Business Day Spotlight

Efforts to address an apparent shortage in accounting professionals is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Darren Isaacs, founder and CEO of Makosi.

Topics of discussion include: Makosi’s business model; the state of the accounting profession; efforts around staffing auditing and accounting projects; dynamics in SA versus the rest of the world; and efforts to get more professionals into the field.

Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE Production.

Private equity investment in Africa is the focus in this edition the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Brandon Doyle, CEO of Convergence Partners.

Topics of discussion include: the firms investment strategy; the growth of private equity in Africa; opportunity in telecoms infrastructure investment; and Convergence Partners’s focus on financial technology (fintech).

Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE Production.

The impact of interest rates and energy uncertainly on SA’s property market is the focus in this edition the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Mitesh Bhawan, MD of Broll Property’s energy, water and sustainability division.

Topics of discussion include: the state of SA’s property market in the first quarter of the year; implications of a high interest environment on the sector; and the impact power cuts on effective property management practices.

Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE Production.

The growth of mobile payments services in Africa and beyond is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Ashley Olson Onyango, head of financial inclusion and agritech at GSMA.

She outlines some of the reports main findings; factors driving the adoption and use of mobile money services in emerging market countries; dynamics of the SA market; regulation in the space; and how such platforms are being used in agriculture on the continent.

Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE Production.

Network and infrastructure sharing in telecoms is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Quintus de Beer, wholesale executive at MTN SA.

The operator wants its wholesale business to be the “go-to” network partner of choice, with MVNO being a big piece of the plan in SA.

Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE Production.

Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago urged politicians to make hard, unpopular fiscal choices to maintain the credibility of budgetary commitments as they juggle spending pressures with one of the heaviest debt loads in emerging markets.

Cybersecurity in Africa is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by the team at Check Point: Pankaj Bhula, regional director for Africa; Charnie Lee, country manager for SA; and Rudi Van Rooyen, a security engineer. Topics of discussion include: Check Point’s business in SA; evolution of cybersecurity in Africa; investment by organisations to protect themselves; and the threat brought by AI platforms. Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE Production.

Regulation for informal tourism operators is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Velma Corcoran, regional lead for Middle East and Africa at Airbnb.

Topics of discussion include: Airbnb’s proposal to government; challenges facing regulated businesses; and benefits of informal businesses to the economy.

Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE Production produced by Demi Buzo.

The establishment of a BRICS currency, what it could mean for SA and disrupting global trade is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Xhanti Payi, a senior economist at PwC.

Topics of discussion include: what would the establishment of a BRICS currency mean for SA; whether the world is ready for such a currency; trade and policy considerations; and disruptions global trade.

Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE Production.

Education technology is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Nicholas Riemer, co-founder and CEO of Nova Messenger.

Topics of discussion include: Nova’s business model; competition in the messaging space; opportunities for technology startups in education; and learnings from earlier business ventures.

Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE Production. The podcast is produced by Demi Buzo.