DispatchLIVE

BCM's history lesson questioned

The Buffalo City Metro Development Agency has been left with an egg on its face after it put up incorrect information about the history of East London during the reign of King Phalo, one of the celebrated traditional rulers in the Xhosa nation. The historical events on two of the…

15 Feb 9 min

Bafana Bafana will win - Ronwen Williams' father

" My prayer for tonight is for a clean sheet" Ronwen Williams spectacularly saved four spot-kicks — an almost unheard of feat — in a penalty shoot-out that Bafana Bafana won 2-1 against Cape Verde to steer the South Africans to their first Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) semifinal in…

7 Feb 10 min

Fury as Gonubie beach remains closed due to sewage spills

The fallout over Buffalo City’s ailing infrastructure has reached Gonubie beach, which is still closed due to two extensive sewage spills. A large manhole hidden in the undergrowth and a second on a raised embankment along the river have been oozing chunky grey effluent into the sand since January 8…

5 Feb 22 min

New year, same old problems for EC Education

The start of the academic year in the Eastern Cape was a tale of two nations on Wednesday last week. But while the urban year started smoothly, hundreds of rural pupils had to stay at home staring at the rain. In this episode, Daron Mann has a discussion with provincial…

28 Jan 5 min

Last ditch efforts to save Komani SPCA

While the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) and other donors work to find a solution with the Enoch Mgijima municipality, donors have raised money to assist the animals housed at the troubled Komani SPCA, which is about to be evicted by the municipality. This after Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality informed…

19 Jan 8 min

Rate cuts ‘augur well' for 2024

Liam Graham, the managing director of East London’s NVest Securities, is optimistic that 2024 will be the year that investors can bounce back. He chats to our business correspondent Ted Keenan about the economic outlook for 2024 in this episode.

18 Jan 12 min

Quigney ratepayers fed up with rising crime

Fed up with the increasing crime and car washers who have established themselves in the parking areas on East London's beachfront, Quigney Ratepayers Association are taking matters into their own hands. The Association's chair, Satish Nair, joins Daron Mann and discusses their initiative in this episode.

12 Jan 12 min

Brace for bumper dry summer - Weather Guru

This week, the province was once again hammered by intense rains that began during the holiday season, resulting in flooding in several areas. Weather expert Garth Simpson tells Daron Mann that we can anticipate a "long dry hot summer" in the first quarter of 2024 in this episode.

5 Jan 8 min

End Israel-Hamas war now - BCM protesters

Tuesday saw a large crowd gathering down Oxford Street demanding an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict, organised by Masimanyane Women's Rights International and the International Network to end Violence against Women and Girls (INEWAG). Below the World War II stone pillar, a roughly 15-meter-long Palestinian flag was spread out on…

15 Dec 2023 10 min

ConCourt rules 1,000 signatures required for independent candidates to contest elections

Following objections to the Electoral Amendment Act, the Constitutional Court has now rendered a decision about how independent candidates would compete in the future general elections of 2024. It has been determined that independent candidates will just require 1,000 signatures to compete in the 2024 ballots. In this episode, Daron…

7 Dec 2023 10 min

Eastern Cape's Cannabis indusrty set to be a game changer

With the provincial government announcing the creation of at least two incubator centers for cannabis and hemp production, plans to build a thriving cannabis economy in the Eastern Cape are beginning to take shape. Earlier this week, Ntabankulu mayor Tsileng Sobuthongo announced plans to build a R220m college in the…

1 Dec 2023 10 min

BCM's Phillips scoops top prize in Youth in Waste Summit

In this episode, Daron Mann chats to Jodie Phillips, winner in this year's Youth in Waste Summit where young entrepreneurs pitched and presented their businesses. Phillips is the co-founder of Waste Takers Smart App , which seeks to makes life easy for waste collectors to recycle waste.

29 Nov 2023 10 min

Beautiful East London gardens to host Blooms & Brushstrokes festival for charity

For the entire weekend, 14 homeowners are converting their living rooms and braai areas into cafes and art galleries in a bid to raise money for non-profit organizations. On November 11 and 12, the inaugural Bass Property Group Blooms & Brushstrokes festival will be a flurry of activity, with everything…

28 Nov 2023 7 min

Grandads Army growing younger as finish line beckons

In this episode, Daron Mann speaks with Grandads Army rider Rodney Offord as they pedal 1,500 kilometers to Mapungubwe in order to raise money for the Eyabantwana Trust, which provides training and supplies for the paediatric surgical unit at the Frere and Cecilia Makiwane hospitals.

28 Nov 2023 8 min

Even good strategies fail if they are not well executed

In this episode, Ted Keenan chats to Ian Rusell , non-executive director of RB Africa, which specialises in a host of business support programmes. RBA works with corporate businesses in mining, auto, manufacturing,construction, transport and fisheries as well as national and government departments, including home affairs, trade & industry and…

23 Nov 2023 15 min

 Johann Evertse:  "Many firsts in SA's automotive industry."

Johann Evertse is the retired executive director human resources and a member of the board of directors, Mercedes-Benz SA, a position he held for many years. He has served in several public organisations  including universities, business chambers and professional organisations, as well as a few others in the field of…

17 Nov 2023 9 min

Ensuring real homes in vibrant complexes

In this episode, Ted Keenan chats to Own Haven MD Andrew Wiseman, who under the guidance of the Own Haven board, is responsible for the strategic direction, expansion and management of the company. Own Haven was established as an NPO in 2002 with the aim of providing sought-after and well-managed…

10 Nov 2023 12 min

How to beat a property scamster

East London property mogul Xoliswa Tini has bad news for those who take estate agents at face value — among even the reputable ones are some crooks. Ted Keenan's Dispatch Live talks to Tini about the fraud challenges facing first time home buyers

7 Nov 2023 14 min

A passion for empowering people

Ted Keenan speaks to Thembi Chagonda, a business partner and shareholder in EL consultants Global Business Solutions (GBS), who is living her professional dream. GBS is a leading labour law, human resources and industrial relations consultancy offering a diverse range of services aimed at empowering businesses to achieve their objectives.

3 Nov 2023 8 min

Nothing is impossible

Taryn Woodbridge is the CFO at Mercedes-Benz SA, as well as executive director of finance and controlling.She joined the East London car manufacturer in 2004. She chats to Ted Keenan in this episode about her leadership skills.

3 Nov 2023 9 min