Description
Quick note before we start: this conversation is not about backing any political party. It is an analysis of where South Africa is heading and why.
I sat down with Dr Ongama Mtimka, political analyst and lecturer at Nelson Mandela University, to talk about the forces shaping South African politics and the economy.
We start with his story, from a decision his grandmother made in 1991 to the mentors who shaped his early career. Then we get into the big questions. Why did he back the GNU? How does he read the ANC, the DA, the MK party and the EFF heading into the local government elections? And why does he think a declining party can keep declining even when no outside force is threatening it?
We also go deep on the economy. Dr Mtimka argues that South Africa’s buying power was historically kept small because the system was built on cheap labour. We look at how concentrated our banks, retailers and distribution systems are, why that limits innovation, and how the history of the Eastern Cape fits into the story. We also cover why policy keeps swinging between pro-business and pro-labour, and what the next 10 years could look like.
Where do you think South Africa is heading? Tell me in the comments.
See you on the other side. Cheers.