MD & Chairperson, Martina Biene, born in 1974, the same year Volkswagen launched the iconic Golf 1, Martina Biene’s life and career are intrinsically linked to the evolution of VW’s compact cars. Raised in a working-class family in Hanover, Germany, she was surrounded by the automotive world from a young age. Many of her friends had parents working at the nearby VW commercial vehicle plant, making cars a recurring theme throughout her childhood. While her first toy car was an Audi, Martina’s path ultimately led her to the brand that would shape her career: Volkswagen.

MD &amp; Chairperson, Martina Biene, born in 1974, the same year Volkswagen launched the iconic Golf 1, Martina Biene’s life and career are intrinsically linked to the evolution of VW’s compact cars. Raised in a working-class family in Hanover, Germany, she was surrounded by the automotive world from a young age. Many of her friends had parents working at the nearby VW commercial vehicle plant, making cars a recurring theme throughout her childhood. While her first toy car was an Audi, Martina’s path ultimately led her to the brand that would shape her career: Volkswagen.

Every weekday morning, POWER Talk host Iman Rappetti treats her listeners to an in-depth take on an issue close to her heart. At turns solemn, playful and impassioned, Iman's evocative "poems" are her listeners' favourite way of starting the day. You can find them updated daily in this podcast.

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POWER Talk is a mid-morning talk show programme, hosted by Lerato Mbele. The show delves deeper into the news of the day along with larger societal themes, inviting listeners to help unpack issues on the day’s current affairs agenda and topics close to their hearts. Mbele also interviews the biggest newsmakers and experts in South Africa, helping listeners makes sense of their world.

POWER Talk is a mid-morning talk show programme, hosted by Lerato Mbele. The show delves deeper into the news of the day along with larger societal themes, inviting listeners to help unpack issues on the day’s current affairs agenda and topics close to their hearts. Mbele also interviews the biggest newsmakers and experts in South Africa, helping listeners makes sense of their world.

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Leadership Dialogue:  Volkswagen Group South Africa 

Activists have raised significant concerns regarding proposed changes to eviction laws in South Africa, especially in light of the ongoing housing crisis. They caution that any alterations to the legislation could worsen the plight of the country’s most vulnerable populations, particularly those without stable housing. These groups rely on protections in current laws to prevent unlawful evictions, and any amendments could severely impact their rights and access to shelter. Bongi Gwala spoke to Luyolo Mphithi, member of the portfolio committee on human settlements and, Buhle Booi, Ndifuna Ukwazi head of political organizing and campaigns.

Activists have raised significant concerns regarding proposed changes to eviction laws in South Africa, especially in light of the ongoing housing crisis. They caution that any alterations to the legislation could worsen the plight of the country’s most vulnerable populations, particularly those without stable housing. These groups rely on protections in current laws to prevent unlawful evictions, and any amendments could severely impact their rights and access to shelter. Bongi Gwala spoke to Luyolo Mphithi, member of the portfolio committee on human settlements and, Buhle Booi, Ndifuna Ukwazi head of political organizing and campaigns.

Calls For Eviction Law Changes, As Informal Settlements Grow To 4000 

In South Africa, the constant financial trap of overspending is a common reality for many individuals. For some, financial strains intensify by mid-month leading to most people not having enough money for basic needs such as transport or food during what is commonly known as ‘Mampara Week’. The Mampara Week refers to the week before pay-day where people find themselves with less than R 1000 in their bank accounts, according to a SpendTrend report. The normalization of mampara week exposes the bad habit of overspending and poor financial preparation. Bongi Gwala spoke to Mathabo Sekhonyana, CMO at Bettabets and, Matsatsi Mashiloane, financial advisor from Sanlam.

In South Africa, the constant financial trap of overspending is a common reality for many individuals. For some, financial strains intensify by mid-month leading to most people not having enough money for basic needs such as transport or food during what is commonly known as ‘Mampara Week’. The Mampara Week refers to the week before pay-day where people find themselves with less than R 1000 in their bank accounts, according to a SpendTrend report. The normalization of mampara week exposes the bad habit of overspending and poor financial preparation. Bongi Gwala spoke to Mathabo Sekhonyana, CMO at Bettabets and, Matsatsi Mashiloane, financial advisor from Sanlam.

Normalisation of Mampara Week: Ill-spending, Poor Financial Decision-Making & Gambling

In this week’s Spotlight, we talk to novelist and author of best-selling Bom Boy and The Woman Next Door, Yewande Omotoso. For Yewande, writing is a means to make sense of the world while she is particularly interested in the complexity of human experiences and emotions as well as the incongruities of life.  We unpack the art of writing and how to keep it sacred in a growing world of emerging celebrity authors. 

In this week’s Spotlight, we talk to novelist and author of best-selling Bom Boy and The Woman Next Door, Yewande Omotoso. For Yewande, writing is a means to make sense of the world while she is particularly interested in the complexity of human experiences and emotions as well as the incongruities of life.  We unpack the art of writing and how to keep it sacred in a growing world of emerging celebrity authors.

Leadership Dialogue: Volkswagen Group South Africa

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