Best Steering Point Podcasts (2026)

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PIVOT POINT – Billy Tom: Steering South Africa’s Automotive Industry Through Transformation. 46:12

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9d ago46:12

46:12

The automotive industry is at a crossroads navigating the shift from internal combustion engines to new energy vehicles, balancing global uncertainty with local realities like load shedding, and rethinking how manufacturing, localisation and leadership must evolve. In this episode of Pivot Point, we sit down with Billy Tom, Chair of NAAMSA, Chair o…

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Strengthen your brand – with Ramona Joita 15:00

3h ago15:00

15:00

Ramona Joita recommends that strong branding in 2026 is key – and shares why research is an integral part of this. Ramona says: “Strong branding, not just keywords, will drive organic visibility in the AI-powered SEO landscape in 2026. 2025 has been the busiest year ever. I have been in this business for 15 years now, and I have faced all the chang…

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Go beyond backlinks to gain authority in the new algorithm – with Joseph Kahn 17:49

18h ago17:49

17:49

Joseph Kahn expands on Christian’s tip to emphasise that building authority in 2026 is multi-faceted. Joseph says: “Look beyond the blue links and build for AI.” Are we just talking about blue links in Google? “We're talking about blue links everywhere. Most people think, ‘Backlinks, backlinks, backlinks.’ The old world of SEO was just about using …

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How to SEO for LLMs - with Roman Leliukh 19:52

13h ago19:52

19:52

Roman Leliukh discusses how to SEO for LLMs. Key talking points include: Which LLMs should you optimize for? Chat GPT / AI Overviews / Gemini Why are certain LLMs best? How do you optimize for them? How do you measure success?

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Build brand associations – with Christian Rigg 14:29

3d ago14:29

14:29

Christian Rigg follows on from Otuto Umeji’s tip to share that, if you can form a brand association in someone’s mind, it makes many aspects of SEO a lot easier. Christian says: “2026 is all about brand associations: in people's minds, in search engines, and in LLMs. Optimizing for brand associations means building deep and meaningful connections b…

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Rank in the mind, not on the SERP – with Otuto Umeji 15:53

4h ago15:53

15:53

Otuto Umeji shares that one of the key elements to building a successful brand in 2026, from an SEO perspective, is to be the go-to, remembered brand for a particular keyword phrase. Otuto says: “Use brand positioning to move from SERP rankings to mind rankings.” What are mind rankings? “Recently, we have seen that SEO is shifting, and AI search is…

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Sailing Solo to Seven Continents, Harry Anderson 58:43

5h ago58:43

58:43

Harry Anderson is the only person to have both flown solo and sailed solo to all seven continents. He is also the author of "Sailing 7 Continents Solo." We talk about his route, his boats (a Bavaria 37 and an Alures 40.9), sailing with a centerboard, heaving-to, HF radio, VHF with wireless remote handset, anchoring, shore lines, generating electric…

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In an AI search-first world, brands should move beyond "links for links’ sake" - with Charlie Clark 17:15

6d ago17:15

17:15

Charlie Clark shares that as we move towards an AI search-first world, brands should move beyond "links for links’ sake" and focus on semantically relevant brand mentions that align with key topics and entities, helping AI engines better understand, associate, and prioritise them in results. Talking points include: What’s an example of links for li…

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Aim for recognition over rankings – with Sukhjinder Singh 17:44

2d ago17:44

17:44

Following on from Aleyda’s advice to optimize for citation-worthiness, Sukhjinder Singh shares that brand recognition is key. Sukhjinder says: “Say goodbye to rankings and hello to recognition. It's time to appear everywhere.” Why is it time to say goodbye to rankings? “It's not a complete goodbye, but it’s changing your mindset. We're still comfor…

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Become worthy of citations – with Aleyda Solis 17:37

3d ago17:37

17:37

We all know that one of the most effective forms of SEO is to create a resource that garners natural links. A big part of brand SEO is to build a brand that people want to talk about. Aleyda says: “Optimize for citation-worthiness. This is easier said than done. It's about establishing yourself as an authority in your field, but in order to do that…

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Willem Nieland, Globemaster Yachts, Designing Aluminum Sailboats 1:03:24

