Business Day Spotlight

Load shedding in focus with upcoming national budget

In this edition of the Business Day Spotlight, we look forward to the upcoming national budget presentation by National Treasury. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Patrick Buthelezi, economist at Sanlam Investments. Topics of discussion include: impressions of the recently held state of the nation address; expectations for the…

17 Feb 2023 27 min

Naked’s push to raise capital in a downturn

Raising new funds for an insurance technology platform is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Alex Thomson, co-founder of Naked Insurance, the artificial intelligence (AI)-based insurance platform. Thomson talks about the rationale to get funding from the World Bank’s…

16 Feb 2023 25 min

More detail needed for consumers from SONA address

Implications of the 2023 State of the Nation (SONA) address on consumer pockets is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Corne Welman, franchise principal and financial adviser at Consult by Momentum. Topics of discussion include: impressions of the 2023…

13 Feb 2023 23 min

The role of social enterprise in helping to improve healthcare

Social enterprise and healthcare is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Dr Ernest Darkoh, co-founder of the BroadReach Group and Board Director of Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship Topics of discussion include: BroadReach’s operating model; the place of social…

10 Feb 2023 31 min

Solar panels aren't even enough to stop your connectivity from dropping

The negative impact of power outages on internet access is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Paul Colmer, an exco member at the Wireless Access Provider’s Association (WAPA). Topics of discussion include: the impact of load shedding on telecommunications…

8 Feb 2023 29 min

Crossgate bet on new Cape Town card facility

The manufacturing and programming of banking and loyalty card is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by David de Coning, CEO of Crossgate Technologies. The discussion touches on what Crossgate’s new card facility will mean for SA financial institutions; how…

6 Feb 2023 32 min

Peregrine’s ride through a volatile market

A look at the SA economy from an investor’s perspective is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Jacques Conradie, CEO of Peregrine Capital. Through the discussion, Conradie outlines Peregrine’s investment philosophy; reviews the performance of its funds in 2022;…

3 Feb 2023 31 min

Mapping opportunities for advertisers in the metaverse

The potential disruption of the communications and advertising business caused by the metaverse is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Tebogo Skwambane, country manager for WPP SA. Skwambane spends the discussion explaining the opportunity for communications firms in the…

1 Feb 2023 35 min

inDrive’s strategy to win in SA ride share market

Competition in the local ride sharing industry is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Vincent Lilane, business development representative at inDrive SA. Lilane walks us through the company’s operations at present; its move to ‘zero-rate’ local use of its…

30 Jan 2023 20 min

The SA Reserve Bank has once again raised lending rates

In this edition of the Business Day Spotlight, our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Annabel Bishop, chief economist at Investec. The MPC expects the economy to grow by 2.5% in 2022, compared with its previous prediction of 1.8% in November. Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE Production.

27 Jan 2023 12 min

Behind the scenes of successful media buying in SA

Advertising is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Mfundo Ntsibande, MD at AMA. Ntsibande spends the session explaining how media buying works; challenges faced by black owned businesses in the spaces; AMA’s new digital platform; and the impact of…

25 Jan 2023 35 min

November retail sales increased marginally thanks to Black Friday, says FNB

Retail sales figures for November are the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Siphamandla Mkhwanazi, FNB senior economist. Topics of discussion include: retail figures for November 2022; the economic health of households and consumers; growth in unsecured credit; and an…

23 Jan 2023 23 min

Financial state of SA households faring better than expected, says index

The economic health of SA households is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Dr Roelof Botha, economic adviser to Optimum Investment Group. Topics of discussion include: Afhri index components and research methodology; key findings from the index results; surprising…

20 Jan 2023 22 min

What is ChatGPT and how likely is it to disrupt?

Advancement in artificial intelligence is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Stephen Osler, co-founder and business development director at Nclose, a local cyber security firm. Topics of discussion include: an explanation of what ChatGPT is; its rise in popularity…

18 Jan 2023 30 min

A pulse of SA politics and economics at the start of 2023

A pulse of SA at the start of 2023 is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by the team from Oxford Economics Africa: Jacques Nel, head: of Africa macro research and Louw Nel, senior political analyst. Topics of discussion include:…

13 Jan 2023 30 min

Is the four-day working week model considered feasible for all sectors?

The idea for a four day work week in SA is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Michelle Austin, financial director of Keegor Group SA. Topics of discussion include: the concept of the four day work week; pilots and…

11 Jan 2023 26 min

SA’s largest black-owned advertising agency celebrates a decade in the market 

As the year begins, we look back at the decade long history of SA’s largest Black owned advertising agency. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Mzamo Xala, CEO Avatar Agency Group. Topics of discussion include: the size and scope of Avatar’s business; the state of advertising in SA post…

9 Jan 2023 23 min

Festive season spend expected to decline in 2022

An expected decline in festive season spend is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by James Williams, head of marketing at Wonga. Topics of discussion include: Wonga’s business model; results from its recent festive spending survey; trends highlighted by the…

22 Dec 2022 29 min

Expected recovery for 2022's festive travel season

The expected recovery of travel and tourism in the 2022 festive season is the the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Velma Corcoran, regional lead for Middle East Africa at Airbnb. Topics of discussion include: Airbnb’s business in SA; outlook…

22 Dec 2022 40 min

WRAP | The ANCs 55th national conference

It was an abrupt adjournment of the ANC 55th national conference on Tuesday. Delegates left without knowing who the National Executive Committee (NEC) the highest decision-making body of the party is nor where any policy resolutions adopted, instead it will reconvene at a hybrid session in early January to continue…

20 Dec 2022 5 min