The Interchange

The South African General Election

In a country recovering from a decade of corruption, economic stagnation and state capture, what fuelled voter apathy among young South Africans at the May 2019 polls? Was it a protest against lack of change… or is there more behind youth apathy in our country? Motion: This house believes that…

Season 1 / Episode 1 33 min

The Role of Business in Society

In this era of significant social, environmental, and political challenges, businesses have an opportunity to play a bigger role in shaping society and addressing vital issues such as economic inequality. Yet, while we expect companies to balance their sustainable goals and financial performance objectives, do companies really understand their licence…

Season 1 / Episode 2 32 min

State-owned enterprises

The spotlight is on state-owned enterprises. For decades their value has been questioned and so many of these entities have been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Is the time up for these kinds of enterprises, or is there a way to turn things around? It's the debate…

Season 1 / Episode 3 32 min

Will the digital revolution make global inequality worse?

It used to be said that “the future is digital”, but now we live in a digital era. Whether we want to admit it or not, the digital revolution has made our lives easier. Yet, we do not know how the rapid development of technology and artificial intelligence will affect…

Season 1 / Episode 4 36 min

The internally displaced people conundrum: Refugees at home

Millions of people around the world have been forced to flee their homes, but have remained within the borders of their country of origin. These internally displaced people - or IDPs - are often referred to as refugees by virtue of being displaced, yet they are not legally considered to…

Season 1 / Episode 5 41 min

Who really benefits from foreign aid?

When most of us think of foreign aid, it’s synonymous with receiving help from another country out of goodwill. Foreign aid is meant to benefit the population of the recipient country, but what is the true cost? Can local problems really be solved with international influence, and should African countries…

Season 1 / Episode 6 43 min

Is exceptionalism in South Africa the reason behind xenophobia?

For years South Africa has been plagued with violence aimed at foreigners. Could xenophobia be a result of a sense of exceptionalism amongst South Africans? How has this 'Afrophobia' contributed to the downfall of Pan-Africanism among Africans? The Interchange is made possible by Absa and Tshimong.

Season 1 / Episode 7 46 min

Can higher education improve job prospects for our youth?

South African youths are faced with a great challenge: unemployment. Young people between the ages of 15–24 years are the most vulnerable in the local labour market as the unemployment rate among this age group was as high as 55,2% in the first quarter of 2019. The unemployment rate for…

Season 1 / Episode 8 46 min

Is there a future for traditional universities?

For many of us, our schooling careers included going to university once completing high school. But, as online learning becomes one of the fastest growing industries, the modern world is quickly moving away from traditional universities. Many of these traditional universities are like Goliaths: not changing enough for the new…

Season 1 / Episode 9 36 min

Will women ever break through the workplace glass ceiling?

Women’s rights in the workplace are a contentious topic. Men have always had the benefit of getting the opportunities, the higher salaries and continue to be the majority of executives running companies and sitting at the helm of industries. How can the state and the private sector be more inclusive…

Season 1 / Episode 10 46 min

Why is there violent oppression of the LGBTQIA+ community in Africa?

The recognition of gay rights continues to take shape across the globe. However, the violent discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community is rife on the African continent. Even in countries like South Africa, where human rights are constitutionally protected, members of this community still have to face abuse in their everyday…

Season 2 / Episode 11 40 min

Is democracy a universal solution for African governance?

More often than not, the leadership in Africa has been defined by violent dictatorships. So much so that people wonder if the “Benevolent Dictator” exists and whether or not “The People” always know what’s best for themselves. The contrasting leadership styles of Rwandan President Paul Kagame and that of Ugandan…

Season 2 / Episode 12 44 min

How can developing states best leverage the opportunities of the 4IR?

Over the past 3 years, there has been a lot of buzz around the onset of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR). The 4IR offers huge potential to transform and realign our economies and societies. But, how do we play a shaping role to prepare societies and industries at large for…

Season 2 / Episode 13 39 min

Can social and financial exclusion be solved with improved spatial design?

As cities continue to grow at an unprecedented rate, so do opportunities for the development of local economies. Spatial design is crucial to consider during the growth phases of a city because growth means opportunity for business, business means people, people mean housing and services. Past trends suggest that where…

Season 2 / Episode 14 46 min

Could android systems become our greatest allies?

While current trends of the 4IR push economic growth in the direction of new scientific and technological innovation, predictions for the 5th Industrial Revolution seem to be completely contrasting. As we look ahead to the 5IR, experts are suggesting that we could be moving towards developing an economy built around…

Season 2 / Episode 15 43 min

Should the government regulate traditional practices?

In an ever-changing modern landscape, traditional practices are constantly being questioned and challenged. Many of these controversial cultural practices such as genital mutilation and forced marriages, are rooted in beliefs that have been passed down through generations - making their relevance a contentious issue. In a world where traditions can…

Season 2 / Episode 16 38 min

Can basic income help fight job loss caused by technology?

The rise of technology has in many ways made everyday life easier and convenient. But, for all its great uses there are also repercussions. The blue collar workforce are losing jobs because technology is replacing them. Tasks that were done by low-level professionals are now performed by inventions such as…

Season 2 / Episode 17 44 min

Should legislation that affects women be drafted by women?

Legislation in its best form is designed to be progressive and all encompassing – serving the needs of all. Yet, while a legal system should be unprejudiced; law enforcement and even law-making is sometimes vulnerable to bias. In South Africa specifically, women often seem to be the victims of this…

Season 2 / Episode 18 44 min

How will land redistribution without compensation impact our economy?

In order to address the historic wrongs caused by arbitrary dispossession of land in South Africa, land redistribution has largely received universal acceptance as a means of reparations. But the concept of ‘compensation’ in land reform is something of a contentious issue, and the conversation is both principled and economic…

Season 2 / Episode 19 42 min

Can a merger of communism and capitalism create economic utopia?

Ideologies like communism and socialism have seen a massive decline in popularity over the years. Countries such as Venezuela are seen as the final nail in the coffin for the economic systems. On the other hand, global capitalism has taken a drastic knock, particularly after the 2008 global financial crisis…

Season 2 / Episode 23 48 min