https://www.thexchange.co.za/ South Africa is at a cross-roads. A leadership void has emerged in the wake of constant political scandals and economic challenges. A universal, critical need continues to go unmet by as illegitimate conversations spread across social media. There is a lack of sophistication in leveraging digital channels and a fractured and fragmented news media to appeal to SA audiences hungry for leadership and certainty. Business en Sat, 04 Sep 2021 11:26:03 +0200 Thu, 06 Jun 2024 16:04:28 +0200 30 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss iono.fm 2.5.2.0 The Xchange Platform no Sam Mkokeli Weekly feeds@iono.fm (Feed Manager) https://cdn.iono.fm/files/p2517/logo_6680_20250909_213759_1400.jpeg https://www.thexchange.co.za/ South Africa is at a cross-roads. The Xchange Platform episodic The Xchange Platform talk@thexchange.co.za false ZA https://iono.fm/e/1448795 https://iono.fm/e/1448795 Business Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:49:00 +0200 0 0 A recap as the ANC considers its coalition options 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 15:46 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1377898 https://iono.fm/e/1377898
However, the data paints a comforting picture. In its third production estimates for winter crops, the crop estimates committee lifted the wheat harvest projection by 2% from September to 2.17-million tonnes. The current expected crop is up 3% from the previous season. This was a positive surprise as we had expected the crop size could be lowered, considering the severity of the floods in the southern regions of the Western Cape.

The provinces behind this robust national wheat harvest forecast are the Western Cape (53% of the overall harvest), Northern Cape, Free State and Limpopo. Admittedly, while the Northern Cape and Free State are still among the leading wheat producers, their expected harvest is less than the 2022/23 season. The expected large harvest in the Western Cape and Limpopo overshadows the decline in other provinces. There are also likely to be decent wheat harvests in other provinces, such as KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and North West.

Notably, the expected 2.17-million tonnes is well above the 10-year average harvest of 1.8-million tonnes. If there are no significant changes in the forecast in the coming months one can be confident that SA needs to import only about 1.6-million tonnes to meet domestic consumption in the 2023/24 season, down from 1.7-million tonnes in 2022/23.

Furthermore, the expected 2023/24 canola crop was lifted by 3% from the previous month to a record 237,450 tonnes, up 13% year on year. The annual increase is also due to increased plantings and better expected yields. Regarding barley and oats, however, the committee lowered its production forecasts 3% and 19% to 380,120 tonnes and 41,600 tonnes, respectively. It appears that the floods damaged these crops more than wheat and canola. Still, barley and oats are well above the 2022/23 harvest level, mainly supported by an expansion in the planted area and anticipated better yields in some regions.

As encouraging as the overall winter crop picture is, concerns remain about the quality of the crop, particularly wheat. Given that the Western Cape accounts for more than half of SA’s wheat production, if the quality has deteriorated notably the expected import figure of 1.6-million tonnes may need to be revised.

We discuss more in this week's podcast segment.

My writing on agricultural economic matters is available on my blog: https://wandilesihlobo.com/

Podcast production by: Lwandiso Gwarubana, Richard Humphries, and Sam Mkokeli ]]> Business Tue, 07 Nov 2023 13:24:00 +0200 0 0 SA winter crops production conditions 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 12:08 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1208671 https://iono.fm/e/1208671
The relief would be significant as Ukraine has roughly 22 million tonnes of grain (wheat, maize, sunflower seed and other grains) in silos. It has not been able to ship these to export markets because of Russia’s invasion, which disrupted infrastructure and the attacks on vessels transporting goods. ]]> Business Mon, 25 Jul 2022 16:52:00 +0200 0 0 Russia/Ukraine grain export deal promises major benefits for poor countries. If 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 8:52 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1201315?v=1 https://iono.fm/e/1201315?v=1 Agric Matters with Wandile Sihlobo ]]> Business Mon, 04 Jul 2022 11:25:00 +0200 0 0 SA has sufficient food supplies, and price pressures on consumers likely to ease in the coming months 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 10:36 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1199528 https://iono.fm/e/1199528 Agbiz Chief Economist Wandile Sihlobo examines the latest trends in food prices.
We are in a period of elevated prices, and food is at the core of these increases. For example, in May, South Africa’s consumer food price inflation accelerated to 7,8% y/y, from 6,3% in the previous month. This is the quickest pace since March 2017. The increase was broad base on all food products in the inflation basket. This largely mirrors the uptick we have been seeing in the global agricultural commodity prices, and indeed the domestic market. ]]> Business Tue, 28 Jun 2022 14:14:00 +0200 0 0 South Africa’s consumer food price inflation accelerated in May 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 10:37 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1195058 https://iono.fm/e/1195058 Business Mon, 20 Jun 2022 11:05:00 +0200 0 0 Agric Matters with Wandile Sihlobo 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 6:15 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1175361 https://iono.fm/e/1175361 Business Tue, 19 Apr 2022 16:16:00 +0200 0 0 Agriculture matters with Wandile Sihlobo 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 7:53 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1173252 https://iono.fm/e/1173252 Business Mon, 11 Apr 2022 10:16:00 +0200 0 0 Agriculture matters with Wandile Sihlobo 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 9:08 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1172428 https://iono.fm/e/1172428 Business Thu, 07 Apr 2022 11:09:00 +0200 0 0 Agriculture unpacked by Wandile Sihlobo 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 8:19 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1130463 https://iono.fm/e/1130463
A universal, critical need continues to go unmet by as illegitimate conversations spread across social media.

