Business Day Spotlight

The value and growth of SA’s township economy is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Bulelani Balabala, founder of The Township Entrepreneurs Alliance (TEA). Topics of discussion include: the size and scope of the informal sector; the country’s relationship to townships; opportunities for small businesses; ways in which consumers and corporates can...

The state of SA’s education systems and impact to the economy thereof is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Dr Corrin Varady, education analyst and CEO of IDEA. Topics of discussion include: the main challenges affecting SA’s education sector; addressing access to quality education; economic impact of a poor education system; and the place of techn...

Absa’s strategy to lead in technology use amongst SA’s retail bank is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Thato Matolong is managing executive for technology and operations at Absa Everyday Banking. Through the discussion, the banker explains Absa’s tech focus; investment in improving customer satisfaction; relationship with Salesforce; place of AI...

The alcohol industry’s contribution to SA's economy, is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Dr. Shamal Ramesar, head of research at the Drinks Federation of South Africa (DF-SA). Topics of discussion include: how the full alcohol value chain contributes to the economy; employment; opportunities for alcohol producers; tax contributions; growth over t...

Tetra Pak’s push to grow its packaging business in SA, while investing in sustainable products, is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Klaus Plenge, Tetra Pak’s MD for Southern Africa. Through the discussion, Plenge outlines his company’s business model; efforts to modernise; sustainability in manufacturing; the company product making process; and t...

The grow of digital payments software and systems is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Thomas Warsop, president and CEO of ACI Worldwide. Through the discussion, Warsop unpacks the state of digital payments in different parts of the world; ACI Worldwide’s business model; payments advancements on the Africa continent versus other areas; and ideas o...

The use of co-operatives as a strategy to grow SA’s small business sector is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by the team from X-Source: Mbulelo Singapi and Manfred Hintermair. Through the discussion, the team highlights the tenets of co-operative governance in business; history of such structures in SA; success seen in other markets; challenges in...

Talk360’s strategy to grow in a seemingly crowded international phone calls market is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Dean Hiine, co-founder and MD for Africa at Talk360. Through the discussion, Hiine outlines Talk360’s business model; the company’s recent capital raise; funding requirements for the business; strategy for growth; and trends in t...

Effects ways for SA’s new government to tackle growing cybercrime is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Gugu Nyanda, lead for health and public sector in Africa at Accenture. Through the discussion, Nyanda outlines issues facing SA’s government in terms of cybersecurity; solutions for dealing with growing cybercrime; challenges holding back better...

Efforts to draw in investment and boost Botswana’s economy, is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Omphitlhetse Bobo Senosi, director at the Botswana Investment & Trade Centre, and Taona Kokera, director at Forvis Mazars Through the discussion, the pair highlights opportunities for investment in the country; ease of doing business; attractive indust...

Vodacom’s strategy to grow its remittances offering is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Stephen Chege, group chief regulatory and external affairs officer for Vodacom. Through the discussion, the maturity of mobile money systems is highlighted, together with possible areas of improvement; and Vodacom’s strategy to grow its remittance business. Bu...

The mindset needed for business owners to grow and succeed is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Daniel Levy, co-Founder and co-CEO of Flow. Topics of discussion include: various mental tools that can used when growing in the business world; his own entrepreneurship; and the place of uncertainty in any entrepreneur’s journey. Business Day Spotlight...

Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Leon Ayo, co-founder of Sterling Bell. Through the discussion, Ayo outlines the opportunities available to people looking to do business or have a career in Saudi Arabia; sectors and industries most receptive to people from the region; Saudi Arabia’s economic make up and growth opportunities.

Cloud23’s ambition to dominate the enterprise cloud market in Africa is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Ram Ramakrishnan, founder and CEO of Cloud23. Topics of discussion include: Ramakrishnan outlines Cloud23’s business model; grow of cloud technology; opportunities associated with Salesforce; and the firm’s efforts to grow in Africa. Business...

Effort to increase the use data and market insights for businesses in Africa is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Yaw Dwomoh, CEO of The Hive Group. Through the discussion, Dwomoh outlines Hive’s business model; importance of data and market insights for enterprises; challenges in acquiring relevant data in Africa; and Hive’s efforts to grow in SA...

The opportunity to grow digital payments amongst small merchants in SA is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Anthony Usmar, head of acceptance at Nedbank. The banker highlights efforts to increase digital payments for SMEs; reasons why cash is still dominant in SA; benefits and drawbacks of cash use; and the economic realities driving adoption. Bus...

The move to grow one of Johannesburg’s boutique consulting firms into a large player is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Sandiso Sibisi, founder and CEO of COOi Studios. Topics of discussion: COOi’s business model; performance since launch; trends in technology innovation; acquiring customers; and how the business has funded itself over time. Bus...

Amazon’s progress in SA launching in May is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Rob Koen, MD of Amazon Sub-Saharan Africa. Topics of discussion include: an outline of performance since launch; trends in consumer spending; what is proving popular; and effort to increase the range of items available for purchase. Business Day Spotlight is a Multimedia...

Bob Group’s strategy to grow in SA’s e-commerce market is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Andy Higgins, MD of Bob Group. Topics of discussion include: Bob Group’s business model; history; areas of growth; local e-commerce trends; factors driving adoption; and the company’s smart locker ambitions. Business Day Spotlight is a MultimediaLIVE Produc...

Mukuru’s ongoing efforts to push financial inclusion through technology is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Sandy Rheeder, Mukuru’s chief information officer (CIO). Through the discussion, Rheeder highlights Mukuru’s business model; gaining market share in African payments; the company’s technology investment; and effort to empower more women. Bu...

In this episode of the Business Day Spotlight podcast, Business Day deputy editor Tiisetso Motsoeneng is in conversation with CEO of Sasol, Simon Baloyi. The newly appointed CEO is preparing to jack up the amount of money the energy giant spends towards its future, saying R1bn annual spending simply won’t cut it in a world increasingly shunning fossil fuels. Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE p...

KWV’s strategy to grow its brandy business is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by John Loomes, CEO at KWV. Topics of discussion include: the size and scope of KWV's operation; competitive advantages accruing to the company; size of the global brandy market; KWV’s share; and growth strategy. Business Day Spotlight is a MultimediaLIVE Production. Prod...

Efforts to increase funding for sustainable business models in SA is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Catherine Wijnberg, founder and CEO of Fetola, together with Maluta Netshaulu, senior lead green economy portfolio for corporate social investment at Nedbank. Through the discussion, the team explains issues faced by SMEs in access funding for su...

The economic reality of professional sport in SA is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by the team from Booth Africa, Bongani Mthombeni and Matthew Booth. Through the discussion, the team highlights, Booth Africa’s business model; areas of improvement in the local football ecosystem; the financial plight of many professional athletes following retirem...

MTN strategy for growth and AI is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Ralph Mupita, group CEO at MTN. Topics of discussion include the group’s performance over five years; plans for growth; challenges in the sector; opportunity; and thoughts around AI use in telecoms. Business Day Spotlight is a MultimediaLIVE Production. Producer is Demi Buzo.