3d ago1:03:24

1:03:24

Willem Nieland has been designing yachts for 35 years. He designs Globemaster yachts, as well as custom aluminum expedition sailboats, motor yachts, and residential yachts. His designs are know for efficent and ergonomic use of space, comfort, and excellent offshore sailing characteristics. We talk about design elements he likes in a boat, his boat…

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Make friends with brand marketers – with Joshua Squires 15:25

6d ago15:25

15:25

However, not all SEOs understand the key elements of brand marketing – and if you’re fortunate enough to have specialist brand marketers in your organisation, take advantage of that! Joshua says: “Brand marketers should be SEOs’ best friends.” Why is that? “Brand marketing reaches where SEO can't. It drives demand, and it drives search interest. SE…

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Surge in Fake Traffic Fine SMSes Prompts Warning from Fines SA. 9:51

12d ago9:51

9:51

GUEST: Barry Berman, CEO of Fines SA A growing wave of fake traffic fine SMSes is leaving South African motorists anxious, out of pocket, and still liable for legitimate fines. Barry Berman, CEO of Fines SA, unpacks the latest scam tactics being used by fraudsters who send urgent-looking messages claiming motorists have outstanding fines that must …

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Crypto in 2025: The Year in Review. 9:32

8d ago9:32

9:32

GUEST: Christo de Wit, Country Manager at Luno As 2025 draws to a close, the cryptocurrency industry is no longer asking whether it belongs in mainstream finance, but how deeply it is already embedded. This year marked a decisive shift as digital assets moved from the fringes into the financial system itself reshaping markets, regulation and invest…

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Make your brand front of mind in any conversation online – with Ashley Liddell 18:31

7d ago18:31

18:31

One element of SEO that’s more important than ever is Brand SEO. Brand SEO, according to Ashley Liddell, should be the essence of what SEO is nowadays. Ashley says: “Treat SEO as more of a brand-building activity. Look beyond the traditional KPIs of visibility and towards making your brand the preferred choice in any conversation that's relevant to…

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EKASINOMICS - How WASAA Is Reshaping South Africa’s Petrochemicals Sector 26:19

13d ago26:19

26:19

GUEST: Nokwanele Qonde – Founder & Managing Director, WASAA Group From LPG and logistics to chemicals, commodities and large-scale infrastructure, WASAA is quietly building one of South Africa’s most compelling black industrial success stories. In this conversation we unpack how a black-women owned petrochemicals company is driving growth through d…

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INSIDE YOUR BUSINESS: How Far Can Employers Go with Off-Duty Misconduct? 16:26

14d ago16:26

16:26

GUEST: Kagiso Lebethe – Senior Employee Relations Specialist An after-hours braai, a private dispute and an assault that never happened at work yet the fallout landed squarely in the Labour Court. We unpack a landmark ruling that is reshaping how employers approach discipline beyond the workplace. After Saficon Industrial Equipment dismissed severa…

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Inflation Eases, But the Grocery Bill Tells a Different Story 27:36

13d ago27:36

27:36

GUEST: Johann Els – Old Mutual Group Chief Economist. South Africa’s inflation story is showing signs of relief but it’s not all good news for households. Headline consumer inflation slowed to 3.5% in November, its lowest reading in months, helped by falling fuel prices and a sharp drop in used vehicle inflation. Transport inflation cooled signific…

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Crawling and indexing management needs to be a corner stone of your SEO strategy - James McLoughlin 16:52

8d ago16:52

16:52

James McLoughlin shares that crawling and indexing management needs to be a corner stone of your SEO strategy in 2026, ensuring crawlers (both traditional search engine crawlers and LLM crawlers) can quickly and easily discover, understand and index any content you want surfaced in search engines and LLMs. Talking points include: What does crawling…

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Stop worrying about what it’s called; worry about what you need to do – with Charlie Whitworth 15:46

9d ago15:46

15:46

With so many changes in the space, new acronyms have appeared in an attempt to describe the newer activities involved in SEO job roles. However, that’s a distraction, says Charlie Whitworth. Charlie says: “Forget the acronyms, particularly with AI search and SEO. Let's stop focusing on what it's called and focus on what we need to do.” Do acronyms …

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What South Africa Craved Most in 2025 - Inside Uber Eats South Africa 2025 Cravings Report 21:05

