The Jet Set Breakfast

GUEST Melanie Nel – Marketing Director at the SA Guide-Dogs 

A bright new voice in theatre, Campbell Meas has been announced as the winner of the 2025 National Playwright Competition with her play Vakavigwa (Burials/They were buried). Guest: Campbell Meas is an actress, writer, director, facilitator, experimental film enthusiast and theatre maker. For WORD Domination this week, our guest…has been named the winner of the 2025 National Playwright Competition for her play Vakavigwa (Burials/They Were Buried), a groundbreaking work that explores innovative storytelling in contemporary theatre. Meas, who resides in Johannesburg, initially submitted the play under the title The Mechanics of Play but refined it during her creative process. Her winning script will premiere at the 2025 National Arts Festival in Makhanda from June 26 to July 6. The play’s bold use of multimedia integration and multi-plane storytelling has been hailed as a thrilling evolution in theatre.

The recent wave of global VFX studio closures and the resulting job losses shaking the film industry. Guest: Alastair Orr, CEO of The Refinery Artificial intelligence is not the Terminator lurking in the projector room, here to kick VFX artists into the unemployment line while a machine wins the Oscar. As someone who’s lived inside edit suites, dailies rooms, and post facilities long enough to see both the romance and the rot of the industry, our next guest says that AI isn’t here to replace the artists. It’s here to give them their lives back. It’s here to let them make better art and maybe, just maybe, go home in time to see their kids before they pass out from exhaustion. 

Guest: Tiisetso Makhubedu is a young sangoma who is passionate about issues of youth and spirituality. For cultural activist Makhubedu  anyone should be able to practise their spiritual or cultural traditions freely after the dawn of democracy. In a world where the phrase “soft life” has become a popular aspiration, conversations about money are shifting from pure finance to intention, mindset, and spirituality. More people are exploring how beliefs, energy, and emotional patterns shape their ability to attract and manage wealth. The idea of “manifesting” abundance suggests that money is not just a material resource but also a reflection of inner alignment, purpose, and self-worth. 

Guest: Kunle Ayo -Nigeruan born South African artist  In 2025, Africa Month will see a continued surge in the growth of music and cultural work driven by factors like increasing streaming popularity, a revival of traditional genres, and a rise in global collaboration and independent artists. The continent's digital music market is projected to reach $500 million and the creative industries are expected to generate billions in revenue and millions of jobs. We wanted to take a moment to speak with artists from three countries that are shaping the sound of the continent. 

  Guest: Ash Mueller  - property broker (082 574 6747) Our next guest has penned an article on the role of women in architecture, spatial planning and building public spaces. She outlines the important contributions of women as property developers, brokers, chief executives, and chief financial officers of publicly listed real estate investment trusts.  

GUEST 1: Kunle Ayo -Nigeruan born South African artist  GUEST 2: Maya Molo - Musician from Kenya In 2025, Africa Month will see a continued surge in the growth of music and cultural work driven by factors like increasing streaming popularity, a revival of traditional genres, and a rise in global collaboration and independent artists. The continent's digital music market is projected to reach $500 million and the creative industries are expected to generate billions in revenue and millions of jobs. We wanted to take a moment to speak with artists from three countries that are shaping the sound of the continent. 

Guest: Concord Nkabinde - veteran bass guitarist Guest:  Kahn Morbee - singer-songwriter best known as the magnetic frontman of The Parlotones Guest: Sipho Hotstix Mabuse -An iconic multi-instrumentalist, Mabuse has also mastered the flute, piano, saxophone, kalimba, timbales, and African drums  

Guest: Prof. JP van Niekerk - Editor Emeritus at the South African Medical Journal Assisted dying (AD) is one of the most complex and emotionally charged debates in modern medicine, ethics, and law. It raises profound questions about autonomy, dignity, compassion, and the role of healthcare in end-of-life decisions. While 15 countries have legalized some form of AD, none are in Africa—yet South Africa, with its progressive constitution and rights-based legal framework, is poised to become the first. The debate is deeply polarized, with advocates citing human dignity and personal choice, while opponents warn of ethical slippery slopes and societal risks. As legal battles intensify, South Africa stands at a pivotal crossroads.  

Guest: Jeffrey Rakabe-author of Led By Shepherds; An initiate’s Memoir  #WORDDomination this week, we look into a book by …. Through education, literature, and the quiet strength of women in his life, Rakabe confronts the deeply ingrained misogyny within initiation culture and its possible ties to gender-based violence. This brave and honest account challenges cultural silence, urging society to reexamine harmful traditions and embrace healing through dialogue and awareness.

Guest: Terry Bell - South Africa-based journalist commentator and author specialising in political and economic analysis and labour matters For Workers month we take a look at trade unions in 2025- the question looms large: are trade unions still relevant in today’s world? Once powerful forces for justice and equality, many unions now appear weakened, bureaucratic, and disconnected from the realities of modern workers. As the Fourth Industrial Revolution reshapes labour markets and inequality deepens, the role of organised labour is under scrutiny. In South Africa, unions helped secure democracy but now face declining influence, political entanglements, and internal divisions. Yet signs of renewal exist—new grassroots movements and worker-led initiatives are emerging. The future of unions may depend on their ability to return to core principles and adapt meaningfully.

