Solutions With David Ansara

In this episode of the Solutions With David Ansara podcast, I speak with policy consultant and businessman, Toby Chance, about how grow South Africa's economy.

Connect with Toby on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toby-chance-b8218a6/?originalSubdomain=za

In this episode of the 'Solutions With David Ansara' podcast, I speak with mining lawyer, Hulme Scholes, about how to save South Africa's mining industry.

In this episode of the Solutions With David Ansara podcast I speak with public intellectual and author, Songezo Zibi, about his new book, 'Manifesto: a New Vision for South Africa'.

Songezo and I speak about why he chose to leave a successful career in corporate communications to co-found the Rivonia Circle, a new think-tank focused on civic education.

We speak about the crisis of leadership in South Africa, and the reasons why the African National Congress has failed to govern the country. 

Songezo and I debate the role of the state in economic development, and why civil society groups and organised business should be more active in shaping the political and policy agenda. 

Songezo has longer-term political ambitions, and we speak about why he is reluctant to join one of the more established opposition parties. 

We conclude by addressing one of South Africa's holy cows: race-based empowerment. 

LINKS

About the book: https://manifestobook.co.za/

Rivonia Circle: https://rivoniacircle.org/

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(01:00) Songezo Zibi on his corporate career

(03:59) Songezo Zibi on the Rivonia Circle

(06:07) Songezo Zibi on why the ANC has failed

(10:50) Songezo Zibi on loadshedding

(14:22) Songezo Zibi on the role of the state

(16:40) Songezo Zibi on the role of civil society

(19:20) Songezo Zibi on the role of business

(26:15) Songezo Zibi on political correctness

(28:14) Songezo Zibi on his political ambitions

(30:32) Songezo Zibi on opposition parties

(34:57) Songezo Zibi on defeating the ANC

(37:50) Songezo Zibi on race-based policy

(46:11) Songezo Zibi on how to affect change in SA

How do we deal with the consequences of extreme weather events and natural disasters? 

In this episode of the Solutions With David Ansara podcast, I speak with two ordinary South Africans doing extraordinary things: Grant Tyson and Ivor Rimmer of Search and Rescue South Africa (SARZA).

SARZA is a group of volunteer 4x4 owners who provide search and rescue services to people stranded in remote locations. SARZA is typically called in when conventional emergency services cannot perform a rescue because of rough terrain. 

SARZA played a critical role providing relief to victims of the floods which devastated parts of KwaZulu-Natal in April 2022, where over 40,000 people were displaced, 4,000 homes were destroyed and more than 460 people lost their lives. 

During this time, SARZA volunteers served as a "force mulitplier" in support of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the National Defense Force (SANDF). 

We speak about the incapacity of the state to deal with natural disasters of this magnitude. Ivor believes that many brave police officers and soldiers on the the ground were let down by poor management and budget cuts from "head office". 

We discuss the important role that community-led volunteer groups such as SARZA and Gift of the Givers play in filling the gaps left by the retreating state.

We also discuss the need for continuous training and readiness, the emotional toll of working in rescue and recovery operations, and the ongoing funding requirements of such a complex organisation.

We conclude the conversation by reflecting on the need for South Africans to get more involved in their communities through volunteer work.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:01) Ivor Rimmer on the history of SARZA and its work

(03:21) Grant Tyson on the KZN floods

(08:29) Grant Tyson & Ivor Rimmer on the KZN rescue operation

(17:49) Ivor Rimmer & Grant Tyson on the capacity of the state

(23:37) Grant Tyson & Ivor Rimmer working with Gift of the Givers

(30:39) Ivor Rimmer & Grant Tyson on training & readiness

(33:38) Grant Tyson & Ivor Rimmer on the SAPS Canine Unit

(38:14) Ivor Rimmer on the emotional toll

(41:07) Ivor Rimmer on funding SARZA

(44:42) Grant Tyson & Ivor Rimmer on professionalizing SARZA

(47:18) Grant Tyson on volunteering with SARZA

(49:41) Ivor Rimmer on community-led initiatives

(51:29) Conclusion

LINKS

Donate to SARZA: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/sarza-fundraiser

SARZA website: https://www.sarza.co.za/

Get involved with SARZA: https://www.sarza.co.za/join-us/

What is the appropriate role for business to be playing in South Africa, and how can businesses flourish in an environment where the state is becoming increasingly hostile towards the private sector? 

In this special in-person edition of the Solutions With David Ansara podcast, I speak with Piet le Roux and Russell Lamberti of the business advocacy group, Sakeliga, about building an independent business community in South Africa.

We start the conversation by examining why traditional business advocacy has failed to achieve a more conducive policy environment for private enterprise in South Africa. 

I suggest that the consensus-seeking model that has characterised the past four years should give way to a more 'transactional' relationship between business and government.

"Asking government more nicely and more urgently to do things differently next time, or even right now, just doesn't work," says Piet. "It's not enough to simply present better policies for government to adopt. We need to come to a point where instead of lobbying for change,  we negotiate for change," he notes.

Piet warns that access to government creates the impression of influence, but it ultimately locks you into a subservient relationship with the government. Instead, Russell argues, the appropriate role of business in the context of a failing state is to balance power, and by doing so, help to achieve a more harmonious economy and society. 

We also discuss how the policy of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) replaces the economic incentives of the market with the perverse incentives of politics. This amounts to a reverse form of 'state capture', i.e. capture by the state. "BEE is the capture of the commercial sphere by politicians," Piet notes.

Russell speaks about South Africa's deteriorating energy security, and the risk this poses to the economy. He highlights the importance of decentralised approaches to energy production as an alternative to the state's monopoly.

