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South Africa’s political pollsters surpassed all expectations with their accurate calling of Election’24 - the watershed vote which was a shock for many and a surprise for most. In this fascinating review of the campaign, Victory Research CEO Gareth van Onselen takes us through the data, sharing his inside track on how and why polls fluctuated and what they mean for SA’s big and small parties and political leaders going ahead. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

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The outcome of the historic 2024 elections has its roots in the rift between the camps of former President Jacob Zuma and current President Cyril Ramaphosa that formed after the NASCREC conference in 2017. In this interview with BizNews, macroeconomic and political analyst Phumlani M. Majozi, who is also the author of “Lessons from Past Heroes”, explains the strategy followed by Zuma, an avid chess player. He describes how Zuma came to view the Ramaphosa faction as a group of people who were after him and who mistreated him. “And up it went and went and went and went up until to a point where Zuma said, I guess as a chess player himself, he said, I'm going to strategise it. I need to hurt these people in the 2024 election. And that is what exactly happened. ” Majozi describes how Zuma used his huge support in KZN, a province that his very popularity won for the ANC, to fight back against the ANC. He shares his theories on Zuma’s end game and the benefits the former president likely wants from regaining “an influence in how things go in governance”. Majozi examines the factors that will determine the future of the ANC and Ramaphosa, and outlines the coalition formation needed to push the ANC into pro-market, pro-growth policies. He also examines the future of democracy in South Africa post May 29.

In our changing world, opportunities emerge all the time - but taking advantage requires research and understanding. Westbrooke Alternative Asset Management specialises in seeking out these anomalies with its UK private loan offering among the most popular with its South African investors. In this interview, Westbrooke’s Dino Zuccollo explains to BizNews editor Alec Hogg how the company identified a niche in the UK and explains how it translates into delivering a net return of over 9% in Pounds with exceptionally low risk.

The outcome of the historic 2024 elctions has its roots in the rift between the camps of former President Jacob Zuma and current President Cyril Ramaphosa that formed after the NASCREC conference in 2017. In this interview with BizNews, macroeconomic and political analyst Phumlani M. Majozi, who is also the author of “Lessons from Past Heroes”, explains the strategy followed by Zuma, an avid chess player. He describes how Zuma came to view the Ramaphosa faction as a group of people who were after him and who mistreated him. “And up it went and went and went and went up until to a point where Zuma said, I guess as a chess player himself, he said, I'm going to strategise it. I need to hurt these people in the 2024 election. And that is what exactly happened. ” Majozi describes how Zuma used his huge support in KZN, a province that his very popularity won for the ANC, to fight back against the ANC. He shares his theories on Zuma’s end game and the benefits the former president likely wants from regaining “an influence in how things go in governance”. Majozi examines the factors that will determine the future of the ANC and Ramaphosa, and outlines the coalition formation needed to push the ANC into pro-market, pro-growth policies. He also examines the future of democracy in South Africa post May 29.

United Independent Movement (UIM) President Neil de Beer has slammed the ongoing power-hungry coalition talks in which the ruling African National Congress  (ANC) is “not negotiating to stay in power”, but “negotiating to survive”. He also decries outrageous demands from possible coalition partners, and warns: “When you are sitting at a table, you shouldn't be picking out what you want. You should be doing the best for the country. And what we've got now is the actual appearance of those people who are picking and choosing. And they are actually causing that a Government of National Unity is not going to make it in the long run...” He further warns about looming “economic battle lines” in a country not dominated by a single party, but in which provinces are going into coalitions to become independent for political control that will give them power over some of the most important infrastructure of the economy, like the ports of KZN. Meanwhile, De Beer is already lining up candidates to stand in every one of the 270 odd municipalities in the 2026 municipal elections “to ensure there's accountability” and that bread-and-butter issues are dealt with - regardless of what happens at national level.

BizNews editor Alec Hogg shares the name (and pic) of South Africa’s youngest ever member of the National Assembly, a 20-year-old who soon joins the tiny percentage of her nation earning over R100 000 a month. He shares what the FT’s Africa editor David Pilling is telling the world about the reason the ANC is battling to decide between a road to prosperity or its Chernobyl option. We’re also reminded of the four policies Kleptocrats have used for thousands of years - eerily similar to what is applied in SA by its ANC elite.

Governments all over the world are starting to close the door to emigrants, particularly in a year when many countries are holding elections and politicians have singled out migration as an election issue. In Australia, the current government is planning to revolutionise the immigration system. Australian immigration specialist at Sable International, Sam Hopwood, told Biznews in an interview that the envisaged changes will affect employer-sponsored visas and general skilled migration. Hopwood said Australia is favouring younger candidates, and one of the suggested changes is the introduction of a top-tier category for people with specialist skills. This category is aimed at those earning between AUD 100,000 and AUD 135,000 in Australia, whose visas the government wants to process within seven days. His advice to clients considering emigration is to find a sponsor in Australia who wants to employ them. In-demand jobs include diesel mechanics, and there is a new scheme for joining the Australian Defence Force.

In his 2017 classic Fate of the Nation, scenario planner Jakkie Cilliers outlined SA’s three possible paths after projecting an ANC drop below 50% of the national vote in Election’24. But even the founder of the Institute of Security Studies was surprised by the extent of the former ruling party’s decline. He reckons it accelerates key decisions that must be taken if a continued slide towards even greater unemployment and the resulting social chaos is to be avoided. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

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ActionSA founder Herman Mashaba, was shocked at the way South Africans voted on May 29, but will not leave the political arena. Instead, the successful entrepreneur and former Joburg Mayor will be doubling down on a dream his nation will abandon race-driven political choices that shaped Election’24. However, the Black Like Me mogul admits to being “very nervous” about the outcome of coalition negotiations, fretting about the ability of the many “dishonest” politicians who’re involved to counter SA’s existential threat of a destructive MK. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

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Boys and now more and more girls all over the world dream of becoming professional footballers, or soccer players as we call it in South Africa. However, for those in the poorer areas of South Africa, this dream can be particularly challenging to achieve. The Ubuntu Football Academy in Cape Town acts as a launch pad for these young talents, offering them the opportunity to develop both as players and as individuals. One of the founders, Casey Prince, spoke to Biznews about the success of their young players from deprived areas of Cape Town, who have become champions not only in South Africa but also across Africa. Notably, one of their players, Munashe Garananga, has progressed to a club in Belgium, while another became an Olympian.Success at Ubuntu Football Academy extends beyond the pitch. Prince is particularly proud of the school's academic achievements and the after-school careers of the boys, which include prestigious positions such as employment at BlackRock. This year, the academy has also started accepting girls, with an under-12 girls team already in place, a program they hope to develop further.