15d ago21:05

21:05

South Africans didn’t just order food in 2025 they told stories with it. From all-caps special requests and poetic love notes to record-breaking delivery times and fried chicken’s undisputed reign, Uber Eats’ 2025 Cravings Report offers a revealing snapshot of how the country eats, lives and loves convenience. We unpack the second annual Uber Eats …

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South African REITs Outperform Global Peers: Real Estate Trends to Watch in 2026. 16:42

11d ago16:42

16:42

GUEST – John Jack, CEO of Galetti Corporate Real Estate South Africa’s listed property sector has staged one of the strongest comebacks in the global real estate market and investors are taking notice. While many international property markets continue to battle slow growth and volatility, South African REITs have surged ahead, outperforming peers …

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Cocoa Prices fall significantly amid ongoing festive season. 10:27

11d ago10:27

10:27

As cocoa prices retreat sharply from last year’s record highs, questions are emerging about whether this correction signals genuine relief or just a temporary pause in a structurally fragile market. We unpack the dramatic shift in the global cocoa market, where prices have fallen by around 45% since the start of the year, dropping from nearly $12,0…

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South Africa’s Biggest Cash-System Reform in 40 Years 11:08

11d ago11:08

11:08

GUEST: Kokkie Kooyman – Banking Analyst and Director at Denker Capital Cash is still king for millions of South Africans but the system that keeps it moving is costly, fragmented, and increasingly under strain. In what could become the most significant change to South Africa’s cash ecosystem since the introduction of ATMs, the South African Reserve…

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Utilise SEO to tackle highly regulated industries – with Nikolas Monti-Potsolakis 16:37

10d ago16:37

16:37

Nikolas Monti-Potsolakis shares that you can take learnings from SEO changes in highly regulated industries like iGaming and apply them to other sectors. Nikolas says: “In regulated sectors, like the iGaming space, companies need to keep SEO relevant and part of their strategy. The iGaming industry is growing across all continents, and SEO shouldn'…

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Onboard Galiana with Tapio and Crew 1:05:37

15d ago1:05:37

1:05:37

Tapio Lehtinen and his crew were sailing in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers from the Canary Islands to St. Lucia when we talked. The interview was conducted in the cockpit of Galiana, a 1972 Swan 55 yawl, while underway. I spoke with each of the crew, most of whom were paying customers. Tapio is taking paying crew on ocean training passages and var…

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Baby Aspirin in Pregnancy: Episode #192 22:13

18d ago22:13

22:13

Low-dose aspirin, often called baby aspirin, is one of the most commonly recommended medications in pregnancy today. But despite how frequently it's prescribed, many patients still ask the same questions: Why do I need it? Is it safe? When should I start or stop? And who actually benefits? In this episode, we take a clear, evidence-based look at ba…

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Change your approach if you want to score high-paying clients – with Adrijana Vujadin 17:07

13d ago17:07

17:07

It’s not only SEOs in larger organisations that now have a greater requirement to understand and relate to business leaders. This is becoming increasingly important for independent SEO consultants, too. Adrijana says: “Acquiring high-paying SEO clients requires a different approach that a lot of SEOs are not talking about.” Why does it require a di…

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How to Outsmart Festive Season Scammers – Truecaller’s Guide to Safer Calls in SA. 19:56

15d ago19:56

19:56

GUEST – Mmathebe Zvobwo, Director of Market Development for Truecaller South Africa The festive season may bring joy, travel and celebration but it’s also open season for scammers. As South Africans reconnect with loved ones, spend more, expect deliveries and wrap up the year, scam activity spikes dramatically. From fake courier messages and bank i…

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Poverty Trends in South Africa: An Examination of Absolute Poverty Between 2006 and 2023. 13:29

15d ago13:29

13:29

GUEST – Solly Molayi, Acting Deputy Director-General for Population and Social Statistics at Stats SA South Africa’s poverty landscape is shifting and for the first time in years, the data tells a story of both meaningful progress and persistent structural challenges. Stats SA’s newly released Poverty Trends in South Africa report tracks money-metr…

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African air travel is booming — but the airlines themselves aren’t. 10:51

