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

Loading player...
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 diversification in one of the country’s most capital-intensive and traditionally closed industries.

With over two decades of experience in oil and gas, Qonde shares WASAA’s journey from its founding in 2008 to securing a landmark 25-year agreement to develop and operate a new R1.4-billion LPG terminal at the Port of Durban. We explore what this deal means for South Africa’s energy security, port diversification and regional trade, why infrastructure ownership matters for transformation.
17 Dec 2PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

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

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…
18 Dec 3PM 9 min

Crypto in 2025: The Year in Review.

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…
18 Dec 3PM 9 min

Inflation Eases, But the Grocery Bill Tells a Different Story

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…
17 Dec 2PM 27 min

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

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…
17 Dec 2PM 16 min