MultiChoice has announced it will close Showmax after years of heavy investment and mounting losses. Business writer Mudiwa Gavaza explained the move reflects challenges in Africa’s streaming economics, rising content costs and strategic shifts under new ownership.

MultiChoice to Shut Down Showmax:

MultiChoice has announced it will close Showmax after years of heavy investment and mounting losses. Business writer Mudiwa Gavaza explained the move reflects challenges in Africa’s streaming economics, rising content costs and strategic shifts under new ownership. Kaya FM

FirstRand delivered an 11% rise in normalised earnings to R23.2 billion for the six months to December 2025. CEO Mary Vilakazi said the performance was driven by solid momentum across FNB, RMB and WesBank, with diversified growth supporting returns. Kaya FM

With revenue rising 3% to R6.3 billion, headline earnings per share surging 18%, and interim dividends up 21%, Cashbuild has delivered resilient results in a South African DIY and home improvement market still shaped by cautious consumer spending, rising living costs, and slow construction activity. Despite economic headwinds, the group has managed to maintain its 25% gross margin target, grow transaction volumes by 4%, and expand its store footprint, signalling strong execution in a competitive retail environment. Shane Thoresson, Chief Operating Officergrowth helps us understand what this really tell us about consumer behaviour in the South African building and DIY market right now. Kaya FM

In an economic environment where many businesses are chasing disruption, Graham Mitchell’s message is almost counterintuitive. After working with more than 180 South African companies with combined revenues exceeding R15 billion, Mitchell argues that the real driver of sustainable business growth is not innovation alone, but disciplined execution. He joins the show. Kaya FM

South Africa’s township economy remains one of the country’s most important but often under-discussed economic engines, supporting thousands of small businesses, informal traders, and family-owned enterprises that provide essential goods, services, and employment opportunities. Yet many township businesses continue to operate in a challenging environment shaped by regulatory red tape, licensing complexities, infrastructure gaps, and concerns around governance and local service delivery. With national growth targets hovering around 3% GDP expansion, unlocking township entrepreneurship is increasingly seen as critical to driving inclusive economic recovery, employment creation, and sustainable business development.Jongikhaya Kraai, entrepreneur and Gauteng Liquor Traders Association Spokesperson instudio. Kaya FM

At this year’s Africa Energy Indaba in Cape Town currently underway, the conversation around Africa’s energy future is not just about how much electricity can be generated, but how it will be paid for, transmitted and sustained. South Africa alone faces a R450-billion transmission grid expansion challenge, even as electricity access has reached 93% of households. While investment in independent power producers and renewable energy continues to grow across the continent, experts warn that a more difficult structural challenge is emerging, the financial and payment systems that underpin the energy value chain. With municipalities owing Eskom more than R100 billion, and consumer and business arrears to municipalities exceeding R416 billion, can Africa sustainably expand energy supply without fixing billing, revenue collection and digital payment infrastructure.Vincent Maphosa, CEO of Wetility – a South African independent power producer (solar) and fintech infrastructure company explains. Kaya FM

As conflict escalates between the United States, Israel and Iran, global travel routes through the Middle East have been disrupted, with flights rerouted or cancelled and knock-on effects hitting hotels, tour operators and business travel worldwide. For South Africa’s travel and insurance sectors, this moment is more than a geopolitical story, it’s a test of transparency, trust and how systemic global risk is allocated between companies and consumers. Maya Fisher-french, a multiple award-winning consumer financial journalist, Founder of Maya on Money unpacks this matter. Kaya FM

According to the latest global brand valuation data, the total value of the world’s top 150 telecoms brands now stands at $741.8 billion in 2026. On the other hand, global banking brand value has climbed to $1.8 trillion in 2026, marking five consecutive years of growth. Jeremy Sampson, Chairman, Brand Finance Africa joins Gugulethu to reflect on brand power surge in Africa's banking and telecoms. Kaya FM

Guest: Hylton Kallner

Discovery today announced strong financial results for the six months ended 31 December 2025, delivering robust growth across both its operational composites – Discovery South Africa and the global Vitality composite – and advancing well ahead of its five year growth ambition. The period reflects the powerful and expanding impact of the Group’s Shared value business model, supported by disciplined execution, strong actuarial dynamics and the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) across platforms. Kaya FM

Cell C Business is re-entering the B2B ICT market with a bold repositioning campaign titled “Nothing Should Stop Your Business”.Farhad Suleman, Managing Executive - Cell C Business provides deeper insight into the stunt activation and its strategic intent, and the broader campaign context. Kaya FM