The Angle Podcast

• EP23 | Smart Cities or Digital Surveillance? | Tech, Trust & Governance

  What makes a smart city truly smart? Is it the tech—or the trust behind it? In this episode of The Angle, we speak with Dr. Thomas Linder, Senior Coordinator at Open North and Lecturer in Responsible AI at Concordia University, to explore the promises and perils of smart cities in the African context. From Toronto’s failed Sidewalk Labs experiment to the hidden costs of digital public infrastructure, Dr. Linder unpacks what it takes to build cities that are both digitally advanced and socially just. We go deep into issues of data protection, vendor capture, platform dependence, surveillance risks, and the true meaning of citizen-first design in an era of rapid digital transformation. Whether you care about digital voting, AI in public services, or urban inequality, this is a must-listen conversation that cuts through the hype and asks the right questions: + Who owns the data? + Who controls the tools? + Who gets left behind? This is part of a limited podcast series titled “The Digital Future of South Africa – Navigating Power, Policy, and Progress” in association with the Wits School of Governance, Tayarisha, and the Civic Tech Innovation Network. 00:00 – Intro: What is a smart city, really? 06:00 – Google’s Sidewalk Labs and the Toronto failure 10:00 – Why top-down tech never works 14:00 – Smart cities in Africa: opportunities and risks 18:00 – Surveillance, inequality & digital authoritarianism 21:30 – What is digital public infrastructure (DPI)? 25:00 – Data sharing across city services: the real challenge 28:30 – Cape Town’s smart city strategy: a local model 32:00 – Who owns the data? Vendor capture vs. sovereignty 36:00 – Smart cities and policing: tech without reform 40:00 – Digital voting: inevitability or risk? 44:00 – Investing in people vs. buying more tech 48:00 – What governments need to do first 52:00 – A hopeful future for African tech governance #DigitalGovernance #CivicTech #AfricaDigitalFuture #TechAndPolicy #DigitalInclusion #InnovationInAfrica #PlatformPower #SmartCitiesAfrica #DataSovereignty #TheAnglePodcast YouTube · The Angle · YouTube · Substack · LinkedIn · Facebook · Instagram · X · TikTok

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• EP22 | Can SA Build a Tech Economy Without Big Tech? | Innovation, Policy & Power

  What’s killing innovation in South Africa? It’s not a lack of ideas—it’s policy paralysis, outdated funding models, and the dominance of Big Tech. In this episode of The Angle, we speak with Prof. TK Pooe, senior lecturer at the Wits School of Governance, about the deep structural barriers preventing real innovation from taking root in South Africa. From fintech and agriculture to health tech and mining, Prof. Pooe unpacks what South Africa actually does well—and why we need to stop aiming for Silicon Valley and start building fit-for-context digital economies. He outlines his provocative idea for an e-sovereign wealth fund to support entrepreneurs, why universities need to become startup incubators, and why South Africa desperately needs to change how it thinks about risk, failure, and long-term innovation. This episode is full of hard truths and hopeful alternatives. Listen now for an unfiltered take on: -Big Tech’s role in stifling local entrepreneurship -Why SA is 15 years behind on innovation -How funding and procurement models are holding us back -The role of education, regional markets, and failure in tech success * This is part of a limited podcast series titled “The Digital Future of South Africa – Navigating Power, Policy, and Progress” in association with the Wits School of Governance, Tayarisha, and the Civic Tech Innovation Network. 00:00 – Intro: Is Big Tech killing innovation in SA? 02:00 – Defining Big Tech in the South African context 05:00 – Why Nigeria builds unicorns—and we don’t 07:00 – The problem with banks, government, and risk aversion 10:00 – Proposal: A sovereign wealth fund for startups 14:00 – Why failure should be funded 18:30 – SA’s tech ecosystem is too closed 22:00 – Can SA build regionally for SADC first? 25:00 – Agriculture, fintech, mining: sector-specific innovation 30:00 – Why universities must evolve to incubate innovation 35:00 – The myth of skills gaps—when data isn’t used 39:00 – Discovery vs. GEMS: Public/private asymmetries 42:30 – Local problems, local solutions: don’t copy Harvard 47:00 – Fixing government structures and perverse incentives 51:00 – How SA could start building a long-term digital economy #DigitalGovernance #CivicTech #AfricaDigitalFuture #TechAndPolicy #DigitalInclusion #InnovationInAfrica #PlatformPower #SmartCitiesAfrica #DataSovereignty #TheAnglePodcast YouTube · The Angle · YouTube · Substack · LinkedIn · Facebook · Instagram · X · TikTok

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• EP21 | Why Your Internet Still Depends on Your Postal Code | SA's Digital Divide

