Business Day Spotlight

The growth of Discovery Bank over six years is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Hylton Kallner, CEO of Discovery Bank. Through the discussion, Kallner highlights: the bank’s financial performance; road to profitability; technology investment; use of artificial intelligence; benefits of the Discovery ecosystem; and strategy for growth. Business Da...

Artificial intelligence use cases in Africa, through an investment banking lens, is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Arun Varughese, head of telecommunications, media and technology at RMB. Through the discussion, Varughese highlights: ways in which AI is being used in Africa; how and where African countries should be investing to make the most o...

The use of artificial intelligence in theatre production is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Louise Coetzer, founder and artistic director at Darkroom Contemporary. Topics of discussion include: how AI is being used by creatives; threat of AI to the sector; business of theatre; and use of social media for promotion. Business Day Spotlight is a Mu...

The growth of SA as a market for Apple products is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Linda van der Nest, chief commercial officer at iStore, one of SA’s top Apple retailers. Topics of discussion include: iStore’s business model; growth in local Apple use; pricing trends for Apple’s iPhone in SA; localising the Apple offering; and strategy. Busines...

The growing use of stablecoins in cross-border payments is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by the team from Deus X Pay (DXP) Maria Heraty, CFO, and Richard Crook, the company’s CEO. Topics of discussion include: DXP; growing use and adoption of the blockchain in mainstream finance; use of stablecoins for cross-border payments; and regulatory comple...

Business Day acting editor Tiisetso Motsoeneng talks is joined by Nedbank COO Mfundo Nkuhlu.

The state of advertising and brand building in SA is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by George Chen, head of strategy at Avatar Agency Group. Topics of discussion include: the state of advertising in SA in the face growing AI use; the growth of the digital economy and its impact on advertising; challenges faced by creative businesses; and an outloo...

The state of artificial intelligence in early 2025 is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by the team from Isazi: Dario Fanucchi, chief technology officer, and Obakeng Moepya, COO. Topics of discussion include: Isazi’s business model; evolution of AI, machine leaving and data science; projects that the company has worked on; DeepSeek versus ChaTGPT. Bu...

The growth card payments in SA is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Lineshree Moodley, country head for Visa SA. Topics of discussion include: growth of digital payments in SA; data around card use by merchants and small businesses; challenges holding adoption back in SA; and comparatives with other African countries. Business Day Spotlight is a M...

The sustainability of SA’s telecoms sector is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Nomvuyiso Batyi, CEO of the Association of Communication and Technology's (ACT). Topics of discussion include: ACT’s constitution and mandate; main issues affecting the sector and its players; call for internet companies to contribute to infrastructure costs; possible...

The case for lowering consumer taxes for vapes in SA is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Kurt Yeo, co-founder of Vaping Save My Life (VSML), a consumer advocacy group. Topics of discussion include: current tax rules around vaping in SA; the place of vapes on the spectrum of tobacco products; effort to reduce nicotine consumption in the country; a...

Unemployment among young doctors is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Craig Comrie CEO of Profmed. Topics of discussion include: the plight of newly qualified doctors in SA; rationale for creating the finDR platform; funding challenges in the sector; and how medical work has evolved. Business Day Spotlight is a MultimediaLIVE Production. Producer...

The building of a hydro power project in Eswatini is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by James Cumming, CEO of African Clean Energy Developments (ACED) and Michael Wickins, chief commercial officer at Energy Infrastructure Management Services (EIMS Africa. Topics of discussion include: history of the Eswatini project; challenges associated with buil...

The academic and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workplace disconnect is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Cobus Oosthuizen, dean of postgraduate studies at Boston City Campus. Topics of discussion include: ways in which academia can keep up with changing technology; integrating AI into tertiary education; gaps in academia hampering workplace...

Webull has set its sights on signing up a million SA clients within the next three years, putting China’s retail share trading platform on a collision course with Purple Group’s EasyEquities. In this edition of the Business Day Spotlight, Business Day acting editor Tiisetso Motsoeneng is joined by Ricardo da Silva, CEO of Webull South Africa to unpack the platforms setting up shop in South Africa.

The push to increases the number of investment vehicles domiciled in Africa is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Dorothy Nyambi, president and CEO of Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA). Topics of discussion include: factors pushing Africa out of consideration for investment vehicles; challenges faced in funding small businesses in th...

Lesaka Technologies’ financial performance is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Lincoln Mali, CEO of Lesaka. Topics of discussion include: company’s latest earnings report; growth strategy for its two businesses: consumer and merchant; integrating various businesses post acquisition; and plans to grow the consumer operation. Business Day Spotlight...

The rise of autonomous, tech-driven mining is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Sabine Dall’Omo, CEO of Siemens Sub-Saharan Africa. Topics of discussion include: reflections of 2025’s Mining Indaba; expected technology mining trends; Siemens interest in mining; evolution of SA’s mining sector; and automation. Business Day Spotlight is a Multimedia...

Cisco’s strategy of push growth through its partner network is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Jose van Djik, vice president for partner and routes to market for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Topics of discussion include: Cisco’s partner network strategy; size and scope of the network; strategy in Africa, Middle East and Europe; training...

The value of social enterprise in Africa economy is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Dadisai Taderera, co-director of Ashoka Southern Africa. Topics of discussion include: Ashoka’s operating model; the value of social enterprise in the modern economy; realities of finding and building solutions to big social issues; and how to effectively support...

The economic health of SA households is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. 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; impact of interest rates on the economy; and growth expectations for the year. Business Day Spot...

Naked Insurance’s growth strategy and technology investment in SA is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Alex Thomson, co-founder at Naked Insurance. Topics of discussion include: Naked’s business model; differentiation in the market; plans for the company’s recently raised funds; evolution of AI; and geographic strategy. Business Day Spotlight is a...

The reality of exporting SA goods to international markets is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Luthando Vuba, executive head for international trade at Standard Bank, and Lesego Holzapfel, founder of Moedi Wines. Through the discussion, the team outlines the Moedi’s business model; Standard Bank’s role in helping an export business; finding the r...

Braintree plan to keep growing its Microsoft focused business in SA is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Heath Huxtable, MD of Braintree. Through the discussion, Huxtable walks through Braintree's journey; the business model; decision to only service Microsoft; growth; plans for extending growth; talent management; and digital transformation. Busi...

Ericsson’s strategy to ahead and relevant in Africa’s telecoms sector is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Todd Ashton, vice president and head of South and East Africa at Ericsson. Through the discussion, topics of discussion include: Ericsson’s presence in Africa; trends driving the sector; Ericsson’s push towards greater software platforms; and...