The Monocle Banking Podcast

South Africa’s political landscape is shifting. With an increasingly fragmented electorate and coalition politics reshaping local government, the future of political leadership remains uncertain.

Michael Avery was joined by Richard Calland, political commentator and Partner at the Paternoster Group, to unpack South Africa’s changing political landscape and what it could mean for the country’s future. From shifting voter loyalties and the rise of coalition politics to the challenges of governing major metros, the conversation explored the implications of political fragmentation for effective governance, business confidence and South Africa’s long-term stability.

The 2026 Absa Africa Financial Markets Index revealed significant progress, with 21 of 29 countries improving their scores and the continental average reaching a decade-high.

Michael Avery was joined by Anthony Kirui, Head of Africa Regional Global Markets at Absa CIB, and Jeff Gable, Absa CIB’s Chief Economist, to unpack the findings and explore how regulatory reforms, improved market accessibility and greater investment can unlock Africa’s economic potential.

What separates entrepreneurs who defy the odds from those who fall victim to them?

Drawing on insights from their new book, Underdogs, Vusi Thembekwayo, Entrepreneur and Venture Investor, and Michael Hinton, Business Strategist and Finance Lecturer at GIBS, joined Michael Avery to explore what sets successful entrepreneurs apart, the power of resilience and adaptability, and how limitations can become a source of competitive advantage. The conversation also examined the challenges facing South Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, from limited early-stage funding to regulatory barriers, and what needs to change to unlock the country’s innovation potential.

What separates exceptional success from ordinary results? According to Discovery founder Adrian Gore, the answer lies less in talent and more in how we think, act and make decisions.

Drawing on insights from his new book, The Four Principles, Gore joined Michael Avery to explore the principles behind achieving meaningful impact, the importance of challenging negative perceptions, and how South Africa can unlock its economic potential through entrepreneurship, innovation and job creation.

South Africa’s economic outlook is showing signs of improvement, but is the progress as promising as it seems?

Michael Avery was joined by Dr Azar Jammine, Director and Chief Economist at Econometrix, to unpack the country’s fiscal position and broader economic outlook. From narrowing budget deficits and the impact of rising commodity prices to persistent unemployment and growing infrastructure backlogs, the conversation explored whether recent improvements reflect meaningful progress or mask deeper structural weaknesses. They also discussed the role of economic reforms, investment and sustainable growth in shaping South Africa’s financial future.