We conclude by discussing strategies for organisations to achieve true independence from a pernicious state. This requires businesses to be more firm in saying 'no' to harmful government interventions and working together to build alternative institutions to the state.

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:32) Piet le Roux on why traditional business advocacy has failed

(05:03) Russell Lamberti on the limits of consensus

(07:58) Piet le Roux on lessons learned from the Lockdown 

(12:58) Russell Lamberti on the sovereignty of business

(15:50) Piet le Roux & Russell Lamberti on access to government

(19:22) Piet le Roux & Russell Lamberti on the problems with BEE

(25:56) Piet le Roux on the limits of litigation

(28:51) Russell Lamberti & Piet le Roux on energy security

(38:39) Piet le Roux & Russell Lamberti on building an independent business community

(41:21) Piet le Roux on supporting the rule of law

(43:23) Russell Lamberti on decentralisation

(46:36) Piet le Roux on cooperating with others

(48:35) Conclusion

RESOURCES

Sakeliga website: https://sakeliga.co.za/en/

What role does civil society play in resisting a hostile and interfering government? In this episode of the Solutions With David Ansara podcast, I speak with Rob Hutchinson, the founder and Chairman of civil society organisation DearSA, about how to become an active citizen. 

Rob and I discuss his reasons for starting DearSA, and how its public participation process differs from traditional approaches, such as petitions. 

DearSA achieved prominence during the Covid-19 lockdowns, but its work is not over. Rob shines some light on the SA government's ongoing Covid regulations, and reveals DearSA's plans to challenge the validity of the National Health Amendment Bill in court. 

We also discuss how DearSA leverages technology to reach audiences online, as well as its funding model and future objectives. 

We close the conversation by reflecting on the state of democracy in South Africa, and why it is important for ordinary people to make their voices heard. 

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(00:48) Rob Hutchinson on how DearSA works

(04:52) Rob Hutchinson on recent DearSA campaigns

(10:38) Rob Hutchinson on SA's ongoing Covid restrictions

(18:42) Rob Hutchinson on DearSA's upcoming court case

(20:44) Rob Hutchinson on how DearSA uses technology

(27:20) Rob Hutchinson on the state of democracy in SA

(34:50) Rob Hutchinson on fundraising

(37:28) Rob Hutchinson on public participation

(41:39) Conclusion

RESOURCES

DearSA website: https://dearsafrica.org/

South Africa's is suffering from persistent poverty, high unemployment and aenemic growth. In this episode of the Solutions With David Ansara podcast, I speak with economic analyst and social commentator, Phumlani Majozi, about how to liberate South Africa's economy.

South Africa is enduring a decades-long energy crisis. This has been caused by the ongoing problems at the country's energy utility, Eskom. Can Eskom be fixed?  

In this episode of the Solutions With David Ansara podcast, I speak with Eskom CEO, André de Ruyter, about how to get Eskom out of its current crisis.

André and I discuss why he took on the role of Eskom CEO and what he found when he started the job. 

We talk about Eskom's severe capacity constraints and financial problems; the potential for private electricity generation; renewable energy vs. coal; recent acts of sabotage; and the future of nuclear energy. 

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:54) André de Ruyter on why he took the job of Eskom CEO

(05:29) André de Ruyter on Eskom's capacity shortfall

(09:42) André de Ruyter on renewables vs. coal

(16:10) André de Ruyter on expansion of the grid

(17:52) André de Ruyter on private energy generation

(20:29) André de Ruyter on BEE procurement requirements

(24:58) André de Ruyter on procurement exemptions for Eskom

(27:40) André de Ruyter on sabotage at Eskom

(29:44) André de Ruyter on municipal arrears

(35:08) André de Ruyter on cities generating their own electricity

(36:47) André de Ruyter on nuclear energy

(39:58) Conclusion

Liberalism is one of the oldest and most important political traditions in South Africa. What role can liberalism play in today's politics, and what are its future prospects? 

In this episode of the Solutions With David Ansara podcast, I speak with former leader of the opposition and one-time leader of the Democratic Alliance, Tony Leon, about the state of liberalism in contemporary South African politics. 

Tony and I discuss the role of liberalism in resisting the 'two fires' of White and African nationalism,  and the influential role played by liberals in the transition to democracy. 

We also go beyond South Africa to discuss the state of liberalism in the world today in the context of rising populism on the left and the right.

We conclude the discussion by looking ahead to the 2024 elections and the various coalition scenarios that may emerge should the ANC lose its electoral majority.

Loadshedding has crippled South Africa's economy for over 14 years. In this episode of the Solutions With David Ansara podcast, I speak with energy analyst, Ted Blom, about how to end South Africa's ongoing energy crisis.

Ted and I speak about his time working at Eskom and the origins of the energy utility's financial, operational and governance problems. 

We discuss the prospects for private electricity generation in South Africa, the limitations of renewable energy, and the potential for nuclear power.

We conclude the discussion by exploring strategies that businesses and private individuals can take to ensure greater energy independence. 

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:49) Ted Blom on his career at Eskom

(02:19) Ted Blom on the origins of SA's energy crisis

(12:55) Ted Blom on Eskom's financial and operational problems

(16:10) Ted Blom on the Medupi and Kusile power stations

(18:11) Ted Blom on challenging Eskom's monopoly

(28:31) Ted Blom on renewable energy

(34:02) Ted Blom on energy policy reform

(37:15) Ted Blom on floating electricity prices

(42:59) Ted Blom on nuclear energy

(49:57) Ted Blom on achieving energy independence

(52:08) Conclusion