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A 21% jump in Special Votes and near trebling of the out-of-country votes provides clear evidence of a surge in interest around Election’24. In this special broadcast, we hear from two Smart Alecs - the Financial Times’s foreign editor Alec Russell and his namesake, BizNews editor Alec Hogg. The FT looks at the global relevance while BizNews looks at the math via data drawn from the 2019 and 2021 election to conclude that surprises aplenty are in store when the results are counted.

We have passed 50 days without load shedding in South Africa, even as the cold of winter begins to bite when electricity demand normally increases. The CEO of the Energy Council, James McKay, told BizNews in an interview that the lack of load shedding is due to a partnership that the government formed with the business sector. While business “is not lifting the spanners” at Eskom, their involvement in capacity mobilisation, strategic planning, and accountability discussions has been instrumental, he said. McKay highlighted a significant shift from previous political resistance to private sector involvement in state-owned enterprises. This collaboration, he said, extends beyond the energy sector, encompassing transport, logistics, crime, and corruption. Progress is being made on a new transport master plan, which is advancing through Cabinet, and efforts are underway to modernise crime monitoring capabilities in South Africa, according to McKay. - Linda van Tilburg

At the halfway mark in the Local v Offshore investment challenge, Magnus Heystek’s foreign holdings have recovered from an appalling start to move into positive territory. Piet Viljoen’s SA-focused portfolio, however, still has a handy lead although is enjoying “a breather” ahead of a potential surge on the Election’24 results. They spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

After recording just 6 660 votes in the 2019 National election, Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie forecasts a massive breakthough in Election’24. The PA leader predicts his party will receive around 1m votes and secure 25 Members of Parliament in the National Assembly. McKenzie believes this will be a watershed with South Africans rejecting the status quo of dominant ANC and DA political parties, punishing both at the polls. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.

One of the toughest battles in Election’24 is the Democratic Alliance’s bid to schieve more than 50% of the Western Cape votes - the only province where it currently governs. South Africa’s longest serving member of Paliament, FF+ Chief Whip Dr Corne’ Mulder, believes with his party, the Patriotic Alliance and Action SA poised for good showings on May 29, after the election a coalition will be required to govern the Western Cape. He explains to BizNews editor Alec Hogg why this is a good thing.

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“…there are people that are rising and there are people that are falling…the dirty games are coming out...It's a nasty campaign, it's a dark campaign, and I predict in the next three days it's going to get worse.” These are the words of Neil de Beer, the President of the United Independent Movement (UIM). In this interview with BizNews, he dissects the current “climb” in popularity of the African National Congress (ANC), the disintegration of the top structure of former President Jacob Zuma’s MK and his daughter Duduzile’s move to secure a “dictatorship”; the secret and not-so-secret coalition talks; and the many parties that are “promising and writing checks in their name that their bodies can't cash”. De Beer warns of the impact of “international influence” on the outcome of the election, saying the party that “carries the most influence from outside will win and will then govern for the next five years with a huge sentiment of 60% influence globally, but 40% from the world masters”.