The Cities Economic Outlook report for 2026 has revealed that metros in the country are under strain due to the difficulty of balancing a high population growth and economic activity. Metros were always seen as the engines for national growth, as they house most of the manufacturing hubs and industry. The report which is compiled by National Treasury, Human Sciences Research Council and some of the leading universities goes on to reveal that it's no longer the traditional productive industries that are creating jobs, but rather the public services and non-tradable industries. To help us understand this report and why we should be worried, we are joined by…

Guest: Prof Ivan Turok -  Professor of urban economics at the University of the Free State; and a Distinguished Research Fellow at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

Guest: Prof Justin Visagie - Associate Professor at Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of Witwatersrand

Guest: Ajiv Maharaj - Deputy Head of Economic Development, eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality

Guest: Jodie Posen - Head of Economic Intelligence, City of Cape Town

The Cities Economic Outlook report for 2026 has revealed that metros in the country are under strain due to the difficulty of balancing a high population growth and economic activity. Metros were always seen as the engines for national growth, as they house most of the manufacturing hubs and industry. The report which is compiled by National Treasury, Human Sciences Research Council and some of the leading universities goes on to reveal that it's no longer the traditional productive industries that are creating jobs, but rather the public services and non-tradable industries. To help us understand this report and why we should be worried, we are joined by&hellip;
Guest: Prof Ivan Turok -&nbsp; Professor of urban economics at the University of the Free State; and a Distinguished Research Fellow at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
Guest: Prof Justin Visagie - Associate Professor at Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of Witwatersrand
Guest: Ajiv Maharaj - Deputy Head of Economic Development, eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
Guest: Jodie Posen - Head of Economic Intelligence, City of Cape Town

Newsmakers and Guest Experts offer their insights and perspectives into the national and global discourse on politics, economics, education, social matters and comprehensive dialogues on cultural diversity and other essential issues of public interest like, poverty alleviation, unemployment rate and health related issues.

NewsmakersandGuestExpertsoffertheirinsightsandperspectivesintothenationalandglobaldiscourseonpolitics,economics,education,socialmattersandcomprehensivedialoguesonculturaldiversityandotheressentialissuesofpublicinterestlike,...

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Cities Economic Outlook 2026

This morning (Thursday) The Transport Department launched it's road safety campaign on the eve of the Easter weekend. The sad part is that despite all the road safety campaigns, fatalities on our roads are not decreasing. Where are we going wrong and what's the point of these campaigns if the situation on our roads does not change? To talk about what new thing the department is bringing this time around, we are joined by…

This morning (Thursday) The Transport Department launched it's road safety campaign on the eve of the Easter weekend. The sad part is that despite all the road safety campaigns, fatalities on our roads are not decreasing. Where are we going wrong and what's the point of these campaigns if the situation on our roads does not change? To talk about what new thing the department is bringing this time around, we are joined by&hellip;

 What's new this time

Unions and other civil society movements have welcomed government’s efforts to reduce the fuel prices that were meant to increase with a significant amount. The petrol price was going to go up by more than 5-rands while diesel was going to increase by more than 9-rands. The prices are still going to go up from the beginning of May. As long as the war between Israel, USA and Iran continues, fuels prices are going to be severely affected. So this morning we thought to talk about what more we would like to see government do to deal with a possible fuel crisis as we've heard reports of some petrol stations turning motorists away because they've run out of fuel? 

Guest: Mametlwe Sebei - President of the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa

Guest: Riefdah Ajam - General Secretary for the Federation of Unions of South Africa, FEDUSA

Guest: Visvin Reddy - Member of Parliament for the MKP and longtime activist against high fuel prices

Unions and other civil society movements have welcomed government&rsquo;s efforts to reduce the fuel prices that were meant to increase with a significant amount. The petrol price was going to go up by more than 5-rands while diesel was going to increase by more than 9-rands. The prices are still going to go up from the beginning of May. As long as the war between Israel, USA and Iran continues, fuels prices are going to be severely affected. So this morning we thought to talk about what more we would like to see government do to deal with a possible fuel crisis as we've heard reports of some petrol stations turning motorists away because they've run out of fuel?&nbsp;
Guest: Mametlwe Sebei - President of the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa
Guest: Riefdah Ajam - General Secretary for the Federation of Unions of South Africa, FEDUSA
Guest: Visvin Reddy - Member of Parliament for the MKP and longtime activist against high fuel prices

Fuel Prices: What more would we like to see government do regarding the fuel price?    

South Africa is taking a bold step toward closing one of its most persistent gaps — the digital divide. A new R142 billion Digital Connectivity Investment Roadmap, unveiled by the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the National Planning Commission, sets out an ambitious plan to achieve universal high-speed broadband access by 2035. This is more than just an infrastructure plan — it’s a blueprint for building an inclusive digital economy. The roadmap looks at everything from

expanding fibre and mobile networks, to tackling affordability, improving digital skills, and strengthening institutional capacity.

Aligned with frameworks like the National Development Plan and global targets such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the plan outlines what it will take — financially and practically — to ensure that no community is left behind in South Africa’s digital future.

The big question now is: how do we turn this R142 billion vision into reality — and what will it mean for ordinary South Africans, especially those in underserved and rural areas?

Guest: Dr. Tshepo Feela - Commissioner of the National Planning Commission (NPC) in South Africa 

South Africa is taking a bold step toward closing one of its most persistent gaps &mdash; the digital divide. A new R142 billion Digital Connectivity Investment Roadmap, unveiled by the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the National Planning Commission, sets out an ambitious plan to achieve universal high-speed broadband access by 2035. This is more than just an infrastructure plan &mdash; it&rsquo;s a blueprint for building an inclusive digital economy. The roadmap looks at everything from
expanding fibre and mobile networks, to tackling affordability, improving digital skills, and strengthening institutional capacity.
Aligned with frameworks like the National Development Plan and global targets such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the plan outlines what it will take &mdash; financially and practically &mdash; to ensure that no community is left behind in South Africa&rsquo;s digital future.
The big question now is: how do we turn this R142 billion vision into reality &mdash; and what will it mean for ordinary South Africans, especially those in underserved and rural areas?
Guest: Dr. Tshepo Feela - Commissioner of the National Planning Commission (NPC) in South Africa&nbsp;

Cities Economic Outlook 2026

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