The Lunch Break

The Academic and Non-Fiction Authors Association of South Africa (ANFASA) Publishing Grant, in partnership with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, is now open for applications and you don’t have much time left, as the deadline draws closer. This is an opportunity-creating, non-discriminate initiative that not only champions local authors and publishers, but also creates jobs, empower...

Here’s something interesting for Master’s Students at select Universities in SA. The Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA) has made a final call for applications to its Master’s in Engineering Bursary and Research Programme - the closing date is 27 June 2025. Varshan Sookhun chats to Keraiya Naidoo, one of the students doing her research at Stellenbosch Universi...

Join us for an exclusive conversation about Durban’s much-loved  031 Theatre Festival , a family-friendly celebration of local talent, running from 6th to 8th June at Seabrooke's Theatre, DHS. Discover why this festival is a gateway to greatness, offering audiences an early glimpse of shows bound for the National Arts Festival. We’ll also chat with two of South Africa’s most...

Africa’s rich biodiversity and growing markets for indigenous, organic, and natural goods are set to take center stage this September in Johannesburg at the African Biotrade Festival. This landmark event promises to bridge trade and consumer interests, promoting sustainable development across the continent. Joining us with exclusive insights is Warren Hickinbotham, Head of Partnerships and S...

Salwa Albertyn chats with Varshan about the transformative power of employee recognition. As human beings, we all crave acknowledgment for our efforts and achievements—and in the workplace, this need is no different. Salwa explores how frequent and meaningful appreciation not only boosts individual morale but also strengthens organizational culture, aligning employees with shared goals and f...

Discover how South Africa’s youth can tackle unemployment head-on with the  Africa Genius Entrepreneurship Challenge (AGEC) —a groundbreaking online game that equips high school learners with entrepreneurial skills.  Candice Jacobs ,Gaming Officer for AGEC joins Varshan, as she shares insights into this innovative initiative. Learn how the challenge is shaping future leaders...

What does it take to create a workplace where people feel safe to speak up, take risks, and share ideas? Psychological safety, once an obscure term in management research, is now recognized as a cornerstone for innovation and community strength in organizations. In today's show Varshan dive into the transformative impact of psychological safety with insights from Rita Govender, a licensed Enneagra...

Join us for an important conversation during National Child Protection Week, running until the 5th of June. This week highlights the urgent need to protect children from harm and safeguard their mental health. With rising incidents of bullying and abuse in schools, the impact on children’s well-being is undeniable, sometimes leading to devastating outcomes. However, this can be prevented. We...

Step into the world of  The Last Country , an immersive and deeply moving theatre production currently captivating audiences at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg. This poignant play explores the lives and stories of migrant women, shedding light on their struggles, triumphs, and humanity. In this episode, we delve into why The Last Country is resonating so powerfully with local audiences and...

Get ready to laugh out loud as we explore the comedy sensation sweeping Gauteng! Join us for a lively conversation with the dynamic quartet of legendary stage, film, TV, and comedy performers: Yugan Naidoo, Vivian Moodley, Ravi Subramoney (also a muso), and Patrick Samuels. With their new comedy show, "One show. Four balies. And an entire country to make fun of," this unexpected political satire p...

Discover how Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education is transforming the educational landscape in South Africa. Research highlights that children learn better in their home language, yet many African language speakers are disadvantaged by second-language instruction. In this episode, we delve into how the  Road to Literacy campaign is making a difference with books and teacher training in all...

Join us as we explore the latest insights into South Africa's commercial real estate sector, now valued at approximately R1.9 trillion. Discover how the industry has experienced significant growth since 2015, even in the face of economic challenges. We delve into the factors driving this resilience and what it means for investors, developers, and the broader economy. Tune in for an engaging discus...

What started as a local initiative to introduce golf to young South Africans is proving to be a talent pipeline for the sport. The initiative is a national series of free, grassroots clinics, that are led by former professional golfer and Golf Clinics Coach, Nico van Rensburg, and, are designed to give underexposed youth access to the sport with the hope that more young people have...

The upcoming Sacred Unfolding event is said to rejuvenate, realign and restore and allows the participant to rediscover what truly matters, as in a conscious empowerment living. Sounds like what you need in your life? Let’s get the details now from Yasteel Phalad (Acharya and Member of the Mohanji Foundation of South Africa Board).

Eskom expects no load shedding this winter, but, provided unplanned outages stay below a certain point. In recent month, while rooftop solar has played a major role in this improved outlook, a sweeping review by the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) threatens to make solar adoption more expensive in this country. Is this a threat to South Africa’s winter ene...

The Taste Master SA is one of South Africa’s favourite cooking competition reality shows, and we are so glad the show returned for a sixth season on my birthday .Tuesday, 13 May, 7:30 PM, and it’s on SABC 2.The news season is set to dish up even more excitement, creativity and flavour. And who better to give us all the sizzling details than renowned Chef and TV personality Zola Ne...

I love Durban for being so creative with music combined with vibrant theatrical productions like the latest, The Abba Show: A Cinderella Story which blends the music of Abba with the familiar fairytale of Cinderella. This, comes to the new Milkwood Theatre in Durban North over the coming weekend and we are about to hear all about it from my guests, they are: Mahlatse Sachane (The Fa...

At Africa Travel Indaba 2025, currently on in Durban, the future of sustainable luxury tourism takes centre stage, the ideal platform to introduce a new concept to travel professionals and global stakeholders. Glamping. There’s an upcoming Glamping Expo in SA and to explain the concept and tell us more about the upcoming expo, I have Gugu Sithole, she is a visionary South Afri...

Following the success of the 67 Blanket event in March, the Ambassadors and Knitwits did their blanket handovers in the KZN Province last week, it was all a part of the Hugest Happiness Blanket Initiative that’s been warming hearts all around the country since the campaign’s origins back in December 2013. Carolyn Steyn, Founder of 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day joins...

The lively and vivacious DJ & Actress, Thuli Phongolo, is back in the role of Namhla Diale, who we know as the shy, geeky and awkward teenager on SABC’s Generations. But as we know it – Thuli’s career is a multi-faceted one, with serving entertainment to her audience being a priority. Thuli joins me now to give us all the deets on the return to Generations The...

The South African Tamil Association once again, proudly presents its annual cultural event Kalai-thiru-vizha 2025.The event is happening on May 10th in Lenasia and joining me now to share all the event details is Mr Shasti Sulochan (One of the Life Members of the South African Tamil Association).

ChangeNOW is the leading summit for innovative solutions addressing the planet's most pressing challenges. It’s an annual gathering over 40,000 attendees from more than 140 countries, including changemakers, business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs on a platform that provides unparalleled opportunities for collaboration and international exposure. Orion Lee Herman,...

The Allaina Kamille Govender (Non-Profit) Foundation will be hosting their biannual Blood Drive Campaign tomorrow in Durban .Over the past 8 years the Foundation has contributed 100s of pints to the SANBS and have won multiple SANBS awards. Now, their call is to members of the community to help make their goal a success. I am chatting now to Keenan Govender, he is the Founding Board...

Are vaccines necessary for travel? Well, a basic understanding is that you should make sure you and your children are up-to-date with your routine vaccinations before travelling, as travelling children may be at risk of vaccine- preventable diseases. Let’s get the expert opinion now from Dr Liza Street, she is the Co-founder of Ajuda.

The African Art Market, smaller in comparison to the rest of the world, is by no means insignificant to the global market. In 2021 alone, sales of ultra-contemporary works by African-born artists earned a whopping 800 million rand, and, that number is expected to grow exponentially with increased global interest. As we get set to enter the month of May, which is Africa Month, let&rs...