FT journalist Monica Mark and Biznews.com's Alec Hogg discuss South Africa's power-sharing government under President Ramaphosa, focusing on economic renewal, investment, and the challenges facing the country. They analyze the implications of coalition government, the roles of political parties like EFF and MK, internal dynamics of the ANC, and South Africa's economic future amidst adversity.

This week, we meet the South African gangs stealing copper to survive. When the journalist Monica Mark moved to Johannesburg, she noticed that copper theft was causing disruptions across the country: power went out, trains were cancelled, and her neighbourhood Whatsapp group was livid. She wanted to find out who was behind it. So she tracked down a man who used to be in a copper gang. His story is a unique look at South Africa's current struggles with high unemployment, vast inequality and a global market willing to turn a blind eye for profit. Don’t forget! Send us your top summer tip: what’s one thing that you’d recommend people do to have the perfect summer? Deadline is Sunday, June 4. Record a message here: http://sayhi.chat/15xxgYou can also email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com, tweet us @ftweekendpod, or message Lilah on Instagram @lilahrap. --------------Links: – Monica’s magazine piece: https://on.ft.com/43gop8N – Follow Monica on Twitter @nickswicks--------------Special offers for Weekend listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial are here: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast.--------------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.