Bongani Bingwa speaks to economist, Xhanti Payi about the ongoing debate around South Africa’s unemployment figures, following comments by Capitec CEO Gerrie Fourie who questioned the official 32.9% unemployment rate, arguing that the “real” rate may be closer to 10% when informal economic activity is taken into account. The conversation examines why the informal and township economy has long been dismissed as unsophisticated, despite evidence of its scale and resilience. Using stokvels as a case study — which saw inflows exceed R13 billion last year — the discussion explores the economic power of informal savings and trade, why nearly 80% of businesses remain unregistered, what barriers continue to frustrate formalisation efforts, and what this means for policy, job creation and economic growth in South Africa.

 

702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station.  

Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day 

Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa 

Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj 

For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T 
 
Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc 

Follow us on social media: 
 
702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 

702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 

702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 
702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 
702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702

Bongani Bingwa speaks to economist, Xhanti Payi about the ongoing debate around South Africa&rsquo;s unemployment figures, following comments by Capitec CEO Gerrie Fourie who questioned the official 32.9% unemployment rate, arguing that the &ldquo;real&rdquo; rate may be closer to 10% when informal economic activity is taken into account. The conversation examines why the informal and township economy has long been dismissed as unsophisticated, despite evidence of its scale and resilience. Using stokvels as a case study &mdash; which saw inflows exceed R13 billion last year &mdash; the discussion explores the economic power of informal savings and trade, why nearly 80% of businesses remain unregistered, what barriers continue to frustrate formalisation efforts, and what this means for policy, job creation and economic growth in South Africa.
&nbsp;
702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day&nbsp;
Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa&nbsp;
Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: <a href="https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj">https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj</a>&nbsp;
For more from the show go to <a href="https://buff.ly/36edSLV">https://buff.ly/36edSLV</a> or find all the catch-up podcasts here <a href="https://buff.ly/zEcM35T">https://buff.ly/zEcM35T</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters <a href="https://buff.ly/v5mfetc">https://buff.ly/v5mfetc</a>&nbsp;
Follow us on social media:&nbsp; &nbsp; 702 on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702">https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702</a>&nbsp;
702 on TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702">https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702</a>&nbsp;
702 on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/">https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/</a>&nbsp; 702 on X: <a href="https://x.com/Radio702">https://x.com/Radio702</a>&nbsp; 702 on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@radio702">https://www.youtube.com/@radio702</a>

Get all the news you need to know each day with Bongani Bingwa’s Breakfast Show. Stay updated on developing stories and hear from the newsmakers making headlines as well as ordinary listeners affected by the stories. 

Get all the news you need to know each day with Bongani Bingwa’s Breakfast Show. Stay updated on developing stories and hear from the newsmakers making headlines as well as ordinary listeners affected by the stories.

The Best of Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa

The highlights from each day's breakfast show with Bongani Bingwa.

Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa

Debating unemployment, informality and the true size of South Africa’s township economy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5dcefa8e-00a9-4595-8ce1-a4ab0080f142/clips/0f54d110-b088-463d-8b9e-b3e0005c8729/transcript