  In this episode of The Angle, we sit down with Dr. Rekgotsofetse Chikane — lecturer at the Wits School of Governance, author, and analyst — to unpack one of South Africa’s most pressing issues: the digital divide. We explore why, in 2025, your internet speed is still determined by your postal code, how telecom monopolies and outdated regulation have shaped the market, and why short-term thinking has paralyzed progress. Dr. Chikane makes the case for treating the internet as a public good, why digital infrastructure alone isn't enough, and how a 30-year digital skills plan may be our best hope to ensure no one is left behind. We talk regulation, state innovation, public-private power struggles, the limitations of the PFMA, and why South Africa continues to lag in building a digitally inclusive future. * This is part of a limited podcast series titled “The Digital Future of South Africa – Navigating Power, Policy, and Progress” in association with the Wits School of Governance, Tayarisha, and the Civic Tech Innovation Network. 00:00 – Intro: Why this conversation matters 01:30 – How the digital divide still defines life in South Africa 04:45 – Should the internet be a public good? 07:00 – Housing, access, and the language of rights 10:30 – Equality of outcome vs. equality of process 14:00 – Why government can’t innovate without flexibility 18:20 – The power of telecom oligopolies in SA 23:00 – Starlink, e-SIMs, and the future of infrastructure 27:30 – Big Tech in Africa: Regulation challenges 32:00 – Why PFMA stifles state innovation 38:00 – The cost of digital skills gaps 42:00 – M-PESA, SnapScan, and failed innovation in SA 50:00 – What real access means (mechanics vs. coders) 56:00 – What would Dr. Chikane do as President? 59:00 – Final thoughts: Building a long-term digital future #DigitalGovernance #CivicTech #AfricaDigitalFuture #TechAndPolicy #DigitalInclusion #InnovationInAfrica #PlatformPower #SmartCitiesAfrica #DataSovereignty #TheAnglePodcast www.youtube.com · The Angle · YouTube · Substack · LinkedIn · Facebook · Instagram · X · TikTok

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• EP20 | African game dev secrets - funding, marketing & sustainability

  In this episode of The Angle Podcast, we sit down with game developer Avuzwa Ntshongwana to explore the realities of building and sustaining a game studio in South Africa. From funding challenges to authentic African storytelling, Avuzwa shares hard truths and valuable insights that every aspiring game developer should hear. Topics covered in this episode: The state of game development in Africa – opportunities & challenges How to secure funding for your game studio (Jobs Fund & private investment) The importance of early game testing & iteration Breaking the African game development clichés – untold stories & new narratives Marketing games in Africa – why it’s a missing piece in the industry The power of collaboration for indie studios Her innovative "Menstrual Cycle Game" – using gaming for social impact Chapters for easy navigation: 00:00 - Introduction & Meet Avuzwa 03:15 - Game development in South Africa: The real state of the industry 05:30 - Funding struggles & how to secure investment for game studios 10:45 - Why marketing is the missing piece in African game development 15:20 - The challenge of authentic African storytelling in gaming 20:40 - How early testing can make or break a game 25:30 - Developing the "Menstrual Cycle Game" for social impact 30:00 - The role of government & private investment in gaming 35:00 - Collaboration: The secret to sustaining African game studios 40:00 - Final advice for aspiring game developers #GameDevelopment #IndieGameDev #AfricanGaming #GameMarketing #WomenInGaming #GamingInnovation #TheAnglePodcast #GameStudioGrowth #FundingForGames #AfricanGameDev The Angle · YouTube · Substack · LinkedIn · Facebook · Instagram · X · TikTok

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• EP19 | Secrets to securing R5M in business grants | Lerato unpacks it

  In this episode of The Angle Podcast, we sit down with Lerato, a seasoned business coach, to unpack the challenges and opportunities facing South African entrepreneurs today. From compliance pitfalls to securing funding, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for anyone looking to grow a business in the digital age. Topics covered: The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make with compliance (CIPC, SARS, RFQs) How to secure grant funding (R250k - R5M) and venture capital The importance of digital tools and leveraging online platforms How to test your business idea before seeking funding Avoiding RFQ and procurement scams The truth about South African entrepreneurship – are we ready? To get in touch with Lerato; Youtube: ‪@theplatformza‬ Tiktok: theplatformza WhatsApp: +27 71 952 3783 Website: TheAngle.Africa Email: [email protected] Instagram: @TheAnglePodcast Twitter: @TheAngle_Africa TikTok: @the.angle.podcast #EntrepreneurshipSA #SmallBusinessGrowth #FundingOpportunities #BusinessCoaching #StartupsSouthAfrica #TheAnglePodcast #WomenInBusiness #GrantFunding #DigitalEntrepreneurship #BusinessSuccess YouTube · The Angle · YouTube · Substack · LinkedIn · Facebook · Instagram · X · TikTok

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