We are speaking with the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Mpumalanga Economic Regulator (MER), Mr Gcina Mashaba to unpack the recent Supreme Court of Appeal ruling that has caused quite a bit of confusion in the gambling industry.

The case involved Supabets and the Casino Association of South Africa and dealt with whether bookmakers are allowed to offer bets on casino games like roulette. RISE fm

It’s been a year characterised by a dynamic mix of challenges and progress for South Africa’s mining sector. Despite infrastructure constraints, policy uncertainty and rising operational costs, the industry maintained its contribution to GDP at approximately 6%, reaffirming its critical role in the national economy.

Insights from the newly released SA Mine 2025 reveal that the sector recorded a 20% increase in market capitalization. We chat to Vuyiswa Khutlang, PwC SA Mine Project leader for more insights on how the sector performed from the RISE fm

In an uncertain world with a wide variety of exogenous factors impacting businesses due to the prevailing volatilities, the question could be asked as to whether there are actions that businesses could take to mitigate such factors or even grow as a result.

We speak to Dr Requier Wait, Chief Researcher at the Bureau of Market Research on what businesses can do to survive and thrive in a volatile economy. RISE fm

The global economy is showing encouraging signs of recovery with persistent challenges. Growth forecasts are inching higher, markets are showing renewed stability, and new trade deals are helping to cushion the impact of US tariff pressures.

We are joined by Tshiamo Masike, an Economist with Momentum, to unpack both the positive drivers and emerging headwinds shaping the global and local economic outlook. RISE fm

The University of Mpumalanga (UMP), in partnership with the Benjamin Raymond Oppenheimer Trust through Oppenheimer Generations Research & Conservation (OGRC), has officially launched the UMP–Oppenheimer Research Chair in Biodiversity Conservation.

This multi-year, multi-million-rand initiative will advance cutting-edge research, build postgraduate capacity, and influence conservation policy at both local and global levels.

We speak to the Head of Research and Conservation at Oppenheimer Generations, Dr Duncan Macfadyen. RISE fm

Vodacom Business in partnership with the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) held the SME Technology Day in Mbombela on Tuesday, 23 September 2025.

This event was aimed at showcasing the latest technologies and tools designed to empower SMEs in today’s digital-first world. We caught up with Vodacom Regional Managing Executive, Monde Ngcukana and Head of Vodacom Business in Mpumalanga, Andries Gower. RISE fm

Today being a Thursday, we shift our focus to the entrepreneurship and this afternoon we chat to Olusegun Adeleke, he is the founder of PAAQ application. The PAAQ App is a platform for booking one-on-one video calls with verified experts for advice and personalized knowledge.

Users can seek guidance on a variety of topics, such as business, career, and lifestyle, and experts can monetize their skills by offering their time and knowledge to others in a trusted, real-time environment. RISE fm

Xolani Gininda is a Mpumalanga born visionary innovator whose groundbreaking creation is transforming lives - smart glasses that allow deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals to see spoken words in real time.

By converting speech into live captions that appear on the lenses, his invention bridges the gap between sound and understanding, giving people access to conversations, education, and opportunities that were once out of reach.

Xolani is the founder of Smartsight – the first African company to fuse speech-to-text AI, facial recognition, and real-time data into smart glasses.

He joins us in studio after making it into the Top16 entrepreneurs who are fighting for a prize worth R1 million in Nedbank Pitch & Polish 2025 RISE fm

One year on - South Africa's two-pot retirement system has proven to be one of the most significant financial reforms of a generation. With approximately R60 billion withdrawn, the initial experiment offers a powerful case study, providing valuable insights into member behavior and the challenges that lie ahead.

Nashalin Portrag – Head of Funds At Work & Distribution at Momentum Corporate discusses key lessons from the first year of the two-pot system. RISE fm

NAFCOC Mpumalanga has recently announced two strategic partnerships, which include the acquisition of a 20% stake of two Engen Fuel stations and the signing of an MOU which will make it easier for its members to acquire and open Barcelos franchises across the province. These partnerships are aimed at driving economic growth and job creation in the province.

We’re joined by Hamzer Ngwenya, Emakhazeni NAFCOC Chairsperson for more on these strategic partnerships. RISE fm