Podcasts from the Edge

One of the best industrial minds in South Africa, XA Global Trade Advisors MD Donald Mackay, tells Peter Bruce in this edition of Podcasts from the Edge that using import tariffs to protect local industry is a losing strategy. “ We assume that the reason our manufacturing sector more broadly struggles to compete is that we assume that an import tariff will fix it whereas the reason we struggle to make things is we've got broken infrastructure. We don't have electricity... The ports are broken.The reason we're not competitive has nothing to do with what other people are doing. Many of our imports are just the importation of [other countries’] electricity that is working consistently and functioning infrastructure and a safe environment to invest in. That is what you're effectively importing.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Former DA leader Tony Leon tells Peter Bruce in this edition of Podcasts from the Edge that South Africa is taking a chance in there way it is confronting US President Donald Trump’s decisions to boycott the recent G20 Summit in Johannesburg and his subsequent announcement that he would not permit SA to participate in the G20 under his chairmanship in 2026. Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola calling Trump a “white supremacist” days before the Johannesburg summit was “the most self-harming remark” from the country’s most senior diplomat. It recalls former National Party Prime Minister John Vorster telling the world in 1968 it could “do its damndest” if it thought Apartheid would ever be dismantled. “He did very well in the next election,” remembers Leon, “but I don’t think this will help now. This idea that you can go to a powerful country and give it the middle finger might give you a moment of satisfaction but I think (for) worthwhile diplomats and meaningful diplomacy you have to think twice before you react. South African diplomacy is amateur hour, kind of … if you want a result, if you want to join the cheering gallery of the anti-trumpets in the world well that’s a very crowded saloon and no doubt it makes you feel good but I don;t think its going to meet any of the government’s apparent objectives to grow the economy, to get investment here and bulk up our trade.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Peter Bruce argues, in this Podcasts from the Edge monologue, that while the G20 Summit in Johannesburg at the weekend went well, and that the West gathered around to support President Cyril Ramaphosa, he was unable to secure unanimous consensus on the Leaders’ Declaration he cleverly introduced at the beginning, rather than at the close, of the gathering. Whatever the gloss, the absence of the US and the the decision by Argentina not to support the Summit final communique, introduced for the first time a crack in the G20 edifice that may be difficult, if not impossible, to repair. It wasn’t all Ramaphosa’s fault but while the gathering was excellent, it didn’t quite succeed. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Amid a flurry of upbeat economic news — a good mini-budget, a stronger rand, escape from the Grey List, the JSE on steroids and progress, on paper at least, on reform of South Africa’s moribund rail and ports system — Anne Bernstein, head of the Centre for Development and Enterprise tells Peter Bruce in this edition of Podcasts from the Edge that “I’m the first to welcome good news (but) we need to recognise what changes have been made (but) I don't think we've turned the corner. I think we're approaching the corner. And if you look at a lot of the reforms, energy's the most important … but there's so much more to do ... we shouldn't let our guard down. Look at the whole chess board. There's unemployment (which) is worse than it was a year ago by some 200,000 people. And we are simultaneously watching the absolute chaos, corruption and disaster in our criminal justice system”. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Veteran ANC leader Mathews Phosa, a former ANC Treasurer-general and Mpumalanga premier, tells Peter Bruce in this edition of Podcasts from the Edge that he doesn’t take talk of renewal in the ANC seriously. It’s spin, he says. "The election of 2024 showed that (the ANC) has died from 57% to 40%. If you think that was bad, as we stand now it is going to go down to 26% unless something traumatic happens ... there's too much spin. When you say want to renew, what are you renewing? You're not going to take rotten eggs and think that tomorrow they'll make a good omelet.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.