The View Point

Jeff Schultz, Senior Economist at BNP Paribas in South Africa, has authored a new research note, entitled South Africa Outlook 2021: Likely headwinds to recovery (Deep dive).

They have long held the view that South Africa’s recovery in 2021 would disappoint most expectations. Fundamental to their thinking is that many of the structural weaknesses that pushed the economy into recession before the pandemic – in particular, lack of stable electricity supply – will scupper the pace of recovery.

Guest: Jeff Schultz - Senior Economist at BNP in South Africa

Celebrating entrepreneurs from low-income earning areas

The power of small enterprises to improve the lives of families and communities, especially in the challenging time of lockdown, was demonstrated when 21 small business owners from low-income areas of greater Cape Town graduated virtually from the sponsored Small Business Academy (SBA) programme of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) in December 2020.

Guest: Dr Marietjie Theron-Wepener - Head of the Small Business Programme at the University of Stellenbosch Business School

Guest: Michelle Malaqua - Top Student with the highest mark overall

SmartSentials is an online grocery store and delivery service that works in the business-to-business space in Johannesburg. During the pandemic, online and delivery services have become popular – but does this mean that business is booming?

Guest: Lebogang Likgojane - Co-Founder of SmartSentials

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed grave levels of corruption in South Africa, with reports of shamelessly taking advantage of the emergency measures put in place to combat the spread of the coronavirus. This included, corrupt activities that stole from the R500 billion relief package through irregular procurement procedures.

Guest: Lebogang Letsoalo - Founder and CEO of SincPoint

In November last year, 50 people were killed in Uganda during protests triggered by the arrest of opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine). The clashes took place as a result of complaints that the opposition candidate had flouted COVID-19 regulations on gatherings and law enforcement intervened.

The deaths provoked widespread condemnation. The indiscriminate use of firearms and live ammunition by security forces raised serious questions around the rules of engagement applied at this and similarly deadly riots in the country’s past.

Guest: Eshban Kwesiga - Head of Development and Policy | Chapter Four Uganda ] Contributor: The Continent at Mail and Guardian

Our #TuesdayTakeOver co-host will be interviewing two gentlemen who are the founders of Diversifexx a plant and material hire company that is wholly owned by two young black South Africans. This story is important because they are building South Africa's first ever forklift manufacturing plant in Richard's Bay.

As such, he wants to walk through the journey and the experience. There is however also an important angle to discuss around the challenges that to get to the point where they are, and the vote of confidence they have shown in South Africa by building a value chain that has very few components in the country.

Guest: Sivuyile Mndawe - Co-Founder | Diversifexx

Our co-host hails from Gobabis (Namibia) and was raised in Upington in the Northern Cape. He is a 2014 Dartmouth College Mandela Washington Fellow (YALI). He has over 10 years’ experience in Social Enterprise development, Debate Development in the SADC region, and Youth & Entrepreneurship development. He is currently reading towards and Masters in Philosophy in International Business (IB) with the Gordon Institute of Business (GIBS) at the University of Pretoria.

Guest: Mhlanganisi Madlongolwana - Associate Partner: Strategic Marketing, Revenue and Market Expansion at | Ntiyiso Consulting.

GUEST: Nomatter Anderson - Security Engineer at Check Point

It is with great sadness that the Bapedi Royal Family informed the Nation about the passing on of His Majesty King Victor Thulare III Thulare, the King of Bapedi Nation. His Majesty succumbed to Covid- 19 on Wednesday, the 6th of January at the Netcare Moot Hospital in Pretoria North. At the time of His departure, there were plans with the State to move to His Majesty to One Military Hospital in Pretoria.

Guest:Ntoampe Mampuru - Spokesperson for the Royal Family

It is full steam ahead for South Africa’s 10th medical school, which is located at Nelson Mandela University’s Missionvale Campus in Port Elizabeth. This was announced by Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sibongile Muthwa, and follows the approval and registration by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) for the University to offer the MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) qualification.

Guest: Prof. Cheryl Foxcroft - Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Learning & Teaching | Nelson Mandela University