Business Day Spotlight

The use technology in building sustainable city structures is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Rudie Opperman, manager for engineering and training at Axis Communications, the Middle East and Africa.

Topics of discussion include: the use of technology tools to help municipalities and businesses make better decisions that improve quality of life; how communities can improve energy distribution, streamline trash collection, decrease traffic congestion, and improve air quality through the internet of things; and applications for public transport.

New rules for chicken imports and exports are the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Donald Mackay, CEO of XA Global Trade Advisors, together with Paul Matthew, CEO of SA’s Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (AMIE).

Topics of discussion include: government’s decision to suspend punitive anti-dumping measures

in the poultry sector for 12-months; the impact of inflation on poultry prices; the tension between protecting versus opening up the local market; SA’s techniques for chicken production; and an apparent lack of will for SA producers to compete in international markets.

Digital advertising through content sharing is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Chanel Hardman, country director for SA at the SHAREit.

Topics of discussion include: SHAREit’s business model; the growth of the platform for sharing content; using its large user base for advertising; the use of online and digital marketing in SA; and the company’s outlook for the sector.

Old digital security vulnerabilities that business still succumb to are the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Zaheer Ebrahim, a senior sales engineer at Trend Micro.

Topics of discussion include: Trend Micro’s business model; trends and advancements in cybersecurity; practical cases and scenarios detailing how criminal actors tend to infiltrate businesses and the techniques used; and thoughts around to how best protect a company’s systems from attack.

The day to day implications of rising interest rates on South Africans is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Larry Masson, a financial adviser and franchise principal at Consult by Momentum.

He discusses: why have rates gone up; what consumers can do to manage this significant increase in their expenses; efforts to reign in inflation back to the Reserve Bank’s target range.

A look at Cisco’s business in SA is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza joins Smangele Nkosi, GM of Cisco SA, at the company’s new offices in Midrand’s Waterfall precinct.

Topics of discussion include: Cisco’s current position in SA; the company’s current technology investments; relationship with private and public sector players; Nkosi’s career in ICT; social initiatives; and research findings around hybrid work.

Raising capital for technology backed businesses in SA is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Alison Collier, MD at Endeavor SA and Benji Meltzer, co-founder at Aerobotics.

Topics of discussion include: Endeavor SA’s investment strategy; Aerobotics’ business model; the challenges faced by technology startups in raising capital; ways in which SA can attract higher levels of investment; and which sectors are currently most attractive for investment.

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

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Nadia Reichhart, head of talent at Cost Certified.

Topics of discussion include: Cost Certified’s business model; how the platform works; what attracted the company to the SA market; trends in the market; the company’s hiring drive; and competition in the market.

Government’s new plan to tackle the country’s energy crisis is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Prof Sampson Mamphweli, director for the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies (CRSES) at Stellenbosch University.

The discussion focuses on the major points of government’s new energy plan; how long it will take to start implementing the plan; the likely challenges in addressing SA’s energy crisis; the economic opportunities that could to arise from the liberalisation; and how the market may be structured going forward.

The use and practical application of trusts as a tool for wealth building for consumers is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Matlhodi Leteane, head of client experience at FNB Fiduciary.

Topics of discussion include: the uses and benefits of trusts; making use of such structures for wealth building and saving; work being done to reposition trusts as accessible to the wider public beyond the wealthy; and efforts to increases conversation about money amongst ordinary people.