#379 Rob Hersov - An Honest Conversation About South Africa
Real Talk with Zuby
Zuby
4.8 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 5 September 2025
⏱️ 68 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Zuby speaks with entrepreneur, investor and political commentator Rob Hersov. Rob reflects on his early life and experiences growing up in apartheid South Africa, including his military service and eventual return to the country. He shares why, despite its challenges, he remains committed to South Africa's future. The two discuss misconceptions about the nation, media influence, racial and economic dynamics, and demographic changes. Rob also gives a candid look into the failures of the ANC, South Africa's political outlook, and the pressing issue of youth unemployment. They also explore reasons for optimism; comparing global progress and the potential future of the country.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:38) Rob Hersov's Background and Early Life
(02:13) Growing Up in Apartheid South Africa
(03:26) The Realities of Apartheid
(06:27) Military Service and Leaving South Africa
(08:30) Return to South Africa and Current Life
(10:04) Love for South Africa Despite Challenges
(17:32) Misconceptions About South Africa
(26:00) The Media's Role in Shaping Perceptions
(33:59) The Piers Morgan Show Setup
(35:34) South Africa's Demographic Shifts
(39:57) Racial Policies and Economic Challenges
(41:54) The Rise and Fall of the ANC
(47:29) Current Political Landscape and Future Outlook
(59:54) Youth Unemployment and Future Prospects
(1:01:40) Global Comparisons and Optimism for the Future
(1:06:30) Outro
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | I am the man, sick with a slang, sick and I'm destined for fame. |
| 0:07.2 | Do for the fan, not for the grand, stunting you're destined for pain. |
| 0:10.5 | I do not frown. I do not scam. Put some respect on my name. |
| 0:13.8 | Sick like a rain, click and I bang. Y'all going to remember the name. |
| 0:18.6 | Rob Hersoff, welcome to Real Talk with Zubi. How are you doing? |
| 0:21.8 | Zubi, so great to be on here. I'm in Cape Town, South Africa. And you may be wondering why |
| 0:27.8 | there's there no books in my bookshelf. We're getting renovations done. We're moving |
| 0:34.0 | houses for three months this weekend. And so, you know, everything's packed. |
| 0:39.0 | Awesome. Well, Rob, I know you've been on a lot of podcasts all over the world recently, |
| 0:44.0 | but for my listeners who are not familiar with you and who you are, please introduce yourself |
| 0:48.5 | to my audience. Okay. I'm a fifth generation, South African, and I was born in Johannesburg, turning 65 in October. And I was born into a very |
| 0:59.5 | wealthy family, every privilege imaginable. And I was born into apartheid South Africa. And at age 25, |
| 1:09.4 | having done school, university and military service here in South Africa, |
| 1:13.2 | I left the country in 1985 to seek fame and more fortune. |
| 1:18.8 | It's probably the right answer around the world. |
| 1:22.1 | And I went to the US for six years. |
| 1:23.6 | I was Golden Sacks, Wall Street, Harvard Business School. |
| 1:26.0 | I worked for Rupert Murdoch in New York. |
| 1:29.0 | And then I went to Europe. And for the next 25 years, I worked in the media business. I |
| 1:35.1 | founded businesses. I made money. I lost money. And in 2017, after 31 years living in America, |
| 1:42.4 | Europe, in the UK, I came back to South Africa, where I've |
| 1:46.2 | been with my New Zealand wife and two of my four children, back in my beautiful, troubled |
... |
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