Kaya 959 Kaya Biz

Dr Solomon Lefakane,Paediatrician

Loading player...
My dream as a child was not career driven but rather driven by the desire to escape poverty. At 18 I was compelled to plan my career path while at Orlando High School in 1954 when I started my matric year. The group of maths and science students that I joined had to excel to be eligible for university entry via the annual school principal’s scholarship program. My poor family financial situation compelled me to study diligently. It resulted in my being selected to receive a Johannesburg City Council appointment to be a pupil civil engineer training for participation in the Soweto Housing Division in 1956 and receiving a City Council scholarship to study civil engineering at Wits University where I qualified as the first black engineer in South Africa in 1961
7 Jan 2021 12PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Rebuilding SA’s Industrial Base

Bridgestone SA MD Jacques Rikhotso warns that South Africa’s industrial foundations are eroding fast, with tire production falling sharply and imports surging past 10 million units. We explore what this means for jobs, competitiveness, and the urgent interventions needed to rebuild industrial resilience.
4 May 4PM 14 min

South Africa’s Trade Strategy in a Geopolitical Maze

Prof. Siphamandla Zondi explains why the global rules-based order is collapsing—and how South Africa is being squeezed between BRICS+ ambitions and Western market dependence. We unpack foreign‑policy incoherence, localization strategy, EV transition risks, and what a future‑proof trade strategy should look like.
4 May 4PM 7 min

PMI Back Above 50: Real Momentum or Temporary Bounce?

Economist Sello Sekele analyzes the Absa PMI’s rise to 52.6—the first expansion in seven months. We unpack front-loaded demand, weak exports, rising cost pressures, and why manufacturers remain hesitant to hire despite improving activity.
4 May 4PM 12 min

Coface on South Africa’s Economic Future

Coface Chief Africa Economist Aroni Chaudhuri explains why South Africa’s GDP per capita remains below 2007 levels and what this says about the country’s long‑term stagnation. We unpack liquidations, PPI data, energy stability, and how Middle East tensions could trigger an inflation shock for SA in the months ahead.
4 May 4PM 22 min

Local Sourcing Could Create 34,000 Jobs

LSF CEO Irshaad Kathrada breaks down new research showing South Africa could add R8 billion in manufacturing output and 34,000 jobs by 2030 through deeper retail localization.
4 May 4PM 11 min
All episodes