No Free Lunch With Greg Stewart

In the latest episode of “No Free Lunch,” host Greg Stewart engages with Dhesen Ramsamy, the Group Chief Technology and Data Officer for Old Mutual Limited, to explore the profound impact of digital transformation in the financial services sector, particularly in South Africa. The discussion centers on how digital transformation, driven by AI and rising customer expectations, is reshaping the industry landscape.

In this episode of No Free Lunch, we delve into the evolving landscape of digital cookies, data privacy, and the impact of AI on online targeting. Join me your host Greg Stewart as I chat with Andre Steenekamp, a seasoned digital media strategist, as we unpack what the future holds for marketers navigating the complex environment of digital marketing with the rise of AI disrupting the advertising Industry.This episode offers valuable insights for marketers, business owners, and anyone interested in the future of digital privacy and data-driven marketing.

South Africa Budget 2026: What It Means for the Economy, Business, and Your WalletAre you wondering whether the latest South African budget is a step forward or just another routine update? This episode provides a really an important perspective and gives a view on the possible scenarios that could play out in the South African economy. With significant changes and cautious optimism, many are asking: Does this budget help the everyday taxpayer, boost economic growth, or simply keep the status quo? Harry Scherzer, CEO of Future Forex helps to unpack the key insights from the 2026 budget – what it means for investors, small business owners, and ordinary South Africans, and explore what consistent stability really looks like in today’s complex economic landscape.

n the latest No Free Lunch Podcast, Greg Stewart chats with BMW South Africa’s CEO, Peter van Binsbergen about the future of the automotive industry in the country.Are South Africa’s automotive manufacturing prospects headed for decline or renewal? With industry leaders raising concerns about sustainability, exports, and policy support, understanding the landscape is crucial. The conversation delves into key insights shared by Peter, on the current state and future challenges of the local automotive sector. Whether you’re an industry stakeholder, policy maker, or car enthusiast, these perspectives shed light on what the industry needs to thrive.

In this episode of No Free Lunch, host Greg Stewart engages with Conway Williams, head of credit at Prescient Investment Management, to explore the intricacies of the bond market. They discuss the fundamental nature of bonds, the current dynamics affecting credit pricing, and the role of asset management in navigating these challenges. The conversation also delves into the impact of state-owned enterprises on market liquidity and the implications of global trends on local bond markets. Throughout the discussion, the importance of understanding risk and making informed investment decisions is emphasised.

In this episode of No Free Lunch, host Greg Stewart engages with Dean Stainthorpe, Sales Director at Base Cloud. The conversation explores the intricacies and advantages of modern Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. The discussion takes a look at the evolving landscape of CRM, particularly in the South African market, and how businesses often misunderstand its purpose and capabilities.

In this episode of “No Free Lunch,” host Greg Stewart delves into the complex world of identity fraud with guest Tom Schoon, head of partnerships for Africa at Sumsub. The discussion centers around Sumsub’s 2025 Identity Fraud Report, which highlights a significant shift in the fraud landscape across Africa. The report reveals alarming growth rates in deepfake incidents and advanced fraud techniques, particularly in countries like Zambia, DRC, and Malawi. Tom explains how Sumsub’s compliance platform helps combat these issues by providing full-cycle verification and ongoing monitoring. The conversation also explores the challenges of digital literacy and mobile adoption in Africa, emphasising the need for robust fraud prevention systems and real-time reporting to regulators. The episode concludes with a call for unified efforts and education to mitigate fraud risks.

In this episode of “No Free Lunch,” host Greg Stewart interviewed Ethan Hunter, CEO and co-founder of Immobazyme a start-up biotech company in South Africa’s Western Cape Region. The discussion highlights the company’s journey from its initial focus on cellular agriculture to its strategic pivot towards the cosmetics industry, and pharmaceutical products, leveraging precision fermentation technology. Ethan shares insights into the challenges and successes of navigating the biotech landscape in Africa, including securing significant funding and partnerships with major players like L’Oreal, that has opened doors for further expansion for the start-up.

In probably one of the most important discussions I have had on No Free Lunch, I spoke with The Adam Molai The Chairmen and co-founder of Africa Trade Engine about where the opportunities for growing intra-African trade and industrialisation opportunities lie.The interview delves into the intricacies of intra-African trade and the potential for economic transformation through industrialisation and value addition. Adam Molai, a prominent entrepreneur, shares insights from his experiences in the African trade sector, emphasizing the importance of beneficiation and local manufacturing to enhance economic growth and create employment opportunities.Molai highlights the current state of intra-African trade, which stands at a mere 18-20%, and underscores the need for Africa to add value to its raw materials rather than exporting them in their raw form. He shares his journey in the tobacco industry in Zimbabwe, where strategic interventions led to a significant increase in production and the inclusion of a diverse group of farmers. This example serves as a proof point for the potential of planned strategies in transforming industries and uplifting communities.

