Business Day Spotlight

In this edition of the Business Day Spotlight, we talk about the state of SA’s fibre internet connectivity market, with a focus on customer service.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Simon Swanepoel, CEO of RocketNet, a local internet service provider that specialises in fibre.

Topics of discussion include: the history of RocketNet’s business; the evolution of SA’s fibre network industry over time; the opportunity for internet services providers in the local market; the importance of customer services for telecoms operators; challenges faced in connecting more outlying areas to fibre; and the potential impact of a new minister overseeing the telecommunication portfolio.

In this edition of the Business Day Spotlight, we talk about the ways in which businesses affected by the recent violence and looting in SA can be helped to get back on their feet.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Vusi Thembekwayo, CEO MyGrowthFund Venture Partners.

Discussion points include details around MyGrowthFund and Sasfin’s new R350m debt fund; reasons why the two parties think a debt facility is a good way to address challenges currently being faced by affected businesses; thoughts around what it will take to rebuild confidence following the unrest; statistics illustrating the contribution of small businesses to SA’s economy; and an examination of the funding landscape in SA.

In this edition of the Business Day Spotlight, we talk about the economic impact of this week’s cabinet reshuffle.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Chris Hattingh, deputy director at the Free Market Foundation, an economic research and policy think tank.

Discussion points include: background on the Free Market Foundation and its areas of work; new government appointments made in the recent reshuffle by President Ramaphosa; what the appointments tell us about the President’s likely economic direction; what impact the reshuffle will have on SA’s investment case given domestic pressure to grow and international concerns about the safety of capital locally; SA’s place in the global economy; and issues affecting its place as a trading partner.

In this edition of the Business Day Spotlight, we talk about the state of SA’s cannabis market.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Theo Botha and Alwyn Marais, directors of natural supplement specialist company, Ailon Naturals.

Discussion points include Ailon Naturals business model; current state of the canaibis market in SA; the legal hurdles that cannabis geared companies have to go through to offer products legally; the size of the local market; and an outlook of opportunities that cannabis holds for the local economy.

In this edition of the Business Day Spotlight, we talk about the effects of recent unrest on banking giant, FNB’s operations and efforts by corporates in SA to help consumers and businesses cope with the resulting fallout.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Jacques Celliers, FNB’s CEO to discuss and shed light on the issues.

Discussion points include the impact of recent unrest on FNB’s operations; effects on the bank’s clients; assistance to businesses; expectations for a recovery in SA; how the bank’s view on opening more branches may have been affected by recent events; and an outlook for the SA economy.

In this edition of the Business Day Spotlight, we explore what retail transaction data can tell us about the health of SA’s economy.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Shergeran Naidoo, head of stakeholder engagement at BankservAfrica, the largest automated payments clearing house on the continent.

The discussion explores the results of BankserAfrica’s recent transaction reports; how the various studies were conducted; buying and spending patterns in the country; insights that can be drawn from the data; and an economic outlook for the rest of the year.

In this edition of the Business Day Spotlight, we talk about the growth of the recycling industry in SA.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Matthieu de Gaudemar, co-founder and CEO of Kudoti.

The discussion focuses on Kudoti’s origins; the company’s business model; trends in the waste management sector; the opportunity for companies looking to service the market; the growth of sustainability considerations around the world; and an outlook for Kudoti.

In this edition of the Business Day Spotlight, we talk about the vulnerability of consumers in SA.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Johann van Tonder, an economist and researcher from Momentum.

The discussion focuses on the results of the latest Consumer Financial Vulnerability Index done by Momentum and Unisa; key findings from the report; factors driving the economic standing of consumers; psychological factors affecting consumers; and an outlook for the economy going forward.

In this edition of the Business Day Spotlight, we talk about how SA’s economy is currently stacking up against its emerging market counterparts, following the unrest seen last week in Gauteng and KZN.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Adriaan Pask, chief investment officer of PSG Wealth.

The discussion focuses on the impact of recent unrest on SA’s economic outlook; the growth of civil unrest in other parts of the world; the state of emerging market economies at the moment; how SA compares to other major emerging market counterparts; and performance of the Rand in recent months.

In this edition of the Business Day Spotlight, we talk about the impact of recent unrest in Gauteng and KZN on consumer confidence in SA and the wider economy.

Our host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by George Kershoff, deputy director at the Bureau of Economic Research (BER), to discuss the issues.

The discussion focuses on the work of the BER; the state of consumer confidence in SA; impact of the recent unrest on consumers; ways in which the unrest will affect SA’s economic recovery; pressures faced by consumers given the lockdowns and continued uncertainty; and an outlook for the country going forward.