles, SuperSport United might be destined for their fourth ABSA PSL title in five seasons. They buried Kaizer Chiefs’ title dreams with a 2-1 win. It was the Amakhosi’s fourth successive defeat and SuperSport’s fourth successive win after a period in mid-season where they went seven matches in a row without a goal.