In this episode of “No Free Lunch,” host Greg Stewart delves into the inspiring journey of Azoza, a South African company that emerged from a management buyout of Europe Assist. The discussion features Lynette Mutsekwa and Nelson Soares, the driving forces behind Azoza, who share their experiences and challenges in transforming the company into a thriving local brand. The story begins with Europe Assist’s strategic decision to exit the African market, prompting Lynette and Nelson to take bold steps to preserve jobs and maintain the company’s valuable services.

n the latest episode of “No Free Lunch,” host Greg Stewart engages with Sekadi Phayane-Shakhane, the pioneering CEO of the South African Institute of Engineers (SAICE), to discuss the pressing issues surrounding South Africa’s infrastructure. The conversation delves into the deteriorating state of infrastructure, the high costs associated with transport, and the challenges faced by the public transport system.Sekadi highlights the critical need for lifecycle-based maintenance strategies to combat the crumbling infrastructure. She emphasises the importance of integrating maintenance into long-term planning and ensuring that funds are allocated specifically for this purpose. 

In this episode of “No Free Lunch, host Greg Stewart engages with Garth Klintworth, the Chief Representative Officer for ABSA’s New York office, to explore the dynamics of African capital markets. Garth, an economist with extensive experience in global markets, shares insights on the transition from Johannesburg to New York, highlighting the surprising momentum and scale of the U.S. economy. We discuss the critical role of Africa in global trade, emphasising the continent’s rich endowment of critical minerals essential for the fourth industrial revolution. Garth Highlights the need for Africa to harness its potential by improving policy harmonisation, collateral management, and local currency markets to attract investment.

This edition of South Africa’s Freshest Business & Tech podcast – “No Free Lunch” features an insightful conversation between host Greg Stewart and Dion Harvey, the regional General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa at Red Hat. The discussion centres around the transformative potential of open source software in Africa, particularly in the context of AI and digital transformation. Harvey, with over 25 years in the technology sector, shares insights on how open source can drive innovation and address Africa’s unique challenges, such as cost-effective cloud migrations and AI ethics in resource-constrained environments. He emphasises the collaborative nature of open source, which allows for a broader range of contributions and enhances software security by exposing bugs and malicious code more effectively than proprietary models.

This Special Budget Speech Episode of No Free Lunch features Ricardo Smith, where he discusses the South African medium-term budget speech and its implications for South Africa’s economy:Host Greg Stewart introduces a summary of the medium-term budget speech delivered by the finance minister, Enoch Godongwana on 12 November, highlighting a projected 20 billion Rand surplus and a strategic shift from consumption spending to infrastructure investment. Ricardo Smith, a prominent South African economist and investment strategist, emphasises the importance of the surplus, noting that while commodity prices have contributed significantly, tax efficiencies have also played a role. Smith discusses the challenges of managing South Africa’s growing debt, which is projected to reach nearly 80% of GDP, and highlights the need for a firm commitment to containing debt.

In This episode of No Free Lunch, Host Greg Stewart chats with Mamello Mofokeng, founder and CEO of IT company Saturated. Its a great conversation about the journey of an entrepreneur and Mamello shares her journey from a small-town upbringing to becoming a leading young Women leader in South Africa’s tech industry.

In this episode, host Greg Stewart discusses the growing impact of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in the South African investment market with Kim Gibb, CEO of Prescient Management Company. Our conversation highlights the significant growth in the ETF market, with a market cap increase of 28% in 2023 and 36% in 2024. We also tackle the pressing need to address the importance of financial education and the role of technology in making investments more accessible, especially for younger investors.

In this episode of “No Free Lunch,” host Greg Stewart interviews Leith Collyer, the Managing Director of Pink Elephant South Africa. We speak around the evolving role of women in IT leadership, noting the increasing presence of female leaders and the unique empathy they bring to the industry.Leith shares her journey from a service delivery manager at Dimension Data to leading Pink Elephant, emphasising her passion for IT service management (ITSM) and its transformative potential in Africa.Leith discusses the challenges and opportunities in the ITSM sector, particularly in emerging markets like Africa, where infrastructure gaps and skill shortages persist. Our discussion highlights the importance of next-gen service desks and AI-enhanced support systems in driving business value and economic growth.

In this episode of “No Free Lunch,” host Greg Stewart engages with Nick Hudson, co-founder and chairman of PANDA (Pandemic, Data, and Analytics), to discuss the skepticism surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and its perceived value. Nick shared some of his controversial perspectives on AI developments that cast a serious shadow over the current narratives around AI by tech companies, who claim that the future will be built on the back of AI technology.In our lively conversation, Hudson critiques AI as a significant misallocation of capital, likening it to a speculative bubble driven by hype rather than substance. He argues that the capital resources being thrown at AI developments should rather be redirected towards infrastructural development

In this episode of “No Free Lunch,” host Greg Stewart sits down with Jonathan Thomson, the Executive Head of Commercial at Kazang, a leading FinTech company in South Africa. The discussion delves into the informal economy, particularly the Tavern industry, which is a significant part of South Africa’s economy, estimated to be worth around a trillion rand. Jonathan shares insights into the challenges and opportunities within this sector, emphasizing the massive cash flow and the need for technological solutions to streamline transactions.

In this episode of “No Free Lunch,” host Greg Stewart engages with Amish Shunker, Head of Trade for Africa at Standard Bank, to explore the evolving landscape of payments and trade in Africa. The discussion highlights Africa’s role as a hub for fintech innovation, driven by mobile-led economies and digital-savvy consumers. Amish shares insights from his extensive career in financial services, emphasising the transformative impact of technology on banking and trade across the continent.