GUEST-Acclaimed narrative therapist and psychosocial specialist Ncazelo Mlilo JSB COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: Mlilo was honoured with the People’s Choice awards for non-profit and social enterprise women in therapy and counselling services.- Let’s talk about NPO Phola     

Guest: Sandile Mkhize is the Wings for Life World Run Ambassador   A Wings for Life World Run experience helped Sandile feel that he could be part of society again, today he is a passionate ambassador for the event. A horrific motorbike accident in 2013 saw Sandile Mkhize break his back in three places. For over two years he was in and out of hospital

GUEST- Clayton Weimers, Executive Director of Reporters Without Borders USA On 3 May 2025, World Press Freedom Day focused on the profound influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on journalism and media under the theme "Reporting in the Brave New World – The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom and the Media." The event highlighted how AI had increasingly shaped the way news was produced, distributed, and consumed, raising important questions about the future of press freedom. While AI offered significant potential for enhancing journalistic processes, it also brought new challenges related to misinformation, censorship, and the loss of human oversight in reporting. 

Guest:  Wilmi Dippenaar- Chief Executive Officer at South African Parenting Programme Implementers Network (Sappin) Kelly Smith and her co-accused have been convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her daughter, Joshlin Smith. The Western Cape High Court has found that the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn, sold the then six-year-old girl for the purposes of exploitation.  Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn have been convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her daughter, Joshlin Smith. The Western Cape High Court has found that the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn sold the six-year-old girl for exploitation. This case has not only shaken the country to its core, but it also brings critical questions on child safety, parenthood, access to legal services and trafficking to the fore. We have brought together a panel that will reflect on the two-month trial, what we have learned and how our communities can play a great role in being their children's keepers. We are joined by...  

GUEST: Shareen Richter - International Laughter Professor Shareen Richter is a globally certified Laughter Coach, TEDx speaker, and workplace wellness expert with over 20 years’ experience. She has trained thousands of individuals across continents and has been featured on leading media platforms sharing her contagious passion for mental wellness through the power of laughter. As South Africans face ongoing economic stress, emotional fatigue, and the relentless effects of daily pressures, wellness expert and international Laughter Coach Shareen Richter is bringing a timely reminder to the nation: laughter truly is the best medicine.  

Guest: Michael Atkins - Elections Analyst In today's Civic Education, we talk about municipalities and what happens when a councillor can no longer hold their position. A by-election is held for a specific ward. What is the process? Who is responsible for holding? Do people still participate in these smaller elections that impact service delivery in their neighbourhoods? To tell us more about how these 

Guest: Dr Shaheda Omar - Executive Director of the TeddyBear Foundation  Kelly Smith and her co-accused have been convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her daughter, Joshlin Smith. The Western Cape High Court has found that the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn, sold the then six-year-old girl for the purposes of exploitation.   Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn have been convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her daughter, Joshlin Smith. The Western Cape High Court has found that the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn sold the six-year-old girl for exploitation. This case has not only shaken the country to its core, but it also brings critical questions on child safety, parenthood, access to legal services and trafficking to the fore. We have brought together a panel that will reflect on the two-month trial, what we have learned and how our communities can play a great role in being their children's keepers. We are joined by...  

Guest: Adv. Chris Maree - Family Advocate-Chris Maree. I was with the Office of the Family Advocate for 23 years and Head of the Pretoria Office of the Family Advocate for 16 years.I am now in private practice practising Family Law Kelly Smith, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn have been convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her daughter, Joshlin Smith. The Western Cape High Court has found that the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn sold the six-year-old girl for exploitation. This case has not only shaken the country to its core, but it also brings critical questions on child safety, parenthood, access to legal services and trafficking to the fore. We have brought together a panel that will reflect on the two-month trial, what we have learned and how our communities can play a great role in being their children's keepers. We are joined by...    

GUEST Marcus Botha - Head of Corporate Tax Consulting at BDO and was previously the South African Leader of Tax Reporting & Strategy (TRS) at PwC and Head of Tax Risk at one of the big four banks. He has extensive experience in tax strategy, tax related internal audit, governance and enterprise risk management. The scrapping of South Africa’s proposed VAT increase from 15% to 15.5% has been met with relief by consumers and businesses alike. Initially introduced in the 2025 National Budget to help plug a R58 billion deficit, the reversal spares households—especially low- and middle-income families—from further financial strain amid rising living costs. Businesses benefit from avoiding system overhauls and pricing adjustments, although some now face the cost of reverting premature changes. While legal complexities remain around the timing of the reversal, the government’s message is clear: the VAT rate will stay at 15%, at least for now

Guest: World Wide Fund for Nature- CEO Morné du Plessis A fierce legal and environmental battle has erupted over plans by Patrice Motsepe’s African Rainbow Capital (ARC) to mine phosphate within the boundaries of the ecologically vital West Coast National Park. The Kropz Elandsfontein mine, majority-owned by ARC, seeks to access phosphate deposits in land that conservationists say is critical to biodiversity and protected under international environmental agreements. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has accused Kropz of sidestepping legally mandated biodiversity offsets and undermining conservation laws. The case raises profound questions about mining in protected areas, corporate accountability, and the cost of sacrificing nature for economic gain

Jud Cornell mentor to Ukwanda Puppetry 

Prof. Martin Wiegt - Professor of Mathematics in the Mandela Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences at the Nelson Mandela University

Dr. Khosi Jiyane – Clinical Psychologist