If you believe in building strong and sustainable institutions, don’t underestimate the value of researchers who are obsessed with credible data and evidence.
Research is not Google searches, AI summaries, opinion pieces or repeating claims because they sound convincing. When leadership asks for research, it is a privilege and a responsibility that must be approached with patience, humility and seriousness.
Imagine making a major claim about the economy based on an opinion article that cites a report, only to discover that the report itself relies on another opinion article in the Business Day (
@BDliveSA) rather than official data. That is how weak evidence gets recycled until it starts sounding like fact. It is also how organisations and leaders end up being misled.
I encourage all researchers to familiarise themselves with the work of Statistics South Africa (
@StatsSA). Their officials are always professional, helpful and willing to assist those who genuinely want to understand the data. There is a reason we invite Stats SA to
@EFFSouthAfrica Plenums every year.
Where do I even begin to explain how this is statistically bankrupt?