Blog post by Calvin Sanders, GMBA '20
The South African elections came and went as 16 GMBA students explored the ins and outs of Cape Town and Johannesburg. Political posters were placed on each streetlight for us to observe on the spot and research later on. The ANC won handily, as expected. In hindsight, the unexciting election day was a testament to the strength of South African democracy. Political participation is unpredictable on the African continent, so the relatively stable voting process was a pleasantly received surprise by all members of our D.C. contingent.
We are continually fascinated with the dialectic nature of South African society. The country features some incredibly western characteristics that contrast the seemingly-endless rows of shanties we observe outside of the city centers. On its own, Cape Town could be any southern European coastal city. Slightly dirty, lots of cigarette smoke, but a healthy number of commuters, well-lit streets, and strong infrastructure. The nightlife is extensive and the restaurants are phenomenal. Needless to say, these realities are not enjoyed by the masses who spend their lives in informal housing and scrapping for an income. We have spent a significant amount of time discussing the country’s political economy and debating different strategies to elevate the nation out of poverty.
Our client engagements strengthened after each group met their respective points of contact. We dispersed around Cape Town for meetings and came back with ways to improve our recommendations for our clients. Every project has unequivocally improved since the face time. Team RainFin and Team VoiceMap took their clients out the following weekend for drinks, food, music and dancing. The evening ended at a dive bar called Aces & Spade in the center of Cape Town; a dive bar that VoiceMap’s owner, Iain, frequented over a decade before. Iain, thanks for the recommendation!
Each student was free to spend last Sunday doing any activity they desire in the Cape Town region. Swarchaa Kataria and Tasorn Pornsirikrul went paragliding in the morning and cage diving in the afternoon. One handful of students embarked on a day-long safari where they saw 4 of the Big 5 (Elephant, Black & White Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Lion, and Leopard). Another group road bikes along Cape Point and had a drink as the sun set behind the southern Atlantic Ocean. Overall, it was quite a spectacular day across the board.
The next days will be spent sharpening presentations and tightening recommendations. With our last bit of feedback from the clients, our professor, and other advisors, everybody is excited to show their clients the culmination of three months’ worth of work. Until next time!
