The Monocle Banking Podcast

Ep 76: Beyond Transactions: How Collaboration Powers SA’s Smart Trade - Cornelius Coetzee

Following the release of Verto’s new white paper on the state of imports and exports in South Africa, Michael Avery sat down with Cornelius Coetzee, Country Director for Verto. Cornelius shared insights on how mid-sized firms can navigate regulatory hurdles and tap into global growth, the role Verto plays in streamlining cross-border payments, and why collaboration between banks and fintechs is key to positioning the country as a resilient, forward-looking leader in smart trade.

Ep 75: What Does a Just Transition Really Take? - Peter Venn

South Africa’s Just Energy Transition promises inclusive growth, green jobs, and climate resilience. This week, Michael Avery sat down with Peter Venn, CEO of Seriti Green - the company behind SA’s largest hybrid renewable project, Ummbila Emoyeni. Venn shared candid insights from the frontlines: from billion-rand losses caused by red tape to the hard truth that renewables may only replace a fraction of coal jobs. Together, they unpacked whether “just” is becoming a PR gloss, what needs to change to unlock real progress, and whether the private sector can shoulder the transition while government stalls.

Ep 74: SME Lending Through FNB’s Lens: Unlocking Potential - Andiswa Bata

Despite bold promises from both government and business, most South African SMEs still struggle to access the funding they need to grow, hire and contribute meaningfully to the economy. Banks cite risk and red tape, while entrepreneurs often lack formal balance sheets or credit scores. On this episode of the Monocle Banking Podcast, Michael Avery sat down with Andiswa Bata, CEO of FNB Business, to explore how the bank is working to expand its SME lending capacity.

Ep 73: Franchising as a Catalyst for Economic Empowerment - Ayabulela Njingolo

For a wide-ranging and optimistic view of how franchising can truly become a lever for economic inclusion and innovation in South Africa, Michael Avery was joined by Ayabulela Njingolo, Chairman of the Franchise Association of South Africa and executive at OBC Group. Their conversation covered where the funding gaps are and how a blended finance approach can help more entrepreneurs enter the franchise sector.

Ep 72: Powering the Transition: Capital, Trust, and the Grid - Rentia van Tonder

In this episode of the Monocle Banking Podcast, Michael Avery was joined by Rentia van Tonder, Head of Power at Standard Bank CIB, to unpack the real story behind South Africa’s energy transition. From the gridlock in REIPPPP Bid Windows 5 and 6 to the looming gas cliff of 2026, they explored why financing the future of power is about capital allied to trust, transparency, and long-term partnerships. With fresh insights on emerging electricity traders, corporate PPAs, and how smarter grid allocation could spark a truly liquid energy market, this is a must-listen for anyone concerned about the crossroads of infrastructure, finance, and climate ambition in South Africa and the broader African continent.

Ep 71: Redefining Insurance Through Technology – Christelle Colman and Ron Richman

The future of insurance may lie in the integration of technology and human understanding. This week, Michael Avery sat down with Christelle Colman, CEO of Ami, and Ron Richman, CEO of insureAI. Their discussion centres on the crucial integration of technology and human understanding, highlighting Ami's people-first digital approach and insureAI's innovative use of AI in actuarial science. Learn how their partnership is redefining personalised insurance coverage with a focus on both technology, accuracy and empathy.

Ep 70: Reforming for Results: What’s Next for Operation Vulindlela? – Rudi Dicks

To delve into the progress and future plans of Operation Vulindlela - a presidential initiative to accelerate the implementation of structural reforms and support economic recovery in South Africa - Michael Avery sat down with Rudi Dicks, Head of the Project Management Office at the Presidency and lead of the initiative. Rudi shared insights on the initiative’s early wins and key lessons as it moves into phase two, the necessity of focused reforms to drive sustainable growth, and the pivotal role of effective execution and municipal partnerships in delivering real results and unlocking economic opportunity. 

Ep 69: Intelligent Inclusion: AI’s Role in the Future of African Banking - Tumi Nomlomo

To shed light on the power of inclusive technology, Michael Avery sat down with Tumi Nomlomo, Senior Manager of Customer Advisory at SAS. They discussed SAS's responsible AI framework, which promotes inclusivity, model transparency, and stakeholder engagement. Tumi also shared insights into the infrastructure and cloud capabilities required for banks to deploy AI effectively, emphasising that true innovation requires not just technology, but a cultural and organisational shift towards modernised, client-focused solutions.