She opened her talk with a question: How are you feeling about the state of the country and the world? The audience was split – half hopeful, half discouraged. Mandy leans toward optimism. Yes, South Africans often think our country is uniquely troubled, but zoom out and you’ll see a global picture marked by volatility and polarisation. There is a shift from the middle position to extremism everywhere; and finding credible, trustworthy news is harder than ever.

One key area to watch, she noted, is South Africa’s relationship with the US. Business Day reported that automotive exports to the US have plummeted by 82% – a staggering and concerning drop. Meanwhile, a scandal engulfing the South African Police Service has rocked the nation. But Mandy isn’t surprised; it’s exactly what she’s been reporting on for 15 years. The problem is deep-rooted and systemic – a well-worn pattern of collusion between business, organised crime, policing, and politics.

Mandy referenced the Edelman Trust Barometer, which tracks public trust in institutions. For several years, South Africans have placed the least trust in government, followed closely by the media. The most trusted? NGOs, civil society, and business. Interestingly, the past year saw a slight uptick in trust in government, which is likely due to the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU).

She emphasised the importance of ‘light and shade’ in media. While many people have begun tuning out of the news to escape relentless negativity, Mandy believes in spotlighting what she calls South Africa’s ‘hope dealers’. They are the whistleblowers, journalists, civil servants, and active citizens who are fighting for change.

In defence of the ‘light’ side of media, Mandy quoted the late Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, who said that there is a battle between those who want to corruptly enrich themselves and those who want the country to thrive. She also invoked Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s warning about the danger of the single story – not because it may be false, but because it becomes the only narrative. South Africa’s dominant narrative of dysfunction and corruption is not the full picture. There are countless people working tirelessly to rebuild and uplift the country. But, she insists, it requires collaboration.

One such collaborative effort Mandy praised is Operation Vulindlela, a joint initiative between the National Treasury, the Presidency, and the private sector via Business for South Africa (B4SA). Significant progress has already been made, particularly in rebuilding state-owned enterprises and rooting out corruption. But this momentum must be matched by citizen action: support NGOs, help a feeding scheme, attend your local meeting, vote. There is always something you can do.

Looking ahead, Mandy outlined a few critical issues to watch: trade relations, especially with the US; South Africa’s position within BRICS; rising tensions over sanctions against certain ANC leaders; and the future stability of the GNU. Local government elections will be the next major litmus test. And with the 2029 general elections on the horizon, the economic direction of the country remains a high-stakes unknown. It’s a rollercoaster ride in South Africa, but it’s important to remember that our challenges are not uniquely ours.

Mandy closed with a powerful call to action:
‘Don’t stick your head in the ground. Make sure you read widely, understand what’s going on, have credible sources, support journalists, support civil society, defend our institutions. And I believe this country can thrive.’

Ubuntu Members can access the recording from the event! Find out more…

She opened her talk with a question: How are you feeling about the state of the country and the world? The audience was split – half hopeful, half discouraged. Mandy leans toward optimism. Yes, South Africans often think our country is uniquely troubled, but zoom out and you’ll see a global picture marked by volatility and polarisation. There is a shift from the middle position to extremism everywhere; and finding credible, trustworthy news is harder than ever.

One key area to watch, she noted, is South Africa’s relationship with the US. Business Day reported that automotive exports to the US have plummeted by 82% – a staggering and concerning drop. Meanwhile, a scandal engulfing the South African Police Service has rocked the nation. But Mandy isn’t surprised; it’s exactly what she’s been reporting on for 15 years. The problem is deep-rooted and systemic – a well-worn pattern of collusion between business, organised crime, policing, and politics.

Mandy referenced the Edelman Trust Barometer, which tracks public trust in institutions. For several years, South Africans have placed the least trust in government, followed closely by the media. The most trusted? NGOs, civil society, and business. Interestingly, the past year saw a slight uptick in trust in government, which is likely due to the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU).

She emphasised the importance of ‘light and shade’ in media. While many people have begun tuning out of the news to escape relentless negativity, Mandy believes in spotlighting what she calls South Africa’s ‘hope dealers’. They are the whistleblowers, journalists, civil servants, and active citizens who are fighting for change.

In defence of the ‘light’ side of media, Mandy quoted the late Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, who said that there is a battle between those who want to corruptly enrich themselves and those who want the country to thrive. She also invoked Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s warning about the danger of the single story – not because it may be false, but because it becomes the only narrative. South Africa’s dominant narrative of dysfunction and corruption is not the full picture. There are countless people working tirelessly to rebuild and uplift the country. But, she insists, it requires collaboration.

One such collaborative effort Mandy praised is Operation Vulindlela, a joint initiative between the National Treasury, the Presidency, and the private sector via Business for South Africa (B4SA). Significant progress has already been made, particularly in rebuilding state-owned enterprises and rooting out corruption. But this momentum must be matched by citizen action: support NGOs, help a feeding scheme, attend your local meeting, vote. There is always something you can do.

Looking ahead, Mandy outlined a few critical issues to watch: trade relations, especially with the US; South Africa’s position within BRICS; rising tensions over sanctions against certain ANC leaders; and the future stability of the GNU. Local government elections will be the next major litmus test. And with the 2029 general elections on the horizon, the economic direction of the country remains a high-stakes unknown. It’s a rollercoaster ride in South Africa, but it’s important to remember that our challenges are not uniquely ours.

Mandy closed with a powerful call to action:
‘Don’t stick your head in the ground. Make sure you read widely, understand what’s going on, have credible sources, support journalists, support civil society, defend our institutions. And I believe this country can thrive.’

Ubuntu Members can access the recording from the event! Find out more…