Business Day Spotlight

Retail sales figures for November are the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Siphamandla Mkhwanazi, FNB senior economist.

Topics of discussion include: retail figures for November 2022; the economic health of households and consumers; growth in unsecured credit; and an outlook for 2023 as interest rates are expected to come down.

Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE Production.

The economic health of SA households is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our 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; surprising findings; the importance of micro lending in SA; and an economic outlook for the year ahead.

Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE Production.

Advancement in artificial intelligence is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Stephen Osler, co-founder and business development director at Nclose, a local cyber security firm.

Topics of discussion include: an explanation of what ChatGPT is; its rise in popularity in a short space of time; potential for the platform; potential security threat of the technology; and applications in SA.

Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE Production.

A pulse of SA at the start of 2023 is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by the team from Oxford Economics Africa: Jacques Nel, head: of Africa macro research and Louw Nel, senior political analyst.

Topics of discussion include: the state of the political economy; impact of inflation and interest rates in year to come; performance of regional neighbours; and geopolitical risk in the year to come.

Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE Production.

The idea for a four day work week in SA is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Michelle Austin, financial director of Keegor Group SA.

Topics of discussion include: the concept of the four day work week; pilots and studies from around the world being done to test the idea out; challenges holding back possible implementation; and steps being taken to move forward.

Business Day Spotlight is a TimesLIVE Production.

As the year begins, we look back at the decade long history of SA’s largest Black owned advertising agency.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Mzamo Xala, CEO Avatar Agency Group.

Topics of discussion include: the size and scope of Avatar’s business; the state of advertising in SA post the pandemic; the growth of the digital economy and its impact on advertising; what it means to own and operate an agency in the current environment; challenges faced by creative businesses; and an outlook for the industry.

An expected decline in festive season spend is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by James Williams, head of marketing at Wonga.

Topics of discussion include: Wonga’s business model; results from its recent festive spending survey; trends highlighted by the data; the impact of an economic downturn on consumer spending; and consequences for the travel and tourism sector.

The expected recovery of travel and tourism in the 2022 festive season is the the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

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

Topics of discussion include: Airbnb’s business in SA; outlook for the current festive season; impact of global economic downturn on tourism; state of the gig economy; and what Airbnb’s data tells us about the heath of consumer spending.

It was an abrupt adjournment of the ANC 55th national conference on Tuesday. Delegates left without knowing who the National Executive Committee (NEC) the highest decision-making body of the party is nor where any policy resolutions adopted, instead it will reconvene at a hybrid session in early January to continue where it left off. Despite this in his closing address President Cyril Ramaphosa remained upbeat and confident.

Mary Papayya from the BD politics team sums up the ANCs 55th national conference, features some key closing remarks from the re-elected President Cyril Ramaphosa who won his second term, a tough talking new ANC General Secretary Fikile Mbalalula and, also talks to leading policy analyst Dr. Fikile Vilakazi and Business Unity South Africa’s Stravos Nicolai.

In this Business Day “On the floor” from Nasrec Podcast Mary Papayya speaks to veteran journalist Carien du Plessis, Business Day Political reporter Thando Maeko and the Institute for Global Dialogue’s Sanusha Naidu. We take you to the heart of the contest. Hear who the front runners are and what their supporters are saying. From the Phala Phala scandal and the Digital Vibes saga - who will emerge victorious.