There is a lack of sophistication in leveraging digital channels and a fractured and fragmented news media to appeal to SA audiences hungry for leadership and certainty. ]]> Business Thu, 25 Nov 2021 14:07:00 +0200 0 0 The Xchange, in conversation with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 19:35 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1110242 https://iono.fm/e/1110242 Wandile Sihlobo, Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz)
Mamokete Lijane, Fixed Income Sales Trader and Macro Strategist at Absa CIB, Absa Group. ]]> Business Thu, 07 Oct 2021 17:39:00 +0200 0 0 In Conversation with Zintle Letlaka 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 26:42 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1110239 https://iono.fm/e/1110239 Business Thu, 07 Oct 2021 17:36:00 +0200 0 0 In conversation with Nompu Siziba, SABC Business Journalist 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 38:05 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1110237 https://iono.fm/e/1110237 Business Thu, 07 Oct 2021 17:34:00 +0200 0 0 Business Perspective 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 39:05 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1110236 https://iono.fm/e/1110236 Business Thu, 07 Oct 2021 17:06:00 +0200 0 0 Minister’s Keynote Address 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 26:09 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1108463 https://iono.fm/e/1108463
A universal, critical need continues to go unmet by as illegitimate conversations spread across social media.

There is a lack of sophistication in leveraging digital channels and a fractured and fragmented news media to appeal to SA audiences hungry for leadership and certainty. ]]> Business Mon, 04 Oct 2021 10:27:00 +0200 0 0 Sam Mkokeli in conversation with The Duke of Magoebaskloof and former finance minister Tito Mboweni. 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 37:38 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1101298 https://iono.fm/e/1101298
Reforming the ANC is a painstaking process that may even outlive President Cyril Ramaphosa’s time at the helm of the ruling party. That’s according to Zamani Saul, ANC chairman and a premier in Northern Cape. Saul, is one of the younger leaders of the ANC, and a proponent for modernising the 109-old party, was speaking during a SowetanLive The Xchange discussion on Twitter.

“Renewing a massive organisation like the African National Congress is not an easy task. It's a very difficult task, it’s no walk in the park,” said Saul.

It is a “very painful process” with lots of resistance from within.

A “shadow culture” has taken root in the party, where members are there solely to access state tenders and jobs. In this situation, there was no distinction between the government and the party.

The party was concerned about the quality of its leaders at the municipal level, and also the appointment of “municipal managers without any clue” about running such administration. ]]> Business Thu, 16 Sep 2021 12:07:00 +0200 0 0 Zamani Saul: Reforming the ANC is a painstaking process 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 1:33:00 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1098609 https://iono.fm/e/1098609
A universal, critical need continues to go unmet by as illegitimate conversations spread across social media.

There is a lack of sophistication in leveraging digital channels and a fractured and fragmented news media to appeal to SA audiences hungry for leadership and certainty. ]]> Business Fri, 10 Sep 2021 09:53:00 +0200 0 0 Coalitions 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 18:25 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1098135 https://iono.fm/e/1098135 Business Thu, 09 Sep 2021 11:16:00 +0200 0 0 Political Leadership 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 1:26:14 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1097452 https://iono.fm/e/1097452 Business Wed, 08 Sep 2021 08:41:00 +0200 0 0 Messy coalitions 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 23:50 Politics Wednesday https://iono.fm/e/1097081 https://iono.fm/e/1097081 Mkokeli and friends discuss South Africa's leadership crisis with special guest Mcebisi Jonas. He is MTN Group Chair and former deputy minister of Finance. ]]> Business Tue, 07 Sep 2021 14:35:00 +0200 0 0 Leadership, Politics and Economics 0 0 Sam Mkokeli full 1:22:38 Politics Wednesday