The Xchange Platform Politics Wednesday

Politics Wednesday

South Africa is at a cross-roads. A leadership void has emerged in the wake of constant political scandals and economic challenges.

A universal, critical need continues to go unmet by as illegitimate conversations spread across social media.

There is a lack of sophistication in leveraging digital channels and a fractured and fragmented news media to appeal to SA audiences hungry for leadership and certainty.
Weekly English South Africa Business · Arts
20 Episodes

SA winter crops production conditions

We received comprehensive data this week about SA’s winter crop conditions, for the first time since the devastating floods in the Western Cape in September 2023. The province is a significant producer of winter crops, accounting for about two-thirds of SA’s total winter crop output. I was concerned that the…
7 Nov 2023 12 min

Russia/Ukraine grain export deal promises major benefits for poor countries. If

If Russia keeps to the deal it has signed with Ukraine allowing for the resumption of grain exports, much needed relief will be provided to importing countries, including many in Africa. The relief would be significant as Ukraine has roughly 22 million tonnes of grain (wheat, maize, sunflower seed and…
25 Jul 2022 8 min

South Africa’s consumer food price inflation accelerated in May

Agric Matters with Wandile Sihlobo Agbiz Chief Economist Wandile Sihlobo examines the latest trends in food prices. We are in a period of elevated prices, and food is at the core of these increases. For example, in May, South Africa’s consumer food price inflation accelerated to 7,8% y/y, from 6,3%…
28 Jun 2022 10 min

Agric Matters with Wandile Sihlobo

Agbiz Chief Economist  Wandile Sihlobo analises the latest trends in the economy with a particular focus on agriculture. He upacks the Agbiz/IDC Agribusiness Confidence Index (ACI) which moderated further by 2 points to 60 in the second quarter following a 12-point decline in Q1, 2022. This fall in sentiment is…
20 Jun 2022 6 min

Agriculture matters with Wandile Sihlobo

Rice ranks second in the four major agricultural products that South Africa imports annually and account for 7% of the US$6,9 billion spent on agricultural products imports in 2021. Other products are wheat, palm oil and poultry products. In volumes terms, South Africa imported about 1,1 million tonnes of rice,…
19 Apr 2022 7 min

Agriculture matters with Wandile Sihlobo

While we maintain a cautious view of the South African agricultural machinery sales outlook in 2022, the high-frequency data confirm that the sales remained robust in the first three months of the year. The tractor sales were up by 5% y/y in March 2022, with 641 units sold. At the…
11 Apr 2022 9 min

The Xchange, in conversation with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana

South Africa is at a cross-roads. A leadership void has emerged in the wake of constant political scandals and economic challenges. A universal, critical need continues to go unmet by as illegitimate conversations spread across social media. There is a lack of sophistication in leveraging digital channels and a fractured…
25 Nov 2021 19 min

In Conversation with Zintle Letlaka

Isaah Mhlanga, Executive Chief Economist at Alexander Forbes Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) Mamokete Lijane, Fixed Income Sales Trader and Macro Strategist at Absa CIB, Absa Group.
7 Oct 2021 26 min

In conversation with Nompu Siziba, SABC Business Journalist

Razia Kahn, Chief Economist, Africa and Middle East, Global Research, Standard Chartered Bank; Joseph Cotterill, Bureau Chief, Financial Times Southern Africa, Anne Fruhauf, Managing Director, Teneo, responsible for Southern Africa; Peter Worthington, Senior Economist at Absa.
7 Oct 2021 38 min

Business Perspective

Colin Coleman, former senior fellow at Yale University and partner at Goldman Sachs, current co-chair of the Youth Employment Service, and member of The Foschini Group board; Stavros Nicolaou, senior executive at pharmaceutical company Aspen Pharmacare; Jason Quinn, Absa Group Interim Chief Executive Officer
7 Oct 2021 39 min

Zamani Saul: Reforming the ANC is a painstaking process

Politics Wednesday discussion on Twitter with The Xchange with SowetanLive in Reforming the ANC is a painstaking process that may even outlive President Cyril Ramaphosa’s time at the helm of the ruling party. That’s according to Zamani Saul, ANC chairman and a premier in Northern Cape. Saul, is one of…
16 Sep 2021 1 hr 33 min

Coalitions

South Africa is at a cross-roads. A leadership void has emerged in the wake of constant political scandals and economic challenges. A universal, critical need continues to go unmet by as illegitimate conversations spread across social media. There is a lack of sophistication in leveraging digital channels and a fractured…
10 Sep 2021 18 min

Political Leadership

Lindiwe Mazibuko discusses leadership and electoral trends in a wide-ranging conversation with The Xchange.
9 Sep 2021 1 hr 26 min

Messy coalitions

Running a coalition government is tough, says Helen Zille, former Cape Town Mayor. It was on the basis of coalitions that the Democratic Alliance grew its base and strengthen its grip on the City of Cape Town, and went on to run the Western Cape government. She shares her experiences…
8 Sep 2021 23 min

Leadership, Politics and Economics

In this episode of The Xchange, Sam Mkokeli and friends discuss South Africa's leadership crisis with special guest Mcebisi Jonas. He is MTN Group Chair and former deputy minister of Finance.
7 Sep 2021 1 hr 22 min