15d ago10:51

10:51

GUEST – Phuthego Mojapele – Aviation Analyst Despite passenger numbers rising faster than the global average, African carriers are still trapped in a low-profit, high-cost cycle that threatens the sector’s future. Why is the continent experiencing growth without gain? In this episode, we unpack the paradox with aviation analyst, who helps us make s…

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Guide your business into the agentic unknown – with Ben Howe 15:33

14d ago15:33

15:33

In addition to SEOs facing their own traffic challenges, many also find themselves tasked with guiding their business leaders through the massive change driven by AI agents. Ben says: “Guide your C-suite into the great agentic unknown, because if you don't, then nobody else is going to.” What is the great agentic unknown? “I'm talking about the nat…

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INSIDE YOUR BUSINESS: Anglo-Teck Merger: What SA Stands to Lose. 15:06

16d ago15:06

15:06

Guest: Duma Gqubule – Adviser on Economic Development and Transformation As Anglo American pushes ahead with a $60bn merger with Canada’s Teck Resources, South Africa could be on the verge of losing one of its most historic and economically significant mining giants. Duma Gqubule unpacks why the Anglo-Teck deal is far from a “merger of equals” and …

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Botswana has banned vegetable imports again. 6:12

16d ago6:12

6:12

GUEST – Thabile Nkunjana, Senior Agricultural Economist, National Agricultural Marketing Council Botswana has reignited regional tensions by reinstating a sweeping ban on vegetable imports and South Africa is feeling the impact. The ban, which took effect without warning, blocks more than 16 everyday vegetables from crossing into Botswana, from tom…

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Honest conversations about money – Don’t be a December millionaire and a January beggar! 23:13

22d ago23:13

23:13

Guest: Thabo Hollo, Programme Manager: Financial Education, Old Mutual December in South Africa is more than a month, it’s a mood. It’s beaches, brunches, champagne, road trips, and the irresistible urge to live the “soft life” after 11 months of stress and sacrifice. But too often, that soft life turns hard very quickly, leaving many South African…

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EKASINOMICS: From Home Remedy to Global Skincare Brand: The Angela Care Story 14:16

21d ago14:16

14:16

Guest: Koketso Ramatlho, Founder of Angela Care What starts as a mother’s desperation often becomes a breakthrough and for Koketso Ramatlho, it sparked a global vision. When her young son battled severe eczema and traditional prescriptions failed, Koketso turned to African botanicals in search of relief. Guided by her daughter Angela’s simple but p…

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One Thing Remains Constant in SEO - with Martina Kölsch 15:42

15d ago15:42

15:42

Martina Kölsch shares that the Panda Update in 2011 was one of the first major changes by Google that she encountered. SEO is continually evolving, yet one thing remains constant: prioritising a solid SEO foundation, a clear structure, and excellent content. Many tend to overlook these essentials whenever a new trend emerges. Discussion points incl…

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TECH & INNOVATION: Tech Jobs Rebound in SA: Demand Surges 18% 11:30

17d ago11:30

11:30

Guest: Paul Byrne, Head of Data Insights, Pnet South Africa’s tech job market is bouncing back. Pnet data shows an 18% year-on-year increase in tech vacancies, with Software Developers reclaiming the top spot after 3.5 years. Paul Byrne breaks down the fastest-growing roles Business Analysts, Data Scientists, Network Administrators and explores how…

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SA Banking Sentiment 2025: Discovery Leads, But Service Challenges Persist 13:10

20d ago13:10

13:10

Guest: Aimee Malan, MD at DataEQ Consulting Discovery Bank tops the 2025 South African Banking Sentiment Index, achieving the highest Net Sentiment at 61%, driven by rewards programmes, personalised benefits, and strategic campaigns. Yet the industry faces ongoing challenges: service issues, digital reliability failures, and a lack of transparency …

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Fighting Fraud in the Digital Era: Integrity, Inclusion & Innovation 20:14

22d ago20:14

20:14

Guest: Dr Nishal Khusial, Head of Digital Forensics and AI, Forvis Mazars This International Anti-Corruption Day, we explore why corruption accounts for 59% of reported fraud cases in sub-Saharan Africa, far above the global average. Dr Nishal Khusial explains how traditional fraud schemes are evolving online, accelerated by AI, digital banking, an…

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The Top 5 Property Trends Set to Shape 2026 — What Investors Need to Know 10:52

