Although cash remains king in South Africa, digital payments are rapidly gaining traction. In this episode, Michael Avery sat down with Katlego Maphai, the Co-founder and CEO of Yoco, a leading payments powerhouse in South Africa, to explore the evolving payments landscape in the country. They discussed how fintech payment solutions are playing a crucial role in breaking down barriers to financial inclusion, offering greater visibility into the economy, and fostering a competitive and growing financial services market.

Following the postponement of South Africa's budget speech, Michael Avery spoke with Daan Steenkamp, CEO of Codera Analytics, about the country's economic future. They discussed key issues, including persistent deficits, rising public sector wages, and the IMF's warnings about escalating national debt. Daan also emphasised that achieving fiscal sustainability requires comprehensive reforms to unlock the private sector's potential and improve public administration.

Following President Trump's return to the White House, and his renewed emphasis on an 'America First' agenda, Michael Avery was joined by industry experts from XA Global Trade Advisors - Donald MacKay, CEO, and Anneke Jansen van Vuuren, Manager of Data Solutions - to explore 'Trumponomics 2.0' and its potential impact on international trade relations. They unpacked how emerging markets, particularly South Africa, could be affected by shifts in U.S. trade policy, from potential changes to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to broader policy shifts that could disrupt key industries like steel and aluminium exports.