Tonight we ask whether the daily commute is becoming an unnecessary burden in a country already
battling rising living costs. With fuel prices climbing yet again, more workers are questioning why they are expected to sit in traffic for hours — only to spend the day doing work that could easily be done remotely. It’s a debate increasingly being described as the end of “pointless presence” — the idea that employees must physically be at the office simply to be seen, rather than because the work actually requires it. Companies across South Africa and around the world are now rethinking traditional office culture, with many shifting toward hybrid and remote work models. But while some employers say flexibility boosts productivity and wellbeing, others argue that in- person collaboration remains essential. So tonight, we unpack whether businesses are finally embracing a new way of working — or whether outdated ideas about supervision and visibility are still shaping the modern workplace.