In this episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou speaks to Jan-Jan Bezuidenhout – Chief Executive Officer at Metrofibre about his journey from investment banking and private equity into leading one of South Africa’s fastest-scaling fibre operators. Jan-Jan shares how curiosity, decisive leadership and a generalist mindset have shaped his career, and why building an agile, entrepreneurial culture remains central as Metrofibre continues to expand.

The conversation explores Metrofibre’s plans to merge with sister companies Octotel and RSAWEB, creating a formidable national competitor in fibre-to-the-home and enterprise connectivity. Jan-Jan also outlines the company’s focus on expanding into underserved communities, the impact of broadband access on economic opportunity, and how maintaining customer-centric service excellence is key to long-term success.

Digital materials testing is transforming how South African roads, bridges, airports, and municipal infrastructure are built and maintained.

Nico Engelbrecht, Business Manager for SGS South Africa Industries & Environment, explains how construction laboratories have evolved from manual testing and paper-based reports to digitised systems, automated reporting, and advanced inspection technologies.

The discussion explores SGS Matrolab’s scale, independence, technical expertise, and commitment to science-based results. Engelbrecht explains how laboratory information management systems, digital data collection, and drone-based inspections help engineering clients work more efficiently and make informed decisions.

He also discusses SGS’s involvement in major South African infrastructure projects, including bridge construction on the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast. Looking ahead, Engelbrecht expects laboratories to become strategic partners that help clients manage risk, improve quality, and use advanced analytics and predictive insights. He also shares practical advice for young engineers entering the materials testing industry.

0:00 Intro

1:30 How materials laboratories have evolved

3:05 Supporting Southern African infrastructure

5:41 What differentiates SGS Matrolab

7:15 Digital systems and drone inspections

8:09 Integrity, competence, and accountability

11:18 The future of materials testing

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#MaterialsTesting #Infrastructure #Engineering

AI cyberattacks are forcing businesses to rethink cybersecurity as criminals increasingly use the same powerful technology available to defenders.

Morné Laubscher, Chief Technology Officer at Logicalis, and Nabeel Rajab, Cisco Security Solutions Manager, explain how artificial intelligence is reshaping the cybersecurity battle for South African organisations.

They discuss why traditional security approaches are struggling against AI-powered threats, particularly as businesses accumulate multiple disconnected security tools and huge volumes of data. Rajab walks through how a modern ransomware attack can move from a malicious link to compromised devices, networks, and critical company data without immediately being detected.

The conversation also explores how AI can connect security signals and automate responses at machine speed. Laubscher explains why identity has become a major security frontier, while Rajab outlines the importance of zero trust and operating on the assumption that a breach could already have occurred.

They also discuss managed cybersecurity services and how businesses without large internal security teams can access specialist skills and technology.

0:00 Intro

1:41 How serious is the cyber threat?

4:01 Why traditional cybersecurity is failing

5:16 Fighting AI attacks with AI

8:13 Identity and zero-trust security

9:42 How a ransomware attack works

15:05 Detecting and stopping attacks with AI

20:29 What businesses should do now

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#Cybersecurity #ArtificialIntelligence #Ransomware

HONOR’s robot phone and Magic V6 show how the smartphone maker is pushing foldables, AI, and mobile content creation into new territory.

Fred Zhou, CEO of HONOR South Africa, and Lionel Chen, Product Marketing Manager at HONOR South Africa, discuss the company’s rapid local growth and the technology behind its latest devices.

They unpack the newly launched HONOR Magic V6, including its ultra-thin foldable design, 6,660mAh battery, fast charging, flagship processor, improved hinge, and productivity features. Zhou also explains why booming AI infrastructure demand is placing pressure on global memory supply and contributing to rising smartphone prices.

The conversation then turns to HONOR’s robot phone, which combines AI with a built-in multi-axis gimbal camera designed for content creators. Chen explains how HONOR’s partnership with ARRI brings professional cinema colour science, LUTs, and video capabilities to the device, which is also expected to reach South Africa in future.

0:00 Intro

1:06 HONOR’s growth in South Africa

4:30 HONOR Magic V6 unveiled

8:18 Why smartphones are getting more expensive

14:40 Inside the Magic V6 design

19:08 HONOR’s new tablets and laptops

21:23 The HONOR robot phone and ARRI partnership

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#HONOR #MagicV6 #Smartphones

AI software development is allowing companies to build applications significantly faster, while fundamentally changing how engineering teams work.

Jaco van der Merwe, CEO of DVT, explains how artificial intelligence is transforming software and data engineering, with some projects already showing productivity improvements of around 50% and certain contained use cases moving even faster.

He distinguishes between AI augmentation, where people use tools to improve their existing workflows, and AI-native development, where agents generate specifications, architecture, code, and automated testing while humans oversee the process. van der Merwe also discusses the importance of governance, preventing AI drift, and managing token costs so that productivity gains do not create unnecessary expenses.

The conversation explores how roles such as business analysts and software engineers are evolving, why strong technical fundamentals still matter, and what junior developers should learn as AI becomes embedded in software development. van der Merwe also explains why cheaper, faster development could make previously unaffordable business ideas viable.