22d ago10:52

10:52

South Africa’s residential property market has pulled off an unexpected turnaround. After sluggish sales and affordability pressures in 2024, the sector entered 2025 with cautious optimism and ended the year on a high, buoyed by long-awaited interest rate cuts and a resilient economy. Now, with the prime lending rate down a full percentage point an…

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Consumer Confidence Rebounds — Are Retailers in for a Blockbuster Festive Season? 11:07

20d ago11:07

11:07

GUEST - Nomvelo Moima – Junior Economist, Bureau for Economic Research (BER) South African shoppers are finding their spark again. The latest FNB/BER Consumer Confidence Index shows a rebound to -9 in Q4, the strongest reading of 2025, a signal that festive-season spending could be far livelier than many expected. After a bruising few years marked …

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ALLAN GRAY – How to invest more without feeling the pinch. 11:12

17d ago11:12

11:12

GUEST – Belinda Carbutt, Group Savings specialist at Allan Gray As many employees start planning for the year ahead, it is a good time to think about how to make your money work harder, especially if you are expecting a salary increase at year-end. Leveraging learnings from behavioural science can help long-term investors make smarter financial dec…

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SARS’ R304 Billion Compliance Crackdown: What It Means for Taxpayers. 14:43

17d ago14:43

14:43

GUEST - Jashwin Baijoo, Partner and Head of Strategic Engagement & Compliance at Tax Consulting SA South Africa’s tax net just tightened and tightened hard. SARS has revealed a staggering 16.7% surge in “compliance collection”, hauling in R304 billion by going after taxpayers who fell foul of its increasingly sophisticated compliance programmes. Fr…

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Diversify your revenue streams to survive the zero-click era – with Jack Chambers-Ward 18:18

16d ago18:18

18:18

One continuing trend within SEO in 2026 is the ever-increasing degree of difficulty when it comes to driving traffic from organic search. Jack Chambers-Ward advises that this should motivate you to reevaluate your overarching content publishing model. Jack says: “Create and monetise content to survive the upcoming zero-click era of search.” Will we…

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Netflix’s Acquisition of Warner Bros Unpacked: What It Means for Africa’s Content Future. 13:20

19d ago13:20

13:20

GUEST – Jan Vermeulen, Editor at MyBroadband One of the biggest entertainment shake-ups in modern history is underway and Africa will feel the impact. Netflix has announced a landmark deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, including HBO, Warner’s film and TV studios, and HBO Max. It’s a move that could rewrite global content distribution, reshape …

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National Gambling Board wants regulation of gambling advertising. 10:56

18d ago10:56

10:56

GUEST – Lungile Dukwana - National Gambling Board acting CEO The National Gambling Board (NGB) of South Africa has issued a firm directive to all provincial licensing authorities (PLAs) to intensify the regulation and immediate removal of all non-compliant gambling advertisements. The NGB is concerned about a rise in adverts that are misleading, ta…

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State of the Luxury Market in Africa 12:29

18d ago12:29

12:29

GUEST – Michael Zahariev, Co-founder of Luxity As South Africa steps into the festive season, one sector is quietly rewriting the rules of spending: luxury. But this year, the story isn’t about splurging for the sake of it’s about buying smarter, choosing better, and treating luxury as both lifestyle and long-term value. We unpack the State of the …

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Johannesburg Ranked the Least Walkable City in the World: Why It Matters and How We Fix It. 16:14

18d ago16:14

16:14

GUEST – Themba Mangane, Traffic & Transport Engineer at Atana Johannesburg has just earned a title no city wants ranked last out of 90 global cities for walkability in 2025, scoring just 18 out of 100. Only 8% of residents live near a car-free space, and just 13% can walk to basic services like clinics or schools. Behind these numbers is a simple t…

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SA New Vehicle Sales Hit Decade High as Affordability Drives Demand. 10:28

18d ago10:28

10:28

GUEST – Ayesha Hatea, Director of Research and Consulting at TransUnion South Africa’s automotive market is in full throttle and for the first time in 11 years, new-vehicle sales have roared to a decade-high. According to TransUnion’s latest Mobility Insights Report, Q3 2025 saw 111,697 new passenger vehicles sold, up 23.4% year-on-year, supported …