NOW Ep104: How South Africa can shift gears for growth

Loading player...
South Africa has spent more than a decade in economic drift – growing slower than its emerging market peers, losing investor confidence, and missing out on vital tax revenue. So, how do we get back on track? In this episode of No Ordinary Wednesday, Jeremy Maggs is joined by Cumesh Moodliar, CEO of Investec South Africa, and Osagyefo Mazwai, Investment Strategist at Investec Wealth & Investment International, to unpack the hard truths, and outline a roadmap to recovery and long-term prosperity.

Podcast key moments:
00:00 – Introduction
02:09 – How will the latest tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump affect the South African economy?
04:36 - How do you interpret the opportunity cost of the lost decade of growth in SA?
07:27 - What should the number one priority be for government?
09:30 – Why is boosting confidence is one of the most powerful levers for growth?
10:27 - What specific reforms do you think will signal that SA is open for business?
12:28 – Has SA we missed the golden opportunity with the commodity boom?
13:59 - How vulnerable is SA to these pressures, and could they complicate our domestic growth strategy?
17:38 - Can current composition of the GNU accelerate reforms quickly enough to match the urgency economic growth?
20:10 - How does South Africa avoid getting left behind in the fight for capital, trade and competitiveness?
21:19 – Is South Africa an attractive investment destination?
22:52 - What could South Africa look like in 2035?
Read more on www.investec.com/now

Hosted by seasoned broadcaster, Jeremy Maggs, the No Ordinary Wednesday podcast unpacks the latest economic, business and political news in South Africa, with an all-star cast of investment and wealth managers, economists and financial planners from Investec. Listen in every second Wednesday for an in-depth look at what's moving markets, shaping the economy, and changing the game for your wallet and your business.
Chapters
  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 02:09 How will the latest tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump affect the South African economy?
  • 04:36 How do you interpret the opportunity cost of the lost decade of growth in SA?
  • 07:27 What should the number one priority be for government?
  • 09:30 Why is boosting confidence is one of the most powerful levers for growth?
  • 10:27 What specific reforms do you think will signal that SA is open for business?
  • 12:28 Has SA we missed the golden opportunity with the commodity boom?
  • 13:59 How vulnerable is SA to these pressures, and could they complicate our domestic growth strategy?
  • 17:38 Can current composition of the GNU accelerate reforms quickly enough to match the urgency economic growth?
  • 20:10 How does South Africa avoid getting left behind in the fight for capital, trade and competitiveness?
  • 21:19 Is South Africa an attractive investment destination?
  • 22:52 What could South Africa look like in 2035?
8 Jul 2025 English South Africa Business · Investing

Other recent episodes

Macro Monday Ep113: Markets look through the energy shock

Despite concerns about the war with Iran, notes Chris Holdsworth, Chief Investment Strategist, at Investec Wealth & Investment International, earnings have been resilient while markets have been looking through the energy shock. Equities are up, while equity market analysts have been upgrading their earnings estimates.
4 May 8 min

Macro Monday Ep112: Markets aren’t pricing in ‘stagflation’

Ordinarily, you’d expect an oil shock to lead to not only higher inflation, but also weaker equities and a lower growth outlook. However, markets aren’t pricing in a stagflationary outcome. Chris Holdsworth, Chief Investment Strategist, at Investec Wealth & Investment International, examines this apparent anomaly.
20 Apr 9 min

NOW Ep125: Capital meets reform | Is South Africa investable again?

South Africa’s reform momentum is becoming more visible but so are the constraints that could stall it. In the latest episode of No Ordinary Wednesday, Jeremy Maggs is joined by Rudi Dicks, Head of the Project Management Office in the Presidency; Martin Meyer, Head of Energy and Infrastructure Finance at…
15 Apr 30 min

Macro Monday Ep111: Global growth and inflation outlooks deteriorate

Standing in for Chris Holdsworth, Osagyefo Mazwai discusses the latest on the conflict in Iran, and against this backdrop, signs of deterioration in both growth and inflation in the world’s major economies. While markets are not yet pricing in rate hikes in the US, they are in the Eurozone.
13 Apr 7 min