0:00 Intro

2:56 How AI is changing software engineering

5:12 AI augmentation vs AI-native development

7:06 Inside DVT’s AI-built teams

8:59 Governing AI-generated software

11:52 Managing AI token costs

17:14 How software engineering skills are changing

23:12 The future of software development

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#ArtificialIntelligence #SoftwareDevelopment #AgenticAI

In this eye-opening episode of What’s Next, Aki Anastasiou sits down with Prof Danny Myburgh, Associate Professor of Practice of the Workwell Research Unit for Economic, Management Sciences at NWU and a leading digital forensics and cybercrime expert, to unpack the growing threat of cybercrime. From business email compromise and ransomware attacks to large-scale data breaches, Prof Myburgh explains how hackers infiltrate organisations, why South Africa is increasingly targeted, and the staggering scale of global financial losses driven by cybercriminal syndicates.

The conversation goes deeper into the human side of cybercrime—highlighting how simple mistakes, phishing scams, and social engineering open the door for attackers. Prof Myburgh also reveals the dark reality behind global cybercrime networks, including forced labour in scam hubs, and offers practical advice on how businesses and individuals can protect themselves. From AI-driven threats to cryptocurrency laundering, this episode provides a comprehensive look at the risks—and the critical steps needed to stay secure in an increasingly digital world.

Nurse leadership could be one of the most effective ways to improve patient care and strengthen South Africa’s healthcare system.

Prof Siedine Coetzee, DST/NRF Research Chair in Nursing Science at NWU, explains why the environment nurses work in has a direct effect on their wellbeing, job satisfaction, patient safety, and quality of care.

Her research shows that staffing and resources remain major problems across public and private healthcare, but effective nurse leadership can have an even greater influence on outcomes. She discusses high levels of burnout, why nurses leave the profession, and how poor working environments create a cycle that places greater pressure on those who remain.

Coetzee also explains the Nurse Lead initiative, which brings together NWU, the National Department of Health, academics, and frontline nurses to develop stronger nursing leaders. The goal is to give nurses a greater voice in hospitals and healthcare policy while improving the environments in which they work.

0:00 Intro

1:13 What is failing nurses in South Africa?

3:03 Why nurse leadership matters

5:59 Nurse wellbeing and patient safety

8:38 What a good nursing environment looks like

11:47 Turning research into better leadership

15:47 Building the next generation of nurse leaders

18:34 The future of nursing in South Africa

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#Nursing #Healthcare #SouthAfrica

South African software company Globetom quietly powers millions of MTN customer interactions while building technology for the emerging AI economy.

Philip Stander, Group CEO at Globetom, explains how the company grew from a telecoms-focused systems integrator into a technology business serving customers across telecommunications, aviation, data analytics, and artificial intelligence.

Stander reveals how Globetom processes roughly 125–150 million customer interactions and more than a billion systems integration events on MTN’s network each day. He also explains the company’s integration-platform-as-a-service technology and why standardised APIs are becoming increasingly important as enterprises move away from monolithic software systems.

The conversation explores Globetom’s expansion into global aviation through cloud-based analytics and AI, as well as its strategy to become an AI-centric organisation. Rather than competing directly with major AI hyperscalers, Globetom is focusing on integrating models, enterprise data, and applications to create usable intelligence for customers.

0:00 Intro

0:40 The story behind Globetom

2:54 Powering MTN behind the scenes

5:03 Globetom’s telecoms advantage

7:17 Expanding into global aviation

9:25 Where consumers encounter its technology

12:44 Globetom’s AI strategy

17:57 Building South African engineering talent

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#ArtificialIntelligence #MTN #SouthAfricanTech

Pi by MTN is bringing subscription-style connectivity to South Africans with flexible mobile and home plans managed entirely through a digital platform.

Ernst Fonternel, Chief Consumer Officer at MTN South Africa, explains how Pi by MTN was designed around simplicity, transparency, and self-service. Customers can sign up digitally, activate an eSIM, change plans from month to month, purchase additional data or voice bundles, and manage multiple lines from a single account.

The discussion covers Pi by MTN’s approach to value, including multi-line discounts, 12-month data rollover, data sharing, and flexible subscription management. Fonternel also explains how mobile and home connectivity are being brought together, with fixed wireless access already available and fibre and AirFibre planned for the platform.

Looking ahead, Pi by MTN aims to become a broader digital lifestyle platform, bringing additional subscriptions into one place while introducing AI-powered customer support and recommendations.

0:00 Intro

0:25 What is Pi by MTN?

1:38 Simplifying mobile connectivity

4:47 Digital onboarding and eSIM

8:05 Early customer response

11:41 Value, discounts, and data rollover

13:53 Home connectivity

18:34 What’s next for Pi by MTN

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#PiByMTN #MTNSouthAfrica #MobileConnectivity

Estate planning remains a major blind spot for South Africans, with many families financially unprepared for what happens after a loved one dies.

Deenisha Nadesan, Managing Director of Fiduciary Services at Capital Legacy, unpacks the company’s Estate Readiness Index and what it reveals about South Africans’ preparedness for death and deceased estate administration.

She explains why funeral cover alone is not enough. While many respondents had funeral policies, far fewer had a valid will or sufficient liquidity to deal with the financial and legal consequences of death. The discussion covers financial hardship after losing an income earner, estate administration timelines, cash-flow pressures, and why families often underestimate how long winding up an estate can take.

Nadesan also explains when South Africans should update their wills and estate plans, including after marriage, having children, buying property, or starting a business. She shares practical steps for reducing uncertainty and protecting the people you leave behind.

0:00 Intro

0:40 What is estate readiness?

2:00 How prepared are South Africans?

3:31 The biggest findings

7:01 Where families feel the pressure

9:15 Why estates take so long

12:12 When to review your will

13:32 How to prepare your estate

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#EstatePlanning #Wills #FinancialPlanning