The mob rule: criminality consumes South Africa

About this episode

<p>An illicit shadow economy, rampant extortion and the capture of the criminal justice system: mafia members and tactics are <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2026/09/14/south-africa-is-at-risk-of-becoming-a-mafia-state?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">eating away</a> at the state. Oura seems to have <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2026/09/04/how-ouras-rings-found-their-way-onto-millions-of-fingers?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">captured the market</a> for smart rings; we ask whether it can keep its lead finger-tight. And our correspondent finds convention upended, <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/09/21/making-sense-of-george-lucass-new-billion-dollar-galaxy?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">for good and bad</a>, at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.</p><br><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>John McDermott, chief Africa correspondent</li><li>Shera Avi-Yonah, business correspondent</li><li>Alexandra Suich Bass, culture editor</li><li>Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>South Africa, organised crime, criminal justice</li><li>wearable tech, Oura rings</li><li>Lucas Museum</li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>subscribe to The Economist</em></a><em>.</em></p><br><p><br></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>