ListenUp: Xenophobia in SA

The terrible prospect of xenophobic violence is once again afflicting South Africa this week, dragging Mzanzi into the fraught global political issue of immigration. Having the national soccer side booed in the US by other African nations at the World Cup is deeply sad, but then again, so is struggling to find your job back home. Merchant banker Mark Barnes and journalist Tim Cohen wrestle with the issue, offering some ideas on a subject that has many aspects and few obvious solutions. A little soul searching might help. Also, traveling thousands of kilometers through Southern Africa - the reason Mark has been AWOL for the past month - what do you see, what do you learn, and what does it feel like to get back home.

Is investing in art actually an investment, or just a pleasure posing as a share portfolio? Merchant banker and artist Mark Barnes discussed this, the art scene, and whether Picasso’s work will eventually become valuable with journalist and art critic Tim Cohen. SPECIAL GUEST, executive director of auctioneers Strauss and Co. SUSIE GOODMAN joins in order to add some actual knowledge to the discussion. Turns out, African art and artists are coming into their own, and selling for high prices around the world. Also, the Johannesburg Art Gallery cadenza.

South Africa’s agricultural exports could well hit record levels in 2026, surpassing even a spectacular 2025, despite Donald Trump’s tariff cadenza last year. Merchant banker Mark Barnes and journalist Tim Cohen discuss this, and other matters agricultural, with SPECIAL GUEST Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at Agbiz. Amid the deluge of bad news confronting both the country and the world — and the deluge of rainfall across much of South Africa — this is a fabulous turn-up for the books. As your mother always told you, it is basic etiquette not to complain about farmers with your mouth full.