Business Day Spotlight

Economics of SA’s funeral insurance sector in 2024

The economics of SA’s funeral insurance sector in 2024 is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Clinton Macdonald from KGA Life. The discussion looks at: economics of funeral insurance in SA; headwinds facing the industry; competition; technology investment; and an…

3 Jul 2024 38 min

Effective tech strategies for African banks in 2024

Strategies around banking technology, in service of greater financial inclusion, in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Heidi Custers, digital transformation director at Backbase. The discussion examines some of the fundamental shifts banks can take towards servicing customers better; demographic factors working in…

1 Jul 2024 49 min

Plentify’s push to lower household energy costs through tech

The use of technology to increase power savings in the home in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Jon Kornik, co-founder and CEO of Plentify. Topics of discussion include: Plentify’s business model; power consumption trends in SA; the move to increase power usage…

28 Jun 2024 40 min

Naspers/Prosus vision for profitable e-commerce growth

The growth and profit strategy SA’s largest listed group takes centre stage in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Ervin Tu, president and chief investment officer at Naspers and Prosus. Topics of discussion include: the group’s road to profits; investment philosophy; development of…

26 Jun 2024 28 min

The rise of insurance marketplaces in SA, unpacked

The rise of insurance marketplaces, driven by technology, is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Vis Govender, co-founder at Everything.Insure and group CEO at firstEquity Group. Topics of discussion include: the structure of firstEquity Group; Everything.Insure’s business model; defining insurance…

24 Jun 2024 50 min

Growing SA's consumer credit market

The economics of SA’s consumer credit market is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Regan Adams, CEO of RCS. Topics of discussion include: local consumer credit statistics; the market for store cards; the power of data; credit beyond the Covid-19…

21 Jun 2024 37 min

Nolo Letele’s three decades at MultiChoice

The journey for one of Africa’s pay TV pioneers is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by businessman Nolo Letele. Topics of discussion include: Letele career in technology and broadcast; history of MultiChoice over the last three decades; the journey to…

19 Jun 2024 30 min

Unearthing Sportingbet’s formula to SA’s online betting market

The economics of online sports betting in SA is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Sportingbet’s Retief Uys. Topics of discussion include: Sportingbet’s business; growth of online betting in SA; use of data to increase consumer participation; popular sports; responsible…

14 Jun 2024 44 min

Call termination rules will unfairly favour big operators, says Cell C boss

Efforts to reduce communication cost in SA is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Jorge Mendes, CEO at Cell C. Topics of discussion include: the purpose of call termination rates and the new proposals; impacts on the local industry; whether…

12 Jun 2024 26 min

iStore push to dethrone PCs in corporate SA

iStore’s push to increase adoption of Mac computers in businesses is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Sudesh Pillay, executive head of iStore Business, the enterprise unit for one of SA’s top Apple retailers. Topics of discussion include: growth in…

10 Jun 2024 44 min

Economics of micro lending in SA, according to EasyPay

The economics of micro lending in SA is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Simphiwe Phakathi, executive head of sales and distribution at EasyPay Everywhere. Topics of discussion include: increased demand for micro lending in SA; EasyPay’s plan to capture…

7 Jun 2024 26 min

Subscriptions taking over consumer electronics in SA

Ongoing consumer shifts towards usage as opposed to ownership of electronics is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.  Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Mishaan Ratan, co-founder and chief marketing officer at Rentoza, a subscription based e-commerce platform in SA.  The discussion include: Rentoza’s business model; growth of e-commerce…

5 Jun 2024 31 min

Economics of digital infrastructure in SA according to Teraco

The economics of digital infrastructure, specifically data centres, is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Jan Hnizdo, CEO of Teraco Data Environments. The discussion include: Teraco’s business mode; linvestment case for digital infrastructure; technologies driving data centre development; investor interest…

31 May 2024 57 min

SA economic snpashot heading into 2024 election

Key economic factors ahead of SA’s May 29 general elections is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Ndumiso Kubheka, chief economist at KH Equity Partners. The discussion include: economic considerations ahead of local elections; importance of the US election; monetary…

27 May 2024 32 min

Talent10’s hunt for returns in SA’s creative industry

Opportunities in SA’s creative industries, specifically film, television and gaming, is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Micky Wostenholm, director at Talent10 Holdings. The discussion include: Talent10 ambitions in film, gaming and television; opportunities in the creative sector; the investment…

24 May 2024 48 min

Independent telecom tower companies growth unpacked

The growth of independent telecom tower companies is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Raul Katz, a researcher and president of consulting firm Telecom Advisory Services. The discussion include: the business of independent tower companies; history of telecoms infrastructure strategies;…

22 May 2024 41 min

Growth of SA’s junior mining sector in focus

The Junior Indaba is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Mihlali Sitefane, founder of law firm, Sitef & Co. The discussion include: distinguishing between the Mining Indaba and the Junior Indaba; Sitef & Co’s business model; opportunities for mining in…

20 May 2024 36 min

Improvon’s bet on industrial property in Kenya

The economics of industrial property is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Dean Shillaw, MD at Impact North and Mark Truscott, head of leasing at Improvon. The discussion include: Improvon’s business model; investments in Kenya; economics of industrial property; tax…

17 May 2024 46 min

Fintech trends according to Paymentology

The path to profitability for one of say’s largest fintech players is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Jeff Parker, CEO of Paymentology. The discussion outlines the company’s journey over the years; business model; raising capital; and the current make…

15 May 2024 23 min

Addressing SA’s tech skills shortage for women

SA’s tech skills shortage for women is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Thoko Miya, CEO of GirlHype. Topics of discussion include: GirlHype’s mission and purpose; the organisation’s operating model; challenges facing women in tech; and details of SA’s tech…

13 May 2024 49 min